Inspector General Flags Inconsistencies in MCPS Procurement Practices

...The OIG found there are no standard procedures on how MCPS staff should document purchases, and records are often incomplete or scattered across multiple systems. Staff often relies on personal judgment or unofficial processes, leading to inconsistent practices.  

Some of the key findings in the report state MCPS ignored Maryland law and its own regulations by making purchases over $25,000 without Board of Education approval. Additionally, seven vendors received payments above the threshold in FY23 and FY24 with no evidence of Board authorization...

https://www.mymcmedia.org/the-montgomery-county-office-of-the-inspector-general-found-inconsistencies-in-how-montgomery-county-public-schools-handled-its-procurement-process-during-fiscal-years-2023-and-2024/

Somerset County school board violated state law in hiring lawyers, inspector general says

...After hiring new attorneys, the board rescinded its policy on selecting legal counsel through a competitive process.

The board declined to be interviewed by the Inspector General’s Office. Their lawyers wrote that “they will not agree to be independently interrogated by you or the OIGE.”

Henry has asked the Maryland State Board of Education to establish standard practices for county boards to give the public more transparency in how they hire contractors.

Henry also said he would like county boards to be trained in what the rules are for hiring contractors, including what ethical standards are.

https://www.thebanner.com/education/k-12-schools/marc-and-gordana-schifanelli-FTHLXHLUC5H7ZFWIGGSWACDUHQ/

The Maryland State Board of Education said Montgomery County Public Schools’ electric bus contract was “tainted” by an employee later convicted of fraud.

A school district’s deal to shift to electric buses hits another bump

...The state board said it reviewed the external report conducted on behalf of the Montgomery school district that detailed how the electric-bus contract was awarded. The four-person committee was tasked with scoring the potential vendors.

The state board said that if the scores of Ewald and Watkins were excluded, Highland Electric Fleets would not have won the Montgomery contract. It alleges their involvement “at a minimum … created an appearance of impropriety.”

Ewald’s scores were not included in the report, and López referred questions about the omission to the investigator. Andrew Nussbaum, a Howard County-based attorney, did not immediately answer questions about his report...

 https://wapo.st/3JJn7yR

MCPS Electric Bus Deal: County Exec. Marc Elrich Introduced Company to MCPS. Delegate Fraser-Hidalgo Introduced Elrich to Company.

-February 27, 2021

...Montgomery County Executive Marc B. Elrich (D) said he brought school system transportation and Highland Electric officials together after meeting the company’s CEO, Duncan McIntyre, in Annapolis.

The two had been introduced by Del. David Fraser-Hidalgo (D-Montgomery), a longtime proponent of electric buses.

In talking with McIntyre, Elrich became convinced that tax credits and depreciation allowances were starting to shift the economics... surrounding electric buses in a significant way...

https://www.marylandmatters.org/2021/02/27/montgomery-school-system-deal-to-lease-electric-buses-called-historic/

Board of Ed Sued Again on Procurement Issue: ABC7 - Judge reverses controversial decision on after-school care in Montgomery County #assault #sexabuse

POTOMAC, Md. (WJLA) — Farmland Child Development Center ran Potomac's Wayside Elementary after-school program in Montgomery County the past 27 years. But a new company bumped out the non-profit group when after-school care came up for bid this year: for-profit company Kids Adventures.

"I was shocked, honestly," said one father who requested anonymity with children still going to Wayside Elementary. “I couldn't believe that a provider that had a record like that was in business, let alone winning contracts.”

A Kids Adventure employee faces 50 years in prison, charged this April for allegedly assaulting and robbing a co-worker at a Takoma Park elementary school parking lot.

In a separate incident, an after-school care employee working with Kids Adventures pleaded guilty to sex crimes victimizing a 10 year old girl at another Potomac school.

http://wjla.com/features/7-on-your-side/judge-after-school-care-lawsuit-montgomery-county

Breaking: Rock Creek Forest Elementary Violates Open Meetings Act - Childcare Selection Committee

https://www.oag.state.md.us/Opinions/Open2016/10omcb67.pdf

MCPS Asks for Bids for Consultant to Review MCPS Choice and Other Special Programs

http://www.marylandbids.com/bid-opportunities/2014/10/28/5942836-External-Consultants-to-Review-MCPS-Choice--Other-Special-Programs.html

Exclusive: MSI Soccer Says MCPS Bid Process, "highly irregular and rife with conflicts of interest, false statements..."

The Parents Coalition has obtained a copy of the public comment given yesterday to the Montgomery County Council concerning a proposal to install artificial turf on the Churchill High School football field.  Below is the cover letter from MSI to the County Council that details MSI Soccer, Inc.'s complaint.

Included in the cover letter on Page 5:

...Mr. Song stated that "they" intended to issue a "rejection of all bids" ...MSI objected on the basis that the selection committee had previously stated that all negotiations had been completed and MSI had been informed that it had been selected.  Mr. Song responded "well, since nobody will be able to prove what was said in any of those meetings, we are just going forward with this process."...

Note to Montgomery County Council:  You have the power to subpoena witnesses and put them under oath.  Maybe it's time to consider swearing in MCPS staff when they come before the Council?  

  2014 July MSI Soccer Public Comment to Montgomery County Council by Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland

Another $325,000 to Walker Willis Corp on March 24th at BOE Meeting

Monday, March 24, 2014, Board of Education Consent Agenda at this link.  The Board of Education will approve $4.8 million in spending without seeing any contracts or details as to how this spending will be used.  

When the Parents' Coalition has attempted to obtain the supporting contracts for similar expenditures we have not met with much success. How does the Board of Education know how these funds will actually be used?

Read about our past attempts to obtain contracts for this one MCPS contractor here and here and here and here.

Walker Willis annual payments from MCPS from the MCPS Funding Accountability and 
Transparency database. 

FY 2010                                1,896,907
FY 2011                                3,211,507
FY 2012                                3,030,770
FY 2013                                2,864,299
FY 2014 -as of February      1,197,789

Breaking News: Vendor Protests MCPS Bid Award

A vendor appealed the award of a contract by the Montgomery County Board of Education to the State Board of Education.  The vendor can now appeal the decision below. 

Because the Maryland legislature is so protective of decisions of local Boards of Education the appeal period for these decisions is just 30 days.  Not many people, vendors or citizens will even realize that a Board of Education has made a decision within 30 days.  That extremely short time frame protects Maryland Boards of Education from many legal challenges. 

  Vend Natural,Inc. v. Board of Education by Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland