Montgomery County Schools to phase out gymnastics programs; program head responds--"At the very best it's a bait and switch at the very worse its a bold face lie,"

...7News spoke with Paula Shaibani, a gymnastics instructor at Bethesda Chevy Chase High School and who oversees sport across the seven schools. She told 7News that not only was the district's claims of waning numbers incorrect, but that she and the other coaches had been caught off guard by the decision.

She said MCPS leadership informed them of a potential vote by athletics directors but would give them another notice prior to the vote. She said the gymnastics coaches were also promised the opportunity for public comment periods.

"At the very best it's a bait and switch at the very worse its a bold face lie," Shaibani told 7News during a phone call.

It wasn't until a coach at another school was told by an Athletics Director about the vote that Shaibani said she even knew of the decision.

She added that only two gymnastic coaches were told of the decision in a formal statement and said they were given very few opportunities to talk with MCPS athletic leaders on how to keep the program...

https://wjla.com/news/local/montgomery-county-gymnastics-sport-teams-athletes-maryland-public-school-high-school-students-coaches-equipment-costs-gear

Montgomery County parents push back against plan to move graduations

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (7News) — 7News obtained an email from Damascus High School's principal sent to the school community.

It explains that the upcoming graduation on May 28 will be held at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, which is 35 miles from the school.

The letter states that Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) decided to provide a "comfortable, indoor setting that's not dependent on weather.

It also refers to "ample parking and accessibility for guests."

We emailed several parents to get their responses...

https://wjla.com/news/local/montgomery-county-high-school-graduation-move-baltimore-damascus-umbc-2026-parents-controversy-education-reaction-tradition-ceremony-student-safety-policy-district-decisions-seniors-plans

Superintendent Taylor Keeps Finding More Cash. How is Taylor Spending without BOE Approval?

 

Law firm to investigate potential ‘personnel wrongdoing’ in MCPS background check backlog

Cost of investigation to add to $1M the district is spending to resolve problem

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) has hired the global law firm Morgan, Lewis and Bockius to conduct an investigation into potential “personnel wrongdoing” by district staff related to a backlog of nearly 13,000 outdated employee background checks, MCPS officials told Bethesda Today on Wednesday.  

The officials said the cost of the investigation would not be known until it is completed. The district is already spending more than $1 million to resolve the issue revealed by a scathing August report by the Montgomery County inspector general’s office. 

The Aug. 4 report released by the county inspector general’s office found that nearly 13,000 MCPS employees had outdated criminal history checks, and almost 5,000 individuals who may have unsupervised access to students hadn’t undergone a Child Protective Services (CPS) check. Also, some contractors and volunteers with unsupervised access to students had begun work prior to the completion of criminal history checks, according to the report.     

In mid-August, the school board approved an $800,000 contract with All American Protective Services, a fingerprinting service with locations in Rockville, Germantown, Bethesda and Silver Spring, to fingerprint its employees...

...MCPS Superintendent Thomas Taylor told the County Council audit committee during a meeting on Friday about the background check challenges that MCPS had hired a third party to conduct an investigation that was expected to be completed this fall. Taylor didn’t share the name of the third party or the potential cost of the investigation, but MCPS spokesperson Liliana López told Bethesda Today via email Wednesday that the firm was Morgan, Lewis and Bockius, which has offices in Washington, D.C.

López also said the MCPS “will know the cost once the investigation is completed.”..

https://bethesdamagazine.com/2025/10/02/potential-personnel-wrongdoing-mcps-investigation/

 

Day #1: New Councilmember Exposes Council's Dirty Little Secret: Votes taken behind closed doors through "polling."

Today was the first day of the new Montgomery County Council session. It was the first day of the new 11 member County Council and the first day for 6 new councilmembers, including Councilmember Kristin Mink. 

In opening remarks, Councilmember Kristin Mink said,

"I want to speak about something which I think we are all in agreement - and I think it is important to name.  After the election when I became privy to more of the Council's inner workings, I was surprised to learn that there are some processes which pre-date our current Council and current outgoing Council leadership that can in some instances remove some debate and decision-making from the public eye...

...I'm speaking about polls taken in various manners, that could be treated with the same finality as a vote on the dais, without as much public debate or oversight..."