Mont. Co. Board of Ed. Keeps "Equity" Alive at Kennedy HS with Exorbitant $143.50 Mandatory Graduation Fee! "All means all" except at Kennedy High School in Silver Spring.

The "historic" Montgomery County Board of Education is keeping alive the male tradition of ripping off students in Silver Spring.  The all woman Board of Education has continued the illegal practice of allowing local high school principals to set ANY mandatory fee for seniors to attend their own FREE public high school graduation.  As in past years, Kennedy High School in Silver Spring tops the list of fees by charging seniors $143.50 to attend their own free public high school graduation.  If students don't pay, they can't attend their own graduation.

The great women "leaders" on the Board of Education are fine with this and sit back in their brand new leather swivel chairs and claim to be interested in equity.

But actions speak louder than words and this all women Board of Education is no different than the male dominated Boards of Education in the past.  This Board of Education is fine with students at Kennedy High School paying $143.50 to attend their own graduation while students at Poolesville High School pay $27.50.  

As a reminder, senior dues and graduation fees do not exist in Montgomery County or in Maryland. No such fees have ever been authorized by the Maryland legislature or the Montgomery County Board of Education.  The illegal graduation fees found in MCPS are set by the local principal and often include a slush fund for expenses not detailed in any publicly available documents.

Here is what 2019 MCPS Seniors are being forced to pay to attend their own MCPS free public school graduations.  If the fees were legal, they would be authorized by a governing body, in compliance with the Maryland Constitutions guarantee of a free public education, and uniform across all high schools.

Md. Comptroller Franchot questions Washington County Public Schools collections proposal

ANNAPOLIS — Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot weighed in Wednesday on the proposal by Washington County Public Schools to use a collection agency to recover some $45,000 in unpaid charges for student meals.

The topic came up as the Maryland Board of Public Works agreed to let the Washington County Commissioners dispose of the former Conococheague Elementary School.

Franchot used it as an opportunity to comment on a Herald-Mail Media article about the school system "considering a proposal to contract with a collection agency to go after parents whose children have negative balances in their school meal accounts."

"Being humiliated and harassed … by collectors are the last thing families who are experiencing financial hardship need," he said, "and I sincerely hope that the children are not being denied meals or going hungry in schools simply because their parents are not, or are unable to settle up their school meal debts."...

https://www.heraldmailmedia.com/news/annapolis/md-comptroller-franchot-questions-washington-county-public-schools-collections-proposal/article_a9a36403-a1b7-5caf-875b-436ad4271112.html

Whitman Principal Wants $24,050 Cash for Slush Fund

From Whitman High School today we learn that Whitman Principal Alan Goodwin wants $24,050 to put in his school slush fund.  

What is the money for? We have no idea.  Mr. Goodwin is using graduation to extort these funds from students.  In MCPS graduation is a free event.  Graduation is funded by the Board of Education as part of the MCPS Operating Budget.  But, if parents and guardians want to throw an extra $50 bucks at Alan Goodwin, then be our guest.
 
Just know that there is no $50 "fee" for graduation and that punishing students for not paying this illegal fee is bullying and extortion.

The Board of Education and MCPS are teaching students a very important lesson about how public institutions can use their power to bully citizens and extort funds. We can expect this type of behavior to continue in Montgomery County for generations to come as our public school system trains each generation how to bully and extort from children.

From Whitman High School - January 13, 2015:

PLEASE SHARE THE MORNING ANNOUNCEMENTS WITH YOUR STUDENT(S)

Gardiner
A reminder to all seniors - It's time to get your senior dues in.  Dues are $50.00 and both cash/checks are acceptable with checks made out to WWHS.
This covers the cost of caps/gowns, tickets and programs.  It is now considered an obligation if dues have not been paid, which means that students cannot apply for parking second semester.  In addition, prom tickets/picnic tickets will not be able to be purchased until dues have been paid.  Please bring your payment to Mrs. Gardiner in the main office.

Posted by Donna Gardiner

So Far, the Prize for Most Ripped Off Kids at Graduation - Northwood HS

Its hard to say whether Northwood HS is charging more or less for the honor of walking down the aisle for graduation ceremonies.

In 2010, Northwood assessed a senior fee of $140 dollars, but let students who only wanted to attend graduation fork over $40.

This year, the senior fee is $75.  We can't say what the fee covers, only that of the three schools reporting in so far, this one is the clear top dollar.

Senior Northwood HS Dues - Class of 2015 Full Payment - Online School Payments_ Montgomery County Public Sc...

Payments go directly through an MCPS website. How convenient is this? But - how do you know the money even goes to Northwood? Where does the receipt of the funds appear in the budget?

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!

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.

Only $9 will get a senior through graduation at BCC and no mandatory bus fee!

...Students can wear an older brother or sister’s gown if they wish as long as it is Royal Blue. However, they will still need to order a tassel from Jostens. The tassel can be purchased for $ 9 at the senior breakfast...

http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/schools/bcchs/students/Graduation%20Packet%202014%20FINAL.pdf

$10 to Graduate from Blair HS, But Seniors Must Ride Mandatory $20 Bus

What's going on at Blair High School?  A senior at Blair can graduate for as little as $10! Well, almost!
Seniors are "required" to ride a $20 bus to graduation! 

What's going on at the other MCPS schools that are charging mandatory fees of up to $75 to graduate without any bus transportation to graduation?  What is all that money for?

Life long learners might ask for an accounting of these fees at MCPS high schools.  Be warned, MCPS doesn't really promote life long learning and doesn't appreciate questions about illegal fees! 



Taken With Webpage Screenshot

Blair Students - Still Scrambling to Graduate

Today, an interesting story appeared in Blair's esteemed student newspaper, Silver Chips.

A significant portion of this year's graduating class is at risk of not receiving their diplomas.  You can read the article here.


Why?

Its those pesky student service learning hours.  Again.

Up to 30 percent of this year's graduating class may not be able to shake Dr. Starr's hand this June, unless they come up with the hours.

Blair administration cites several causes for this recurrent problem.  Students change schools, students forget to hand in the forms, etc. 

Every year its the same story.

And every year, Blair administrators state that students will not be able to pick up their caps and gowns if they don't meet the requirement by spring break.

Here's a better solution.

Spring break is still a few weeks away.  Start racking up those hours, and plan on using Spring Break - a whole six weekdays off from schoool - to earn those hours.

And a note to Blair administrators - start thinking about this problem earlier - say, in the students second or third year at the school, so future classes won't be faced with this problem.  Make sure that the technical problems, like records not transfering over and other items that should be handled by adults, are handled appropriately.

Lets get all those Blazers down to Constitution Hall to shake Dr. Starr's hand.  All the drama should be at graduation, not before.

Pay to Graduate in MCPS

• The Board of Education has never authorized local schools to charge students a fee to graduate.

• The Maryland State Legislature has never authorized public schools to charge students a fee to graduate. 

• The money collected through "senior dues/fees" doesn't go in to the MCPS Operating Budget.  

• The "senior fees/dues" charged at MCPS schools varies from zero to over $100.  

What exactly are these dues/fees being used for? 

Please note the "late fee." That adds a sense of urgency to this unjustified charge. 

Senior Fees

Dear Senior Parents,

Thursday, December 23, 2010 is the last day to pay the senior fee at the low price of $45.00.  The price goes up after the winter break to $50.00.

Please submit your money or checks to XXXXX in the Media Center. 

Don't forget to write your students' name and ID number on the check. 

All checks should be made out to XXHS.

Have a great, happy and healthy holiday.

Thank you,

XXXXXXX

Senior Class Sponsor

301-XXX-XXXX

Check out the cap & gown price at this MCPS school. Makes you wonder what the "low $45" price is at the school above.

Date: December 3, 2010

Re:  Senior Cap and Gown fee

Dear Parents…The time is upon us to start planning for graduation.  Your senior student should have already filled out a cap and gown form and turned it in to XXXXXX in the XXXXX office.  Please note that cost for purchasing the cap and gown is separate from the announcements and other graduation accessories available through Jostens.   XXHS will be responsible for ordering caps and gowns in bulk, saving you a couple dollars.  Students are permitted to re-use their sibling’s black cap and gown. 

If you have not already done so, please make a check payable to XXHS for $23.85 to purchase the cap and gown and turn it in to XXXXXXX, senior class advisor.  We would like to have all payments collected by December 21, 2010.  Please call XXXXXX at 301-XXX-XXXX if you have any questions. Thank you for your cooperation.

Parents irked by graduation fees | Washington Examiner

Parents irked by graduation fees Washington Examiner

...Rosanne Hurwitz, a Blair parent and active member of the school watchdog group Parents Coalition of Montgomery County, complained to Blair principal Darryl Williams that the dues violate Maryland's constitutional right to a free public education. Her Parents Coalition cohorts have argued for nearly two years that graduation dues, as well as fees for classes and supplies, are illegal.

Some principals have listened and have dropped certain fees. The district as a whole, however, has denied the complaints...

Senior year expenses, from prom to AP tests, add up for parents | Washington Examiner

Senior year expenses, from prom to AP tests, add up for parents | Washington Examiner

Parents upset with the cost of graduation

...In the complaint letter, Mrs. Hurwitz challenges “the senior dues fee, ...[are] not authorized by the Board of Education under policy JNA,” adding that “it is contrary to the Maryland State constitutional right to a free public education.”

In a bid to compromise the concerns addressed by Mrs. Hurwitz and to reduce disruption to the planning and ceremony, Mr. Williams reduced the senior dues fee by $1, and has also agreed to assemble a committee of parents, students and staff to address ways in which they can eliminate or reduce the fee in the future. Not only that, but the Blair High School principal has determined that students who aren’t able to pay the $34 senior dues will still be able to attend their graduation.

article continues 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?

Who Sets the Mandatory Senior Fees in MoCo?

Answer - Not the Board of Education.

An earlier post on this blog explored the vast differences in the mandatory senior fee assessment charged in high schools across Montgomery County.  See Annual Senior Fee Survey. 

Can you cite any applicable MCPS or BOE Policy? 

I can't.  It's not listed as part of the graduation requirements for obtaining a diploma from MCPS.   It's not in the Curricular Fee Policy.  I couldn't find any mention of fees anywhere in the Maryland statutes on education - if you can find a citation, please leave a comment below.

The real answer is this isn't a mandatory fee at all, because no one is authorized to collect this fee.  Yet parents pay, year after year, because the consequences are harsh.  No prom, no end of year festivities.  Just because someone told them they must.


At Blair HS, even if you pay for the cap/gown, a failure to pay the mandatory senior fee means your student won't receive a cap/gown/tassel and graduation tickets.  So kids who aren't able to pay or have someone else pick up the assessment, won't be able to walk down the aisle at Constitution Hall.  The Blair administration admits that 100 students may be unable to pay the fee or obtain a cap/gown/tassel, but that doesn't include those students who have recently changed financial situations or who have not yet let the school know of their circumstances. 

Yet year after year, in the absence of any authority to collect these fees, families are consenting to the continuation of the practice.

That's bullying, plain and simple.  What a great example we are teaching the students.

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



From the chart provided by MCPS in response to a Maryland Public Information Act Request, of the schools who charge senior fees are as varied as the schools themselves.  Here is a list of who approved the illegal charge.  Be sure to thank them.

Principals (12)- Blake,* Blair, Poolesville, Quince Orchard, Richard Mongomery, Rock Terrace, Rockville, Seneca Valley, Sherwood, Wheaton, Watkins Mill, and Walter Johnson

Community Superintendent (1) - Northwood

Assistant Principals (2) - Albert Einstein and Thomas S. Wootton

Other (1) Kennedy

No graduation fees 2010 school year (11) - BCC, Blake,* Churchill, Clarksburg, Damascus, Edison Center, Gaithersburg, Magruder, Northwest, Paint Branch and Springbrook

Two notes to this table.
1.  Montgomery Blair's actual fees are $70, because the school charges a mandatory fee of $35 in addition to a cap/gown/tassel fee of $35.
2.  Blake HS charged fees in 2009, but not in 2010.

Graduation MoCo Style - Senior Dues Shakedown

Do you know what happens to the graduation fees paid by Montgomery County High School seniors across the county?

Here is the breakdown of graduation costs for the 600 students at Montgomery Blair HS:

 $1,600 - - - Student Balance (MCPS pays $5000 of the $6600 rental fee for DAR))

    $700 - - - Flowers

$12,640 - - - Bus Rental for students, staff, band, and chorus

  $3,300 - - - Program printing costs, 12 pages

    $500 - - - Ticket printing - 2500 tickets

    $370 - - - Senior Bag

  $1,500 - - - BBQ Picnic for students after graduation rehearsal

$20,610 - - - Total - divided by 600 students comes out to $34.35 in mandatory fees.

If you are thinking $12,000+ for renting buses is excessive, you are right.  DAR is in downtown DC -near public transportation.  Don't the student families also need to get downtown?

Second question - are students expected to ride the bus back to school after the ceremonies?  Or is Blair bilking the student body for a round trip fare that no one really needs, especially when most students will join their families for the return trip.

In this writer's opinion, skip the bus, skip the flowers, and only charge what is really needed.

How does your school rate on its graduation costs?

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.

Win President Obama for Graduation!

Race to the Top High School Commencement Challenge

Weast: Graduation Not Included

You might think that in Montgomery County Public Schools high school graduation ceremonies would be included at the end of a successful public school education.

Sure, MCPS has the highest per pupil spending in the State of Maryland.
Sure, the MCPS budget if over $2.3 billion.

But Superintendent Jerry Weast doesn't believe that students should be rewarded for earning a high school diploma with a graduation ceremony.

So Superintendent Weast doesn't fully fund graduation ceremonies. 

Many MCPS high schools use DAR Constitution Hall for their graduation ceremony. The rental of that facility is $5,700 per graduation.

Superintendent Weast has stopped paying the full rental cost for DAR.

On April 17, 2009, Superintendent Weast told the Montgomery County Council's Education Committee* that he wasn't going to fully fund the rental of DAR Constitution Hall for 2010 graduations.  He said he would only fund $5,000 of the $5,700 cost of the rental cost for 2010 graduations.

See "Program Reduction and Efficiencies" on Page 14 of the packet given to the Council's Education Committee.

And in January, Montgomery Blair's student newspaper Silver Chips reported that Superintendent Weast may cut even the partial $5,000 rental payment and only pay $3,400 of the rental costs for June 2010 graduations.

...Lafen estimated that graduating at DAR will cost Blair $6,000 beyond the $5,000 Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) allocates to reduce the burden of graduation expenses. Based on these figures, he predicted that seniors will have to contribute about $10 in senior dues in addition to money collected for cap and gowns. Lafen warned, however, that MCPS Superintendent Jerry Weast has proposed budget cuts that could further increase senior dues. "Just in the last couple of days, Mr. Williams [Blair's principal] was given notice that MCPS may cut graduation funding by $1,600," he said...

How will MCPS high schools pay for the rental of DAR Constitution Hall this year?

Seniors will be taxed.

It's called "senior dues" and it is a fee at many high schools that is required for MCPS seniors to graduate.

The "senior graduation fee" isn't discussed or voted on by the Board of Education, and isn't authorized by the State Board of Education, or the Maryland legislature.

Is it legal? Doubt it. But if you want your child to have a graduation ceremony you better pay up.

Don't count on any elected officials to stand up for your child's right to a free public education including a graduation ceremony. Local and state officials have ignored the illegal curricular fees still being charged by MCPS, and remember that the County Council already approved Superintendent Weast's underfunding of the DAR/Constitution Hall rental fee for 2010 graduations.

*County Council's Education Committee:  Valerie Ervin, Chair, Mike Knapp and Phil Andrews.

Graduation Fees - Class of 2010

Has your Montgomery County Public School High School senior asked for graduation fees yet?

Here is the Senior Class "Package" for Blair HS.

Two items of note.

1.  Students who have unpaid "obligations" at the end of the year will not receive their cap/gown.  But a cap/gown is mandatory for graduation, so students must pay the fees or risk not attending the ceremony.

2.  Despite selecting the lower cost DAR venue, Blair HS seniors still must pay $35 for a senior fee.  What comprises that fee?  Doesn't say in this communication.  Why does Blair HS need $21,000 (600 students x $35 per student) in fees?

Blair Graduation

Anyone see something funny about charging students $35 for graduation "fees" and not telling families what they get?

Note - Richard Montgomery also has senior fee of $70, but that defrays the cost of the senior class picnic at Smokey Glen and a senior shirt.    Blair just seems to charge the fee, without the shirt and barbeque chicken.

What is happening at the rest of the schools in MoCo?