Steamy Times at Blair High

Its August 15.  Most of us in Montgomery County are enjoying the last few days of a very hot summer before school begins.

Unless you play high school sports.

Yes, the sports teams are back - and we have the pictures!  Here is a picture of Blair's football team taken last Friday, August 12.

But, you may ask, isn't it hot on the fields?  How hot?  On Friday, Reagan National reported a high of 99 degrees and a low of 93 degrees between noon and 6 pm, with 50 percent humidity.

And on the artificial turf?  Here is a picture recorded of actual field temperatures.

Our not so very sophisticated weather gauge on the left indicated that at a little after 3 pm, the air temperature was 98 degrees, while the temp on the Blair artificial turf field was a sizzling 151 degrees.

How would our regular grass fields fare in the heat?

A few minutes later, our weather gauges recorded a more modest 84 degrees on the natural grass surrounding the Blair field.

What a difference (a few) chemicals can make.

MCPS supposedly is enforcing rules related to the heat on the fields.  According to the webpage:

Schools shall monitor prevailing weather conditions, including the current heat index, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and make appropriate practice and activity accommodations. The heat index on the Athletics webpage applies to the 20877 zip code, the most central site in Montgomery County.

And once the heat index is calculated, coaches are instructed to follow the following guidelines:

Temperature Guidelines

Heat Index	Restrictions
0-90° F	Normal practice guidelines and restrictions
91–104° F	Exercise caution; observe players carefully; frequent water breaks;   limit time in which players are wearing full equipment
105° F +	No outside activities; activities limited to air-conditioned school facilities

   

If you calculate the heat index from the rubric on the webpage, the heat index on Friday at Blair HS was an outstanding 113 degrees!  Factor in the artificial turf, and ouch - it was really hot on that field.

Did Blair's football coach really hold a practice OUTSIDE when the heat index was 113 degrees? And on a turf field that registered 151 degrees?

Blair HS is known for its brains, not its athletic abilities, but it seems as if neither is back from vacation just yet.

How hot is it on your MoCo football field?

Parents - Its not just football that is subject to the restrictions when temperatures go soaring. Pay attention, and let your coaches know you are monitoring the heat index over the next few weeks.

For those of you lucky/unlucky enough to have an artificial turf field - watch out or your student may find themselves burnt out before school begins.

And good luck to all the Blazers sports teams - assuming you don't wilt in the heat!

New Trend for High School Neighborhoods

Montgomery Blair HS in Silver Spring has always demonstrated its leadership among schools in Montgomery County.

What's the latest leadership trend?

Blair HS is so lucky to have a "HEAD FIRST" concussion care facility located right across University Boulevard from the school.

Now if your child plays football at Blair - no worries about whether an athletic trainer is onsite.  Your Head First concussion facility can take care of your child.

And, its not only the football team kids who may find themselves at Head First.  You never know what other challenges face your child at Blair.  This surely beats the emergency room at Holy Cross Hospital for convenience! 

Way to go Blair!

Letter from Blair Principal Today

April 18, 2013

Dear Parents/Guardians:

You may have heard from your child today about an incident that occurred in our courtyard during today’s lunch period.  A student became very disruptive and defiant with staff and required police intervention.  The student assaulted our School Resource Officer and, subsequently, had to be restrained by police.  The student was transported to the hospital for an evaluation, accompanied by an administrator. 

 To ensure the safety of our students and school staff, MCPS Security Officers and members of the Montgomery County Police Department work closely together to ensure a positive, secure school environment. 

 Please have your child speak with school counselors or staff if they have questions or concerns about this incident.  My staff and I are always available to assist students.   Thank you for your support. 

                                                                         Sincerely,

                                                                         Renay C. Johnson

                                                                        Principal

Third Annual Parents Coalition Survey on School Fees

Welcome back to school.


Here is the much anticipated third annual list of high school curricular fees for Montgomery County Public School students.  


I'd like to credit Montgomery County Public School staff who compiled this list.  All I did was file a request under the Maryland Public Information Act.  This is a prime example of your tax dollars at work.


If you thought MoCo students are entitled to a free public education under the Maryland Constitution and state laws, you are right.  Dr. Weast and the folks at Carver somehow missed that class, and continue to charge to attend MoCo schools.


The good news is that compared to the 2008-2009 list, MCPS is now charging less to attend public high schools. 


More good news - If you student attends Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, your student will receive a terrific education AND attend the school with the shortest list of school fees.  Thank you Mr. Williams and staff!  Quince Orchard and Seneca Valley also deserve recognition for coming in close behind Blair HS in limiting the number of classes with fees.


As you read the list, I am including the following from Mr. Dana Tofig, ever the faithful MCPS employee, who is the final gatekeeper of all public documents and who graciously handled my request for corrected documents last night at 5 pm.  From Mr. Tofig's cover letter accompanying the MPIA:

. . . the inability of a student to pay for materials and other expenses does not prevent a student from taking a particular class.

What does this mean? 

As this writer has stated before, these fees are not mandatory. Maryland law guarantees a free public education. Should your family elect to pay, go ahead and make a contribution to the school. Keep in mind - this is a contribution, not a mandatory assessment. You child will not have his/her report card withheld. Your child will still have his/her transcripts prepared, and be able to attend graduation.


And now get your checkbooks out - here is the list.


MCPS 2010 2011_fees High School  

Third Annual Parents Coalition Survey on School Fees

Stay tuned.

For those of you who have followed our blog faithfully, yes, I will be posting this year's list of curricular fees for high school students.  Right now, MCPS is in the process of responding to a public information request for the documents.

I've been asked why only high schools.  From my perspective, the practice regarding textbooks is most egregious in the high schools.  When  I look at the books my kids were required to purchase, many remained untouched, unused, and unassigned after purchase - so these could have easily been purchased by the school and reused year after year.

Of course, there was the infamous Blair towel too.  No, this could not have been reused, but again, this also was not a towel or used by my child or the kids in the carpool.

If you are interested in filing your own request for school fees at the elementary or middle school level, or for any other information, its easy to do.  Remember, information is presumed to be available to the public - its a public school system, supported by taxpayer dollars.  All you need to do is ask!

Here is a template.  Fill in the blanks and send it to pio@mcpsmd.org. and dana_tofig@mcpsmd.org

Under the Maryland Public Information Act, please provide copies of the  [insert request here - for school fees add  2010-2011 projected supplemental student fees for materials and other curricular expenses approved for each] [insert source of information - eg, middle schools, elementary schools] in MCPS.  

I request a "waiver" of the 30 day response time and any associated fees, and that you provide the materials responding to my request promptly.  

Kindly note that I will pick up the materials from your offices.  Please call me at [your phone number here] when the materials are available for pickup.

Thank you.

[your name here]

News Flash - Graduation is Free at Montgomery Blair HS

Montgomery Blair HS Principal Darryl Williams will NOT require seniors in Blair HS's class of 2010 to pay senior dues in order to attend graduation at DAR Constitution Hall on June 4.

Previously, Mr. Williams announced that seniors must pay a mandatory graduation fee of $35, on top of obtaining a cap, gown, and tassel, in order to participate in the ceremonies next month.

In an acknowledgement of the financial circumstances facing many students in his community, and in a response to concerns raised by a Blair parent, Mr. Williams reconsidered, and will allow all Blair students to attend graduation at DAR.

Here is the summary obtained by Parents Coalition:

Great decision Mr.Williams!

Next question - will other principals in Montgomery County follow Mr. Williams' leadership?

Parents Coalition Annual Senior Fee Survey

How much does it cost to graduate from your local high school?  Does zip code matter?

Fees vary, and it appears that the highly impacted schools - Blair, Northwood, Wheaton, and Watkins Mill, charge more to graduate than green zone schools like BCC and Churchill.  Curious, isn't it?

Here is the listing of graduation fees charged by MCPS High Schools across the county for 2009 and 2010:

Senior Dues

Major correction to the table: 

The fee for Blair High School is incorrect.  Contrary to information supplied by MCPS, Blair's mandatory senior dues DOES NOT include the cap, gown, and tassel.  MCPS provided the table, however, information from Blair High School is more specific about the charges. 

Is it fair?  Absolutely not.  Is it legal?  No.  Stay tuned to this blog for more.

Montgomery Blair High School Admits Overcharge to Students on Graduation Fees

Today, Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, Maryland, rolled back its mandatory senior fees.

Although the school has yet to provide a budget or other cost basis for its imposition of its $35 surcharge for its seniors to attend graduation at DAR Constitution Hall on June 4, today Principal Intern Myriam Rogers announced that the school would not be asking its students to pay the $500 honorarium for its commencement speaker, Dr. Leonard Haynes III, Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

The refund calculates to $0.83 cents per student, but the school graciously decided to round to the nearest dollar, and will now only assess $34 for each attendee.

Another success on the graduation front - Blair HS alums have donated 24 used graduation gowns!   This will allow 24 additional students to attend the ceremonies who could otherwise not afford the cost of attendance.

The ESOL coordinator made a pitch to parents for extra donations to permit all 59 ESOL students to attend the ceremonies.  

The initial graduation fee sheet indicated that 100 students needed full or partial assistance to attend the ceremonies - does this mean that Blair has already covered their costs or that they are not going to DAR?

The bigger question is why a school like Blair needs to supplement public funds to hold a ceremony that isn't within the budget provided by taxpayer dollars.

Is this fee consistent with the Maryland Constitutional guarantee of a free public education?    

One dollar down, $34 more to go before Blair HS students get their constitutional rights restored.

A peek into the admissions process for a MCPS magnet

An appeal to the Maryland State Board of Education from a MCPS Board of Education denial of admission to the Montgomery Blair High School Math & Science magnet program gives an inside look at the admissions process for this program.

Appeal of denial of admission to Blair Math & Science Magnet Program

SMOB Endorses Illegal MCPS Practice

Here is a recent webposting from Tim Hwang, Student Member of the MoCo Public School Board of Education concerning a student poll on curricular fees.

 

http://mocosmob.blogspot.com/2009/12/curricular-fees-poll.html

My questions for Tim:

Are you in favor of the previous MCPS policy charging fees?

Do you realize that the prior MCPS policy charging curricular fees is illegal?  Do you also know that the "fees" did not always go for the purpose intended (eg, clothing for teachers at Richard Montgomery and Churchill high schools, and staff retreats at Blair HS)?

Did you know that fees were collected for books sold to students, but not used in classes?  I have a large selection from Blair HS and RM to show you.

You are aware that Dr. Weast doesn't spend the full amount allocated each year on textbooks and declares the amount surplus?  Dr. Weast even provided you and the other BOE members with a memo on the subject, and you approved the action.  In September 2009, the County Council approved of the BOE and Dr. Weast's finding that $4.6 million in MCPS Textbook & Instructional Funds for the 2008-09 school year were surplus and could be allocated to other MCPS needs.  

Seems as if you have several options if you are interested in actions that benefit the students:

1. Direct that MCPS spend more money on textbooks.

2.  See that moneys allocated to textbooks are really used on textbooks.

3. Work on legislation at the state level if you want ot allow curricular fees, since it's part of the state constitution to provide a free public education. 

So - what is your action plan while you are on the BOE?

***********************************************************************

Friday, December 4, 2009

Curricular Fees Poll

As many you may have noticed, your schools have now stopped charging fees for school classes. Recently, MCPS has made strong attempts to eliminate curricular fees at the county-level. While this is true, the blunt of the effects will now be felt by the students of Montgomery County. At a recent December 3, 2009 SMOB 2.0 Policy Meeting, students spoke to the issues of curricular fees in schools and had a long discussion about its impacts. In general, students understood the need for a free, public education but also understood the opportunities that the curricular fees brought them. Many schools are now cutting back on supplemental labs, art supplies, music equipment, work books, and even assignment books which are now being considered "extra".

In cases such a foreign language, art, music, etc. where materials are needed, the elimination of these fees have forced MCPS, the county, and the state to cut back on the services to these program in these times of economic and budgetary crisis. One student at Montgomery Blair High School replied with an email stating, "The poorest students in MCPS [are] feeling the blunt of the consequences academically because [they] do not have the money or the resources to afford expensive tutors, prep books, and instruments rather than buying the subsidized cost of the materials in [their] schools".

Polling in MCPS Schools by our SMOB 2.0 Staff among high school students in MCPS shows that students have varying opinions on the issue. When asked the question: "Do you think the elimination of fees was detrimental to your academic learning?", county-wide (N=297), 58% of students were against the elimination of the fees, 31% of students were for the elimination of the fees, and 11% were ambivalent about the issue. Specifically at Red Zone high schools, the numbers (N=108) are at about 52% of students against, 30% support, and 18% ambivalent. However, there doesn't seem to be much passion behind this issue. For many students, the issue isn't about fees; rather its about getting every opportunity to learn, regardless of the cost - which is why many of their parents moved to this high cost of living area in the first place.

Despite all this, MCPS continues to be at the top of the country, as one of the best education systems in the nation as we can see in the recent increase in the number of passing AP Exams. So, are the fees good, are they bad? I'll leave that up to you.

Posted by Tim Hwang at 2:03 AM

Welcome Back to School MCPS Style 2009

Tomorrow, August 31, is the official start of school in Montgomery County Maryland (unless you are a sophomore, junior, or senior at Blair HS, in Silver Spring, where the rules don't apply).

We're looking forward to see what has changed and what is the same for this school year, and are eagerly waiting to see the questions and challenges facing MCPS parents and students.

What's the same? The Maryland Constitution guarantees a right to a free public education. See Maryland Constitution Article VIII, Section I.

What's new? See the MCPS Guidelines for Course Related Fees. From the webpage:

The new guidelines will reduce the number of course-related fees families are asked to pay while preserving the broad array of course offerings our students deserve. All students, regardless of their economic circumstances, will have full access to all courses.

For our friends at Blair HS - note that the infamous Blair towel fee is now history:

Physical Education Towel Fee—A towel fee may not be charged.

• Schools are not required to provide towels.
• A student may bring a towel if desired.

My favorite part is the waiver. Elementary and secondary school FAQs provide the same language:

How will schools know that the student is eligible for a waiver?

Response: No verification of hardship is required. However, schools must keep a record of waivers provided. Once a parent, student, or staff member requests a waiver for a student, the request is not questioned.

So, what is a parent to do if a child comes home with a request for a check for course related material? You have two choices:

1. Send your child's teacher a copy of the Parents Coalition Guide to Fees. Remind the teacher that he/she is to be a role model for students and obey the law - including the Maryland Constitution.

2. Ask for a waiver.

On behalf of the Parents Coalition, we want to wish all students and teachers across Montgomery County a safe, healthy, and productive school year.

For the upperclass students at Blair - enjoy your extra day of summer! See you on September 1.

The Ongoing Battle for the Eastern MS Magnet Boutique Program in MCPS

The recent proposal to cut the magnet program at Eastern Middle School is the current poster child illustrating Dr. Weast's efforts to eliminate "Boutique" programs throughout MCPS, as mentioned during the April 14, 2009 Board of Education Meeting.

The topic was AP/IB High School programs, yet the Board discussion of this agenda item was filled with references to the middle school program at Eastern, and parents who expected MCPS to maintain a program that was by exam and invitation. Imagine that.

Thanks to SwitchedonMom for her recent "the 'More' Child" Blogpost with a link to the report of the Eastern Middle School Schedule Decision Reversal Group. I don't have current connections to the Eastern situation, so if you want to read more, go to the MoreChild blog for details.

This year its the Eastern MS magnet program in the news and in jeopardy; last year it was the Blair High School magnet. Additional cuts in teachers and class offerings are still plaguing the Blair Science, Math, and Computer Science magnet, despite promises from Marty Creel and MCPS that last year's cuts would be the last. Current students and alumni fear that Blair, and its sibling programs at Eastern and Takoma Middle School, may soon have nothing left to cut.

Next year? Your guess is as good as mine.

Short Primer on FERPA and "Obligations Wall"

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is the federal privacy act equivalent for educational records. All schools that receive federal funding are subject to FERPA. FERPA is a personal right - that is, the cause of action may only be brought by the individual whose rights have been violated. For example, only a student or parent of a student named on the "obligations wall" (at Richard Montgomery, Blake, or Whitman) or public HSA remedial list (Blair) is entitled to file a complaint with the US Department of Education. If my child's rights aren't violated, sorry, no right to complain.

Remedies are mostly corrective - the objectives are get the school or school system to fix their policies and procedures. However, the regulations do permit the Department of Education to withhold funding for egregious cases - see 34 CFR 99.61 et seq.

As a lawyer involved in freedom of information and privacy act issues, most people I know outside of MCPS in who deal with records subject to the privacy act or educational research and testing work very diligently to comply with the various requirements of the applicable privacy laws and regulations. MCPS is rather cavalier in its interpretations - but then again, that seems consistent with MCPS believing that most laws and policies are meant for others. I know I've spoken with my kids schools about having volunteers helping out with mailing interims, but didn't get very far, since the school claimed the volunteers were working just like school staff. How fascinating. I've only had one instance that I know about where my child's name was on the "obligations wall," and at that point I was more concerned about whether she could purchase a homecoming ticket than I was about filing a FERPA complaint.

More on FERPA is on the Department of Education's website:http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html

Riverkeepers on Artificial Turf

Here's what the well-respected organization Riverkeepers has to say about artificial turf:

Testimony of Craig Michaels, Investigator
Riverkeeper, Inc.
Re: Oversight--The Use of Artificial Turf in City Parks
Hearing Before the Council of the City of New York
Parks and Recreation Committee
December 13, 2007

Riverkeeper is a non-profit environmental organization that works to protect the Hudson River and the New York City drinking water supply. We are also part of the SWIM coalition (Storm Water Infrastructure Matters), a broad coalition of environmental groups working to promote better stormwater management throughout the City. In addition, we work closely with the growing number of environmental and civic groups around New York City studying the environmental and public health impacts of synthetic fields.

The use of artificial turf in New York City parks poses serious environmental and public health risks. Unfortunately, despite strong public support for local environmental policy initiatives, artificial turf continues to replace natural grass playing fields, moving New York in the opposite direction of becoming a sustainable city. Riverkeeper opposes further installation of artificial turf in New York City parks until a comprehensive study is conducted that addresses the concerns set forth below.
Stormwater Impacts

More than 27 billion gallons of raw sewage and polluted stormwater discharge out of 460 combined sewer overflows (CSOs) into New York Harbor each year. Although water quality in the Harbor has improved significantly over the last few decades, most of the waterfront and its beaches are still unsafe for recreation after it rains. New York City’s outmoded sewer system combines sewage from buildings with dirty stormwater from streets. As little as one-tenth of an inch of rain can overload the system, causing the raw sewage to overflow into the Harbor.
Unfortunately, artificial fields only compound the City’s CSO issues. The low water retention rate of artificial turf, which maximizes the recreational potential of such fields, is also a stormwater nightmare.

Water glides off of these surfaces with ease and either adds to the City’s already overloaded sewer system, or, in the case of waterfront parks, may simply wash directly into our rivers and into New York Harbor. In contrast to natural playing surfaces such as grass, synthetic fields not only increase run-off, but this run-off is potentially toxic, as it contains rubber tire crumbs from the fields, which are comprised of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), a group of chemicals that includes compounds classified as known or probable human carcinogens.

PlaNYC established an inter-agency Task Force that is currently examining how and where best
management practices (BMPs) can be implemented to reduce stormwater impacts throughout the City. BMPs are economically sound alternatives that can reduce the volume of stormwater entering the system. Examples of BMPs include: street trees, greenstreets (smaller vegetated areas on streets); green roofs to capture and/or detain run-off from buildings; tree pits designed to retain water for absorption by trees; and the use of porous pavement in area parking lots. Any excess stormwater that is not captured by source controls then enters the sewage system for eventual treatment.

The policies of sustainability and green infrastructure espoused in PlaNYC are also embodied in three sustainable stormwater management bills (Int. No. 628, 629, 630, 321) currently pending before the City Council. But while support for these bills continue to gain momentum, and while the BMP Task Force continues to make progress, the Department of Parks and Recreation continues to propose replacing natural grass fields with artificial playing surfaces. Clearly, there is a disconnect here between policy and implementation.

If New York City is serious about becoming a greener, more livable city by employing responsible, costeffective, and environmentally sound stormwater management techniques, then the installation of artificial turf fields need to be significantly curbed, if not halted altogether.

Urban Heat Island Effect

According to a report issued by New Yorkers for Parks, summer temperatures in New York City are approximately 7 degrees warmer than surrounding areas. This urban heat island effect is created by the combination of a vast amount of impervious surfaces (asphalt, concrete, etc.) and the dramatically small amount of trees and green spaces that can absorb the summer heat. Installing synthetic fields, particularly in areas that were formerly grass fields, further exacerbates this serious problem.

According to a recent New York Times article, researchers at Columbia University’s Center for Climate Systems Research found that the temperature on the surface of synthetic turf fields could be as much as 60 degrees hotter than grass fields. Given the predictions from scientists around the globe that temperatures will continue to rise due to global warming, New York City should be actively looking for ways to reduce the urban heat island effect, which every summer traps heat inside New York City, leading to higher energy costs and increased heat-related health risks, among other problems. Unfortunately, synthetic fields, in many cases, do just the opposite by further increasing the urban heat island effect.

Health Effects

At least some preliminary studies suggest that the placement of PAH-emitting used tire particles on synthetic fields may pose a health risk to those who use the fields for recreation. As a member of a softball team who frequently plays on the formerly grass fields, but now artificial turf, of Riverside Park, I have observed first-hand how playing on artificial turf can cut, scrape, and scar individuals whose activities on a grass field would have simply led to superficial abrasions. Although further study is needed, it is intuitive that once a person’s skin is open and exposed to particles that emit PAHs, there may be a risk to human health.

Recently, two bills were introduced in the New York State Assembly (Bill A9503) and the New York State Senate (Bill S6531), both calling for a state-wide moratorium on the purchasing of artificial turf until a comprehensive study of the environmental and public health impacts is conducted. Not only is this a reasonable position, but it would be negligent to proceed any other way.

Environmental Review

From an overall environmental perspective, any proposed installation of artificial turf should be subject to scrutiny under either the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) or the City Environmental Quality Review (CEQR) process.

The environmental and human health impacts of a single field are localized but surely measurable. In addition, the cumulative effect of the installation of over a hundred of these fields citywide in a short period of time certainly warrants proper environmental review.
Riverkeeper urges the City Council to mandate a moratorium on the development and installation of artificial turf fields until the Parks Department, working with other agencies and independent consultants as needed, has conducted a comprehensive study on the environmental and public health effects of artificial turf. Further, the Council should explore methods to convert synthetic fields back to natural grass fields.

Aside from the artificial color, there is nothing green about artificial turf. The Parks Department, Mayor’s Office, and City Council owe it to the concerned parents of children who play on these fields, and to all the residents of New York City, to conduct a proper environmental assessment that continues to include public participation and frequent consultation with physicians and other leading experts in the field. It is critical that the City Council continue to play a leading role in making this City more sustainable and Riverkeeper looks forward to working with the Council on this and other areas of environmental concern.

####
Riverkeeper is a non-profit environmental organization dedicated to protecting and restoring the Hudson River Estuary, New York City’s upstate drinking water reservoirs, and the rights of all New Yorkers to clean communities and a clean environment. Since 1965, we have brought hundreds of environmental lawbreakers to justice, forcing more than $1 billion in fines and remediation projects.