Maryland’s governor continues his public health retreat | COMMENTARY

One of the mistakes commonly made during the recent public debate over whether to open schools this fall or conduct classes online has been to consider the ramifications only in the context of students, educators and their families. This is understandable. No one is more directly affected. But during the worst pandemic to hit this nation in a century, schools — public and private — must also be looked upon as potential transmission sites in the same way that bars, restaurants, churches, businesses and every other place where the public might gather must be. This isn’t just about keeping young Tommy or Tamika safe, or their extended families or even their teachers, but about keeping the broader communities safe until COVID-19 is under reasonable control.

That’s why Gov. Larry Hogan’s abrupt decision this week to grant special status to schools by amending an emergency statewide order to prevent local health officials from controlling their operation during the pandemic, is not simply nakedly political, it represents yet another cave-in for a governor who just a few months ago stood tall when it came to protecting public health. What happened to the Larry Hogan who was among the first governors in the nation to close all schools, having announced that action on March 12 (when daily new cases were about one-third what they are today)?..

https://www.baltimoresun.com/opinion/editorial/bs-ed-0805-hogan-private-schools-voting-20200804-gomppvpfmnabfds4augabw4lyu-story.html

Has Your School Been Investigated for Civil Rights Violations?

Every year, the U.S. Department of Education investigates thousands of school districts and colleges around the country for civil rights violations ranging from racial discrimination in school discipline to sexual violence. Related: DeVos Has Scuttled More Than 1,200 Civil Rights Probes Inherited from Obama →

For the first time ever, ProPublica is making available the status of all of the civil rights cases that have been resolved during the past three years, as well as pending investigations. See if your school district or college is being investigated for civil rights violations and why.

In the past three years, 40 cases have been brought against MONTGOMERY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS and then resolved.

Resolved Cases

6 cases had violations or were resolved with corrective change

34 cases had no violations or corrective changes

Continues at this link:

https://projects.propublica.org/graphics/civil-rights-violations?utm_campaign=sprout&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_content=1529590186#49

Read this MD Ct. of Appeals Opinion if Your Child is Sexually Assaulted in a Tutoring Session, a Music Lesson, a Martial Arts Class or Other Situation Where Someone is Responsible for Supervision of Your Child

This understanding of the statute nearly resolves this appeal. Mr. A. [teacher] had responsibility for the supervision of Ms. K. [minor child] when she was in his class, but that responsibility ended when she departed the martial arts studio and her parents resumed their responsibility – thereby terminating the implied consent of the parents and the instructor’s duty to supervise. (Page 15)

https://www.mdcourts.gov/data/opinions/coa/2016/46a14.pdf

   Wicomico County Department of Social Services v. B.A. by Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland on Scribd

1 death reported in Md. linked to synthetic marijuana

BALTIMORE —

A person has died in connection with the use of synthetic marijuana, according to the Maryland Poison Center.

The center received information Wednesday that there have been 30 cases, including one death, linked to an outbreak that was first reported on April 3.

Maryland Poison Center representative Bruce Anderson said the death happened a few weeks ago. He said all signs point to synthetic cannabinoid laced with rat poison...

http://www.wbaltv.com/article/1-death-reported-in-md-linked-to-synthetic-marijuana/21518228

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!

Wootton HS Parent was at Party that Led to Fatal N. Potomac Crash

 Source:  http://on.wusa9.com/1F7655A via @wusa9

NORTH POTOMAC, Md. (WUSA9) -- A parent was present at an alcohol-fueled party in North Potomac that led to a fatal car crash in June, according to documents obtained by WUSA9.

The documents also show that the car carrying Alex Murk, Calvin Li, Sam Ellis and Cameron Siasi was also traveling at least more than 30 miles above the speed limit before the crash.

The four were leaving a house party on June 25 on Dufief Mill Road in North Potomac when their car, driven by Ellis, flew into a fence, hit a tree and landed upside down in a nearby yard. Murk and Li, both riding in the back seat, were killed in the accident. Ellis and Siasi, who was the front-seat passenger, both suffered serious injuries.

The documents show that Ellis was driving at a minimum speed of 65 miles per hour in a 35 mile per hour zone. In an interview with investigators, Siasi said he saw the speedometer at 105 miles per hour and said "Sam’s eyes widened" and "Calvin let out a faint scream."

. . . 

In their investigation, police encountered difficulties getting community members to provide any information. Police had to subpoena more than a dozen teenagers to testify before a grand jury and sources say as many of three-quarters of them lawyered up. The teens agreed to provide information to police on the promise of immunity.

How much of what MCPS puts out is Astroturf and manipulation of media?

Breaking News: PG NAACP President Calls for Halt to PGCPS Cell Tower Deal

Bob Ross (Linkedin)

Prince George's County NAACP President Bob Ross spoke to the Prince George's County Board of Education at their August 28, 2014, meeting about their deal to place at least 73 cell towers on public school property. 

Mr. Ross calls for the Prince George's County Board of Education to hold off on the building of any more cell towers until the issue can be given further study. Mr. Ross also speaks to forming a coalition of other NAACP branches (Montgomery, Anne Arundel and Howard) to further review the issues surrounding the placement of cell towers on public school playgrounds. 

Please note the webcast video and audio are not aligned. If we can obtain a better copy of this statement we will post it. 

Ripping Students Off One at a Time

Question for Superintendent Joshua Starr and Board of Education:  Why do you permit principals to rip off students? 

In 2014 the fee to take an AP exam from the College Board was $89. Source: College Board website.

ExamThe fee for each AP Exam is $89. The school normally retains $8 of that fee as a rebate to help with administrative costs.

It cost $89 to take an AP exam at Walter Johnson High School and Seneca Valley High School in 2014.

But, at Springbrook High School it cost $92.56 to take an AP exam. Why? Because Springbrook High School added a fake "processing fee" to the cost of the AP exam.  That puts a cool $2,500 into the principal's slush fund for that school.  (Feb 2014 Audit of Springbrook Principal's school accounts.)

Note that high schools already get $8 per test as an administration fee to cover the cost of exam proctors. Apparently, that wasn't enough for Springbrook High School and so they tacked on their own fake "processing fee."

  AP Registration - Parent Letter by Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland

Expense Reports for BOE Administrative Services Manager

  Kathy Yorro by Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland

Expense Reports for BOE Staff Assistant, Policy and Communications

  Susann King by Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland

Expense Reports for BOE Legislative and Inter-Governmental Relations Staffer

  Laura Steinberg by Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland

Expense Reports for BOE Chief of Staff and Ombudsman

Roland Ikheloa serves at the Chief of Staff for the Board of Education and as an Ombudsman.  Mr. Ikheloa is also the person whose signature was shown as approving of the expense reports for Board of Education members.

  IkhideRoland Ikheloa by Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland

Expense Reports for BOE Fiscal Assistant

  Rebecca Gibson by Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland

BOE President Announces Criminal Investigation of BOE Credit Card Use by Office of State Prosecutor

County Board of Education Member Spent Nearly $900 on Hotel Room in D.C. - Bethesda Beat

County Board of Education Member Spent Nearly $900 on Hotel Room in D.C. - Bethesda Beat

Board member Rebecca Smondrowski spent $885 on her school-issued credit card for a three-night stay at the Washington Hilton to attend a conference in the District.
Smondrowski, who lives in Gaithersburg, about a 22-mile drive from the hotel, charged the school system for a stay at the hotel from Feb. 1 to Feb. 4. She and her husband, Kenneth, stayed at the hotel while she was attending a National School Board Association (NSBA) leadership conference, according to expense reports provided by the school system.

BOE Won't Fund Graduations So Principals Extort Money from Students? What's wrong with this picture?

Public school graduation is free in Maryland.  There is no legal charge to attend your own graduation from a Montgomery County Public High School.

The Board of Education got their budget request fully funded by the County Council this year!  How is it that graduation is not included in fully funding the public school budget? 

...Most Montgomery County high schools hold commencement at the Daughters of the American Revolution’s Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., which costs more than what’s allotted by the school system, forcing the schools to charge students a fee to graduate...

 http://www.gazette.net/article/20140513/NEWS/140519867/-1/arena-at-shady-grove-metro-station-poised-to-advance&template=gazette

Video: Outraged Community at Wootton High School Cell Tower Meeting

May 20, 2014
Wootton High School
Media Center
7 PM meeting for PTA to discuss Principal Michael Doran's proposal to place a cell tower under the Wootton High School stadium bleachers and turn a stadium light pole into a cell tower. Community members were not notified, but found out about the proposal and showed up at the meeting.
Here is the video of the entire meeting.

Tonight! BOE to meet with Montgomery College Trustees Off Camera. What's for Dinner?

The Montgomery County Board of Education and the Montgomery College Trustees are having an off camera meeting this evening.  The meeting starts at 5:45 PM, so you know what that means! Dinner!  What's on the menu?  Who is paying? 

The meeting is OPEN to the public.  It is just being held off camera so there is no record of what is actually discussed.  Look at the Agenda. There will be "individual table discussions."  Lots of off camera, unrecorded discussions between BOE members and Montgomery College Trustees.  

Stop by and grab a seat.  Let us know what you hear being discussed. 

  2014 May 19 MCPS-MontgomeryCollege by Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland

Suddenly it's Raining . . . Cell Towers in Rockville

Do you know what a strategic plan is?

Do you know that Montgomery County Public Schools has lots of strategic plans on its website?  You just have to look for them.

Here is my favorite strategic plan of the day - it's the MCPS Real Estate Management Team Strategic Plan for FY 2014 -2019.

Everything you wanted to know about why we are seeing a sudden surge in cell phone towers in Rockville.  Its all part of the plan.

Some highlights?

The Functions of the Real Estate Management Team are on page 2

8.  Monitor and analyze Enterprise Fund performance.

12.  Manage/oversee Cell tower lease process
13.  Oversee cell tower revenue sharing

What is the Enterprise Fund?  I thought we had an Enterprise Fund for summer school and adult education. I don't see a lot of recent discussion on Enterprise Funds on the MCPS website.  Is this in the Operating Budget?  The Capital Budget?  Does our County Council know about this program?  Inquiring minds want to know.  

But my absolute favorite is listed under SWOT - strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats - (page 6)

• Communities opposition to cell towers

Really - your communities are a threat?  What happened to the lovely community-school partnership?  Did the Board of Education review this document at a meeting?

We should all thank Dr. Starr for putting communities on the enemies list.  We now we have it in print.

We are so lucky to have Dr. Starr and a REM Strategic Plan too!  Otherwise, the principals at Wootton HS and Julius West MS would be lost.