2018: Revisions to the Board of Education Operations Handbook [Approved Revisions have never been posted to the Montgomery County Board of Education website.]

Montgomery County Board of Education November 13, 2018: 

An ad hoc committee was formed and appointed by the Board of Education President Michael A. Durso to review and propose revisions to the Board of Education Operations Handbook (Handbook) to bring the Handbook up-to-date and in compliance with Maryland law, make changes given the full voting rights of the Student Member of the Board, and other necessary editorial changes.  The ad hoc committee, comprising Mr. Durso and Board members Jeanette E. Dixon and Patricia O’Neill, submitted the proposed revisions to the Policy Management Committee, which reviewed the revisions and asked staff to make some additional changes. 

At the November 13 meeting, the Board discussed the changes and voted to approve the revised Handbook.

Read the memorandum and recommended draft of the Board of Education Operations Handbook.

VIDEO:  November 13, 2019 Board of Education Meeting Discussion of Operations Handbook.

Approved Montgomery County Board of Education Operations Handbook, but never posted to the Montgomery County Board of Education website.  

Montgomery County Board of ... by Parents' Coalition of Montg...

Was Anyone in MCPS Held Accountable for Teen’s Death in Gym Class? #NotJustUMD #MCPS #StudentDeath

Lawsuit Over Gaithersburg Teen’s Death in Gym Class Continues in County Court: Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland

Nashville Public Schools and #Me Too

Congratulations to Nashville Public Schools. You are now a member of the #Me Too community.

You didn't listen to those of us from up North in Montgomery County Public Schools. We told you that you hired a cadre of administrators who didn't work out in MCPS.

Did you believe us? Apparently not.

Did you conduct any type of background check? Doesn't look like it.

http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/education/2017/12/08/nashville-public-schools-administrator-resigns-amid-harassment-investigation/935890001/

So, it comes as no surprise to us that Mo Carrasco, one of our formerly esteemed administrators WHO WAS REMOVED FROM HIS SCHOOL in 2008 for a whole slew of misbehavior engaged in the same behavior.

You've been Mo Carrasco'd.

And now my PTSD kicks in.

Our issues didn't involve improper touching, although there was a general sense that this occurred as supported by a lawsuit on record in our county. Lucky us.

I just went through my emails from April to June 2008, when my daughter was enrolled in the same school. I see emails where I tried to explain to the County Council what was wrong while the PTSA leaders and faculty defended the principal.

And, I see emails recounting to my friends the number of calls I received on a daily basis, at my office, at home, and on my cell from the principal.



And, I see other emails where I noted my concern for whether my daughter would be able to safely finish her senior year in high school without further incident.

And, the final emails saying Mr. Carrasco had done nothing wrong.

Ouch.

Yes, my child finished, and I have the picture of her shaking the principal's hand at graduation.

But it wasn't a pleasant experience, and I am sorry that another school, another school system had to have this experience.

Please folks - know that an experienced principal or school administrator, or group of administrators, doesn't simply find themselves available, especially as a group, unless something is wrong. Its not as simple as Montgomery County's loss is your gain.

Yes, the internet may have false stories, and its often hard to figure out what is real and what is fantasy.

But - if you don't look, you will never know, until your own school system gets hurt.

Mo Carrasco has announced his retirement from education, and this should be the end of his saga.

Be careful, and do your research, before you find yourself in a similar situation.

Full Video of Police Press Conference Held Prior to Child Safety Meeting in Chevy Chase on Nov. 1st

Montgomery County Police did not allow videotaping or audio recording of the meeting they held on November 1st concerning the arrest of Chevy Chase parent Jonathan Oldale.  However, prior to the community meeting the police held a press conference in the hallway outside the auditorium.

Below is video of the press conference taken by a member of the Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, MD.   

Should MCPS buy teachers or electronic toys and artificial grass?

The following letter was published today in the Washington Post and also Facebook by a Florida parent:

Dear Rick Scott, Governor of Florida

Please buy my child a teacher.

I pay taxes and send my children to public school.

Please buy my child a teacher. A child whisperer. A trained, energetic, enthusiastic, loving, educated, invested adult to grow a relationship with my child in the pursuit of learning.

Please buy my child a teacher who can see, hear and understand my child in a small group of special, targeted relationships. My child loves learning when learning comes with love.

Buying my child a new curriculum will not improve her relationship with learning.

Buying my child a new test will not improve his relationship with learning.

Buying my child a new computer program will not improve her relationship with learning.

Buying my child all these things reduces funding for what my child really needs: a relationship.

My child needs a person. A crowd.

Please invest my tax dollars in the people surrounding my child.

Buy my child a teacher who is paid so well that he would choose a career in education.

Buy my child a teacher who is trained so well that she can beautifully engage my child’s developing mind.

Buy my upset or disruptive child a teacher with time and expertise available for his needs.

Buy my child more teachers’ assistants for gentle encouragement and better classroom dynamics.

Buy my child enough support staff to improve communication with parents, to make use of the learning garden each morning and to run the clubs that spark my child’s interest.

Please transfer my taxes from the purchase of things to the purchase of people.

Spend less on assessment and more on relationships.

Spend less on hardware and more on hearts.

Spend less on worksheets and more on wisdom.

Spend less on standards and more on students.

Buy my child a person.

Buy my child a teacher.

Best Regards,

Are you a Montgomery County Public Schools parent or taxpayer with similar feelings?

I know I am.  I would add artificial turf to the list of items I'd be willing to sacrifice for a few good teachers.

If you agree, send your letters to MCPS and let them know!

Patricia O'Neill, President, MCPS BOE
850 Hungerford Lane
Rockville, MD 20850 
boe_account@mcpsmd.org

When does spending less really mean spending more?

Answer:  When your kids go back to school.

According to the New York Times, parents are spending less on certain school items - like clothing, because money is tight.  Sound familiar?  Its not just in our own Montgomery County Public School District.

However, one expense has increased - and that is school supplies.  When money is tight, schools try to do more with less, and often items we took for granted when we were in school - like scissors, paper, and glue - are in short supply, so parents are asked to chip in.

Montgomery County is not alone in facing more students who can't afford school supplies.  Is this a factor at your school?

The NYTimes notes:

 Of the more than one million K-12 students enrolled in New York City public schools last year, 74 percent came from “economically disadvantaged” households, meaning that they qualified for free or reduced-price lunches and other assistance programs, according to data from the education department.

About 84,000 homeless students attended school in New York City during the 2013 school year, up 25 percent since 2010, according to the Institute for Children, Poverty and Homelessness. A majority of those students do not live in shelters, which means they often miss the benefits of backpack drives and other fund-raisers aimed at low-income families, said Linda Bazerjian, a spokeswoman for the group.

. . . 

The gap between rich and poor, private school and public school, can be evident in lists for school supplies, and who comes prepared. Mr. Schulist says that one of his school lists requires students to bring 100 pencils, which helps compensate for children whose families can afford no pencils at all.

Underfunded schools are a problem nationwide.   Think about what your school provides, and whether all children are able to come to school prepared to learn.  And whether the gap just gets bigger instead of smaller with each new school year.

Free public education costs in Montgomery County High Schools

Isn't high school supposed to be free for public school students in Maryland?  Taxpayer dollars cover the costs for all students to attend - right?

We know that, and you know that it's in the Maryland Constitution.

But unfortunately, our Board of Education seems to think that the Maryland Constitution doesn't apply.

Our MCPS students get charged for classes and materials that should be free.

Our middle schools list is only eight pages - but the high school list is 23 pages long!

Amazing.

One day, our Board of Education will get it right.  Or maybe never.

Here is the 2015 list of fees for high school students.  Read my previous post to see what happens in middle schools.  

  2015 MCPS High School Fees

I wonder what the ghosts haunting the State House in Annapolis think of what Pat O'Neill has done to their prize constitution.

Friends in the Right Places

Whitman High School and its cluster feeding schools are so lucky. This cluster has two Board of Education Members - one current Pat O'Neill and past member Shirley Brandman - are residents of the Whitman Cluster and are parents of children who attended the school.

 So - it should not be surprising that whenever Whitman wants something - poof - it happens.

Just 100 students over enrollment and Whitman is up for another renovation/expansion. Lucky for Whitman, the school is next to a former MCPS elementary school. So - say goodbye to the elementary school. Plans are to demolish the building and let Whitman grow!

Really - how crowded is your neighborhood high school - and can it expand by elbowing out its neighbors?

Read all about it here.

Does Family Income Really Affect a Student's College Chances?

Do you believe that family income is tied to a student's college chances?

Today's NYTimes asks that question, and provides an interactive test to let you know whether your thinking is in line with reality.

Read the article, take the test- and then see how you do.  Unlike Montgomery County Public Schools, taking this test is entirely up to you.  We aren't asking you to report your results - but if you would like to comment, please do so on our blog.

Keep in mind - education is supposed to be the great equalizer!

Thanks to the NYTimes!

You Draw It: How Family Income

Affects Children’s College Chances

By GREGOR AISCH, AMANDA COX and KEVIN QUEALY MAY 28, 2015

How likely is it that children who grow up in very poor families go to college? How about children who grow up in very rich families?

We’d like you to draw your guess for every income level on the chart below.

Falling Fast -

The rise and fall of Dr. Andrew Houlihan as superintendent designate of Montgomery County Public Schools serves as a reminder that the search process is flawed - because of the secrecy and lack of transparency.  What did the Board uncover after it announced Dr. Houlihan's "preferred status" that it didn't know before?

Lets hope that Pat and her buddies have learned something.  The process should be more open to vet the candidates in the public eye - before more time is wasted on another failed candidate.

Statement on Status of Superintendent Search

815

May 17, 2015

Montgomery County Board of Education President Patricia B. O'Neill released the following statement on May 17, 2015 regarding the status of Dr. Andrew Houlihan as a candidate to be the next superintendent of Montgomery County Public Schools:

"On Sunday, May 17, 2015, Dr. Andrew Houlihan informed the Montgomery County Board of Education that he is withdrawing from consideration as superintendent of Montgomery County Public Schools.

"The Board appreciates Dr. Houlihan's interest in the position and wishes him the best of luck in the future. The Board will continue to focus on a search for the next superintendent of schools."

<<Back to browse

Interim Superintendent? What do you think?

According to the press reports surrounding Dr. Starr's departure as Superintendent of Montgomery County Public Schools, an interim superintendent will be named by our State Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Lillian Lowery.

What do you think about Larry Bowers?  Good, bad, other?

Can Larry Bowers do the job?

Let Dr. Lowery know.  llowery@msde.state.md.us

Grab your sleeping bags

and join in next week.  Monday 3:30 pm at Carver (850 Hungerford Drive, Rockville).

Why?

This You Tube video says it all.

Second Candidate for Graduation Fee Extortion - Montgomery Blair HS

Montgomery Blair HS in Silver Spring MD charges its students to walk down the aisle and receive their diploma.

Really.

Here is the information sheet, straight off the school website:

Senior Info Sheet 2015[1]

In 2010, when my child graduated from Blair, the fee was a bit higher - but the fee covered items such as the senior picnic, the honorarium for the speaker, and other"graduation venue related costs."

The bus fee is another example of extortion.  Parents and families have to travel to the graduation venue, why make the kids pay for a bus?  Metro is cheaper.  Most of the students leave the venue directly to continue the celebration with their families - so they essentially are subsidizing transportation without receiving a benefit.  And what about those magnet families that don't live in the area?

Great job, Mrs. Johnson.  At least you aren't collecting fees this year for a graduation speaker!

Children and Teachers Frozen While Board Members Party On

Superintendent Josh Starr is putting tight restrictions on classroom expenditures, as reported by The Gazette this week.

Only necessary expenditures.

Does your school have an open teaching spot?  Due to turnover or expanded enrollment?  Sorry, long term substitutes will be the new normal in the classroom.

Lose your principal or building services manager?  Too bad, the replacement will be a lower cost model.

Only temporary part time personnel will be special education paraeducators, lunch time aides, and interpreters.

The good news?  MCPS will still supply soap and toilet paper.  Lets hope MCPS keeps the buildings heated too.

What's not cut?  No mention is made of the travel, meetings, and food budget for the Board of Education members or the high level staffers such as Dr. Starr.

Will Dr. Starr get to keep his car?   Of course.

Will the Board of Education members still eat cake?  Or keep fiddling to the music while our school kids go without?

Yes, it sounds like our school system is being run by Marie Antoinette or Nero.  Or both.

Have no fear - the school system will still have a surplus of $16 million dollars at the end of the year.

You decide.

http://m.gazette.net/article/20141128/NEWS/141129305/1124/starr-to-place-spending-restrictions-on-montgomery-school-system&template=FrontpageMobile

Friday, November 28, 2014

Starr to place spending restrictions on Montgomery school system

Says measures needed to address projected ‘funding gap’ in fiscal 2016

By Lindsay A. Powers Staff Writer

Montgomery County schools Superintendent Joshua P. Starr is putting spending restrictions on the school district starting Dec. 1 to save money for the next fiscal year.

The restrictions are being made in light of a projected “funding gap” in Montgomery County Public Schools’ fiscal 2016 operating budget, Starr said in a letter on Wednesday to Montgomery County Council President Craig L. Rice.

The new measures affect contracts, employee hiring and non-school-based office supplies, among other things.

Starr said the expected savings will help increase the system’s fund balance. Money from that balance can be put toward the next budget.

“Offices and schools will be expected to make only necessary expenditures,” Starr wrote in the letter. “Certain exemptions are permitted to ensure that MCPS maintains high-quality instruction for all our students both this year and next.”

Larry Bowers, chief operating officer for the school system, said in an interview that the restrictions are “pretty broad” and apply to many budget items not directly related to instruction. Schools can request exceptions.

Asked about the size of the projected funding gap, Bowers said he couldn’t “get  into specific numbers” because school officials have not yet finished the fiscal 2016 budget.

Among the restrictions, the system will not fill vacant classroom-teacher positions with permanent employees, Bowers said. Schools will instead be able to hire substitute teachers.

For other jobs that involve teaching but are not in the classroom — such as counselors or staff development positions — the system will require schools to request a spending exemption, even for a substitute, Bowers said.

Schools can hire only temporary part-time employees for certain other positions, including special education paraeducators, lunch-hour aides, and interpreters, according to a memo from Bowers on Monday.

Other empty positions, including those for principals, assistant principals and building service managers, will be filled only through assigning a current employee at a lower level to a vacant position.

The memo says “any position vacancies that have been advertised and any interviews scheduled are exempt.”

Offices also can’t make “new contractual commitments” with several exceptions, including those for emergency repairs, waste disposal, and speech, language and interpretation services.

“Each office must review contractual service encumbrances to see if they can be canceled,” the memo says.

Schools still can purchase necessary textbooks and supplies, Bowers said. Offices not based in schools, however, will have their supply accounts frozen.

Spending will continue on materials and supplies in certain areas, including building services, maintenance work, vehicle maintenance and printing. Bowers emphasized that basic supplies such as soap, toilet paper and cleaning supplies will still be purchased.

Schools still will spend money on clubs and after-school activities, Bowers said.

Other spending freezes include non-local travel and furniture purchases.

Bowers said the school system has put in place “a fairly extensive process” for managers, principals and others to submit an expenditure for review.

“Exceptions to the freeze are permitted only for emergencies or other absolutely unavoidable expenditures if authorized by the chief operating officer,” the memo says.

Bowers said school officials are taking into account projected state and county budget shortfalls, as well as the experience of funding the fiscal 2015 budget.

School officials expect the system will need to pull a significant amount of money from its fund balance for the next fiscal operating budget, he said. About $38 million from the balance was used to fund the fiscal 2015 budget.

The fund balance stood at around $1.2 million this past summer, at the end of fiscal 2014, the memo says. Recent projections show the district ending the current fiscal year with about $16 million in that pool of money.

lpowers@gazette.net

MCPS is a Global Leader

Congratulations Dr. Starr and Phil and phriends.

You always wanted MCPS to have global recognition - and you've done it.

But not for academics.

We are seeing an overwhelming abundance of news stories about your decision to be more inclusive and proud of your district's diversity - or is it simply your decision to remove religion from MCPS Public Schools?

Tonight, Phil and Pat defended their decision on CNN.

Even the Times of Israel has picked up the story:

"On Tuesday, the Montgomery County Board of Education voted to remove the religious designations after local Muslims had complained that the district observes Christmas, Easter, Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah, but does not offer vacation on any Muslim holidays.

“School Dumps Christmas to Appease Muslims” was how Todd Starnes of Fox News Radio framed the headline. Describing the issue as “a new battleground in the war on Christmas” and “bad news for you Jews and gentiles out there,” Starnes implied that the holidays will be eliminated rather than just not identified on the school calendar. (“That means no more Christmas, no more Easter and no more Yom Kippur,” he claimed, later noting that the school board “opted to eliminate all religious holidays.”)"

Great job folks!  Thanks for the great press!

Phil is so phunny

Phil Kaufman, President of the Montgomery County Board of Education, still doesn't get it.  In the Washington Post, Phil once again defends his use of outside counsel to review the allegations of credit card misuse by Board of Education Members.

Its not the review that gives us heartburn.  Its the approximately $140,000 charge for Venable and Karl Racine.  

From the article:

When concerns were raised last spring about Montgomery County Board of Education member expenses and credit card usage, the board and I knew it was important that we undergo a swift and thorough process to understand the scope of the issue and look for ways to improve our procedures. We also knew that an external review would be needed to assure the community that the board was taking this matter seriously.
Some are questioning the cost of hiring lawyers to conduct this external review, but I believed then — and I believe now — that it was the right thing to do.

Did you really need fancy lawyers to tell you to tear up the cards?

Did you really need fancy lawyers to tell you to get real policies in place?

What on earth could a $500 per hour lawyer do to run up a charge of $140,000?

Do the math - at an average rate of $500 per hour that is 280 lawyer hours.

You've got to be kidding if you think that anyone believes that this took seven weeks of lawyers to review this mess.

Some more questions for Phil.

Will Venable continue to rack up oops, I mean, monitor the BOE members continued use of their expense accounts?

What about the other credit card holders in MCPS?  A while back, we estimated that over 1000 MCPS employees have school system credit cards.  Who is watching them?

Wait - we have the Maryland Association of Boards of Education meeting coming up this week in Ocean City.

You'll have a great opportunity to demonstrate your fiscal responsibility at that meeting.

Note to our readers:  Stay tuned for a blog posting once the expense logs are submitted.

Schools Get Invoice for Fake School Supplies

When oversight of spending is not in place its easy to miss getting ripped off by vendors.  

The Better Business Bureau issued a warning about school systems getting invoices for fake school supplies.  

From the article:

September 11, 2014

Better Business Bureau is warning schools and school districts across the country about possible fake invoices for educational supplies. In the past few weeks, there has been a rush of complaints filed with BBB against “Scholastic School Supply,” which claim either a Nevada or New Jersey address that turn out to be mail drops.BBB Serving Southern Nevada received its first complaint against Scholastic School Supply on August 20, 2014, and since then has received nearly 70 complaints from schools across the country. The company’s online BBB Business Review has also received more than 3,000 inquiries; there is an Alert posted there so that visitors are able to confirm the suspicious nature of the invoice. The company maintains a mail drop in Sewell, New Jersey, as well as Las Vegas, and BBB New Jersey has received more than 20 complaints so far.The bogus invoices have been for $647.50 for the bulk purchase of “English-Language Arts Practice Books” or $388.50 for math workbooks (although the amounts and products could change at any time). Complainants say they cannot reach the company to inquire about the products or amounts allegedly owed, and all have denied ever doing business with the company previously. . . . 

So far, none of the complainants have sent money; however, BBB has no way of knowing if any schools have unknowingly paid the invoice, since they would not have filed a complaint.

The question for our lovely Montgomery County Board of Education is -

• Have we received one of these fake invoices?

A better question is

• Would our accounting systems be able to detect a fraudulent invoice?

I have my own thoughts on this, but I'd love to get an assurance from the MCPS Board of Education and its financial gurus that they are taking their responsibilities seriously and protecting precious and limited taxpayer dollars.

Care to comment, Phil?

Senior Fees - Still Illegal and Still at Blair HS

The Administration at Blair HS must be slow learners.

Several years ago, I know I told the administration at Blair that you can't charge students to participate in graduation.

Yet, charge away they do.  For buses, programs, and flowers.  With a convenience fee if the student pays by credit card.

Last time I checked, Blair HS had great access to public transportation.  Why the bus?  Why ask students to come to school and ride a bus downtown.  Can't they carpool or go with their parents? What if they only want to travel one way?  Do they get a discount?

Flowers?  Flowers in DAR Constitution Hall?  Can't the school share with the other schools using the facility?

Here is information for MBHS Seniors, class of 2015.

SENIOR FEES TO INCLUDE BUS
TRANSPORTATION/PROGRAMS/FLOWERS
All students are required to ride the bus from MBHS to Constitution Hall. $20
The last day to pay for graduation expenses is December 12, 2014.
Make checks payable to MBHS. The money will be collected by Ms. Fus in
the attendance office and Ms. Norris in Room 232 during 5th and 6th
period. Please have exact change.
*There are no additional fees for graduation.
Credit Card Payments can be made online at:
http://osp.osmsinc.com/montgomeryMD/ (3.75% convenience fee added)
*Order forms may be found in the main office, Rm. 232, and online.

And the cap/gown rip off?  The school makes money off every cap/gown they sell to you.  How many other schools use RED gowns?  Black is so much simpler, and easy to recycle.

Parents at Blair and other MCPS high schools remember - your child is entitled to a free public education.  Use public transportation and skip the flowers.   But - don't let the school administrators shake you down for additional cash.

Exclusive: Confidential Starr Memo on Abuse of Students

The Parents' Coalition has obtained a Confidential June 11, 2013, Memorandum from Superintendent Joshua Starr to the Board of Education regarding the "Process to Monitor Allegations of Inappropriate Behavior."

Along with the confidential memorandum we also obtained an August 28, 2013, memorandum from the MCPS Chief Operating Officer, Larry Bowers, to Principals and Directors.  The Chief Operating Officer memo states:

...There are no changes to the mandated reporting procedure in cases of suspected abuse, neglect, and mental injury. The procedures for addressing those issues are outlined in the MCPS Regulation JHC-RA, Child Abuse and Neglect, which is available online at http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/policy/pdf/jhcra.pdf

And, as you have probably guessed by now, the link in the paragraph above goes to a Board of Education regulation that hasn't been updated since 1989.  

MCPS COO Larry Bowers tells administrators there are "no changes" to the mandatory reporting procedures, yet there have been many changes to this Maryland law since 1989. 

Note how on Page 1 of Attachment A of the Bowers memorandum shown below there is no mention of calling Montgomery County Police, and the flow chart is written as if contacting Child Protective Services is one of three options.  

Under current Maryland law, calling Child Protective Services or the Police is a required first step when child abuse is suspected. It is not an option to report the suspected abuse to one of these agencies, it is required.  MCPS teachers and administrators are not being trained using current Maryland law, they are being trained using MCPS' out of date policy.

  2013 June 11 Memorandum by Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland

Where to Find Partying Pat O'Neill this Year

At tomorrow night's MoCo Board of Education Meeting (July 28, 2014),  the Board will consider its brand new policy on Compensation  and Guidelines for Board Expenditures.

Look carefully and in Appendix C you will find the list of events that Board members may attend.  

Does this revised policy provide more guidance than before?

It looks pretty loose to me.  What is an assorted conference?  How many of these things can a board member attend?  Its also open ended - all a Board member needs to do to attend a party that is not on the approved list is ask!

No budget, no limit on events, just go and eat.

And how many of these events are really necessary?  Some - like the County Executive's Ball, looks like a grand time, but does this really further the education of the children in MoCo?   Others look very much like they are tied to the election process, for example, the Committee for Montgomery Legislative Breakfast, the Minority Legislative Breakfast, and the Montgomery County Commission for Women's Legislative Breakfast.

What benefit do our children get when MoCo BOE members attend these events?  Do we need all eight at every event?

Didn't the press have a field day with Chris and Rebecca's eating out all the time?

And - do we want part time BOE members expending full time at events of little benefit to the taxpayers?

Let the Board know how you feel about their list of parties.

Contact for the BOE President:

Phil_Kauffman@mcpsmd.org 

Contact for Board of Education:

Board of Education Office

Montgomery County Public Schools
Carver Educational Services Center
850 Hungerford Drive, Room 123
Rockville, Maryland 20850

Tel: 301-279-3617
Fax: 301-279-3860
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E-mail: boe@mcpsmd.org 

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