The MCPS entrepreneurial, real estate, and field trip enterprise funds all experienced LOSSES in FY 2019. No More $$$ for Artificial Turf Replacement Fields.

From Page 24 of the MCPS Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR):

...entrepreneurial, real estate, and field trip enterprise funds

 all experienced losses in FY 2019...  

There is no explanation for why all those MCPS enterprise funds experienced losses and we doubt the Board of Education will ever investigate this.

What we do know is that these MCPS Real Estate funds have been used to pay for the replacement of the Walter Johnson High School artificial turf football field.

We also know that the replacement artificial turf for WJHS cost over $681,899.  (The cost of the planning for the replacement field was not disclosed to the Board of Education or the public.)

January 9, 2020, Montgomery County Board of Education where MCPS COO announces that there is no more money for the replacement of artificial turf fields.



FY 2019 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report:
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/departments/financialservices/FY19CAFR.pdf

Woodward High School Site has 1.75 Acre Parcel For Expansion

This week the Montgomery County Board of Education discussed the Initial Concepts for the re-opening of the Woodward High School site.  MCPS staff seem to think the site is constrained and will not be able to accomodate a stadium.

However, MCPS staff and the Board of Education have failed to include the entire school site in their planning.  The Woodward High School site includes a 1.75 acre parcel on Edson Road.  Neighbors and advocates fought hard back in 2004 to keep that parcel and two others open for future school use.  

January 2004:  “All of our schools are overcrowded,” said Janis Sartucci, cluster coordinator for the Churchill PTA. “We have enough trailers on the ground to make a new elementary.” Sartucci added that Cabin John Middle School splits its graduates between Churchill and Wootton high schools.#“We don’t know what the future holds for this cluster other than growth,” Sartucci said. “I don’t think were at the point where we can say ‘we’ll never need it for a new school.’”   The future is now.  

The red dot shows the location of the unused Edson Lane parcel.  This is land that was dedicated for public school use and can be reclaimed for that use today.

From MD land records. 

Location of unused, dedicated public school land shown in red.
MCPS Initial Concept drawing presented to Board of Ed.

More Help Wanted

Did you ever wonder how Montgomery County Board of Education and Montgomery County Public Schools reach various decisions?

Here is your opportunity to find out AND get paid!

This popped into my mailbox - must be destiny!

Apply now (search supervisor budget) and you too can be considered to SUPERVISE the Department of Management and Budget.  Maybe you can help MCPS build more schools, or tell the BOE members to stop using credit cards.  The possibilities are endless.

And the most telling part- look at the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities section - its blank.  We always knew that the person(s) who held this job in the past did not have any particular skill or ability, and now we have it in print.

Supervisor, Management Budget Operations

Job Specific Information:  Please attach a resume and a letter of interest detailing how your educaiton and experiences have prepared you for this position. In addition, include three letters of reference. 

MCPS Official Job Description

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION:
Under general direction, the supervisor oversees daily operations of the Department of Management and Budget. Responsible for planning, budgeting, financial monitoring and operational and management analysis functions for a defined segment of MCPS. Analyzes and reviews unit goals, multiyear plans, budget requests, functions and operations. Monitors expenditure patterns and management practices. Provides training to new employees. Has chief responsibility for production of the printed budgets. Provides support to budget analysts for the more difficult and complex assignments and exercises considerable independent judgment and initiative in recommending to unit heads planning, budgetary, financial, or management strategies to improve efficiency and effectiveness. May represent the director at meetings as needed. Assists with the creation of the department's strategic plan.KNOWLEDGE ABILITIES AND SKILLSThorough knowledge of public administration principles and practices, with emphasis on budget concepts and organizational systems, practices and procedures and their application to various organizations and function. Thorough knowledge of statistical and other management analysis techniques. Considerable knowledge of Maryland school laws and regulations governing budgets and expenditures. Understands MCPS organization, operations, goals and priorities. Able to work effectively with other MCPS units and stakeholders. Good user knowledge of computerized information systems. Excellent communications and interpersonal skills. Ability to analyze complex organizational procedures and recommend solutions to budgetary or management problems.

CERTIFICATE LICENSE:
None 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, and ABILITIES:


EDUCATION, TRAINING, and EXPERIENCE:
Graduation from an a accredited college or university with a major in public or business administration or related field; courses or experience in, accounting, auditing, budgeting or other fiscal areas. Master's degree in public or business administration or related field highly desirable. Experience in supervision preferred. Considerable, progressively responsible staff work in public sector planning, budget preparation and administration, and management analysis. Other combinations of applicable education, training, and experience which provide the knowledge, abilities, and skills necessary to perform effectively in the position may be considered. 

Job

:  Administrators  

Job Grade:  O 

Organization

:  Offices  

Primary Location

:  Rockville

Schedule

:  Full-time | 1.000 (80 hours bi-weekly)

Working Months:  12

Shift

:  Day Job

Job Posting

:  Sep 1, 2015, 12:09:29 PM - Sep 18, 2015, 11:59:00 PM

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.