**BOE Finds $562,721 for Plastic Grass at RM High School.** Not Money for Teachers, Classrooms, Lead Remediation, Mold Remediation, Repairs, Grass Seed... BOE Intentionally Let Warranty EXPIRE! Did Council Appropriate these Funds for this Purpose?

The Montgomery County Board of Education intentionally let the warranty on the defective Richard Montgomery High School artificial turf field expire and now they are going to use $562,721 of Operating Budget funds to replace this one plastic football field. 

The MCPS Real Estate department has been squirreling aways cash.  This money will be used to buy a new plastic field for Richard Montgomery High School.  Those funds are not listed in the MCPS Operating Budget documents in any discoverable location.  The image to the left shows the only mention of this fund in the FY19 MCPS Operating Budget.

Note that the Resolution (below) before the Board of Education on June 25, 2018, does not mention any approriation of these funds by the County Council.

The money in this "fund" has allegedly come in to MCPS through outside sources and is being immediately diverted to pay for plastic football fields without any discussion of the best use of these public school dollars. 

Probably the biggest source of cash for this fund is coming from Cell Tower revenue. 

That means that the high FARMS rate schools that have cell towers on their playgrounds and fields are paying for the plastic grass purchase at Richard Montgomery High School.  

In addition, MCPS has used Field Trip fees to fund Artificial Turf purchases. 

Remember that the actual Artificial Turf PLAN was that these fields would pay for themselves through field rental fees.  That has not happened. 

The Board of Education has not provided the public with an accounting for the funds being used to pay for the Richard Montgomery High School artificial turf field replacement nor are they bringing these outside funds before the County Council for appropriation. 

The failure to present a transparent budget Resolution to the public is on the Board of Education members four of whom are candidates in this year's elections. 

   Award Cont Replace Turf Richard Montgomery HS by Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland on Scribd

HCPSS told only spend Alcohol Tax $$ in Districts where Legislator Voted in Favor of Tax

Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) and how the decision was made to use Alcohol Tax funds to buy artificial turf football fields at two high schools. Read the letter from Senator Allan Kittleman below.

Do you wonder if HCPSS will be putting out those artificial turf purchases for bids, or will you-know-who get the contract automatically?

Howard County Public Schools to use Alcohol Tax dollars for artificial turf football fields

An open, competitive and transparent bid process...

When it came time to replace the field at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Buffalo an open, competitive and transparent bid process was initiated.   I know the Bills are a struggling franchise but it does beg the question:  Why does Montgomery County exclude all other bidders and pay grossly inflated prices?  If other turf suppliers are good enough for the Buffalo Bills (and Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, St. Louis Rams, The Pro Bowl in Hawaii, etc...) surely they are qualified enough to bid on jobs in Montgomery County?

WNED: New Field Turf to be Installed at Bills Stadium (2011-07-05)

...The current field will be torn up and replaced this month. The new turf, known as Titan, has a lifespan of up to 15 years...

Link and comment submitted anonymously to the Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland

E-Mail Shows Exclusive Artificial Turf Vendor Gets Exclusive Access to MCPS

Imagine having an exclusive multi-million dollar deal with Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) and Montgomery County!  That's what one artificial turf vendor has going on right now and they didn't even have to submit a bid to get the business.


Take a look at the e-mail below that just went out this morning from the MCPS Consultant who is apparently being paid (on top of his MCPS retirement) to handle the artificial turf installations in MCPS. 


An e-mail that went out to MCPS staff and Montgomery County interested parties about an extension of the deadline to comment on a report on artificial turf included notification to only ONE artificial turf vendor. Guess which one? Yes, the MCPS exclusive artificial turf vendor! 


What happened to the MCPS Procurement principles?


Other artificial turf vendors and Montgomery County natural grass growers you all weren't on this list so here's today's e-mail for your information: 

From: Lavorgna, Joseph <Joseph_Lavorgna@mcpsmd.org> 

Subject: FW: Public Comment Period Extended to June 7 

To: "Anne Ambler ", "Baiyeshea, Comfort O" <Comfort_O_Baiyeshea@mcpsmd.org>, "Beattie, William" <William_Beattie@mcpsmd.org>, "Beil, Clark " <Clark.Beil@montgomerycountymd.gov>, "Bowers, Larry" <Larry_Bowers@mcpsmd.org>, "Bulson, Sean W." <Sean_W_Bulson@mcpsmd.org>, "Cascone, Judy" <Judy_Cascone@mcpsmd.org>, "Confino, Robin" <Robin_Confino@mcpsmd.org>, "County Council President" <county.council@montgomerycountymd.gov>, "Crispell, Bruce" <Bruce_Crispell@mcpsmd.org>, "Deanna Duff", "Diana Conway ", "Diane Cameron" , "Diane Cameron Audubon" <dcameron@audubonnaturalist.org>, "Dianne Cameron " <sallymander@workingfamilies.com>, "Don Hauprich" , "Donerson, Theresa" <Theresa_Donerson@mcpsmd.org>, "Donna PFeiffer" , "Eckenrode, Tina R" <Tina_R_Eckenrode@mcpsmd.org>, "Gong, Ginny " <Ginny.Gong@montgomerycountymd.gov>, "Gould-Kostka, Jeanine L. " <Jeanine.Gould-Kostka@montgomerycountymd.gov>, "Hermann, Ursula A." <Ursula_A_Hermann@mcpsmd.org>, "Higgins, Roy L." <Roy_L_Higgins@mcpsmd.org>, "Ikheloa, Roland" <Roland_Ikheloa@mcpsmd.org>, "Jerad Minnick " <jminnick@mdsoccerplex.org>, "Jessell, Joyce" <Joyce_Jessell@mcpsmd.org>, "Jones, Dianne - School Plant Operations" <Dianne_Jones@mcpsmd.org>, "Kathy Michels", "Keith Levchenko" <keith.levchenko@montgomerycountymd.gov>, "Kimball, LaVerne G" <LaVerne_G_Kimball@mcpsmd.org>, "Kress, Don" <Don_Kress@mcpsmd.org>, "Kristin Trible" <President@mccpta.com>, "Lavorgna, Joseph" <Joseph_Lavorgna@mcpsmd.org>, "Liebes, Sherry" <Sherry_Liebes@mcpsmd.org>, "Locke, Dan " <Dan.Locke@montgomerycountymd.gov>, "McConoughey, Deborah S" <Deborah_S_McConoughey@mcpsmd.org>, "MCCPTA" <office@mccpta.com>, "McShane, John [mailto:John.McShane@fieldturf.com] " <John.McShane@fieldturf.com>, "Midcounty CAB" <midcounty.citizen@montgomerycountymd.gov>, "Mike Riley" <Mike.Riley@montgomeryparks.org>, "Mills, Bronda L" <Bronda_L_Mills@mcpsmd.org>, "Oh, Saeyin" <Saeyin_Oh@mcpsmd.org>, "Paula Bienenfeld", "Peang-Meth, Suzanne" <Suzanne_Peang-Meth@mcpsmd.org>, "Roger Berliner Councilmember" <councilmember.berliner@montgomerycountymd.gov>, "Schmitz, Sheli A" <Sheli_A_Schmitz@mcpsmd.org>, "Sheldon Fishman ", "Shofar, Steven " <Steven.Shofar@montgomerycountymd.gov>, "Shpur, Michael" <Michael_Shpur@mcpsmd.org>, "Shuman Jr, Richard C" <Richard_C_ShumanJr@mcpsmd.org>, "Skinner, Veronica" <Veronica_Skinner@mcpsmd.org>, "Song, James" <James_Song@mcpsmd.org>, "Stetson, Frank H." <Frank_H_Stetson@mcpsmd.org>, "Steve Augustino" , "Susan Buffone - Councilmember Berliner's Staff" <susan.buffone@montgomerycountymd.gov>, "Susan Burkinshaw" <susan.burkinshaw@verizon.net>, "Talley, Adrian B." <Adrian_B_Talley@mcpsmd.org>, "Tanner, Lynda M" <Lynda_M_Tanner@mcpsmd.org>, "Trish Heffelfinger" <trishheff@mdsoccerplex.org>, "Wade, Patricia" <Patricia_Wade@mcpsmd.org>, "Western Montgomery County Citizens Advisory Board " <bethesda.citizen@montgomerycountymd.gov>, "Amos, Susan L." <Susan_L_Amos@mcpsmd.org>, "Belott, Patrick" <Patrick_Belott@mcpsmd.org>, "Benz, Joan L." <Joan_L_Benz@mcpsmd.org>, "Berry, Christopher S." <Christopher_S_Berry@mcpsmd.org>, "Cohen, Marc J" <Marc_J_Cohen@mcpsmd.org>, "Collins, Christine H" <Christine_H_Collins@mcpsmd.org>, "Cudd, Kenneth N." <Kenneth_N_Cudd@mcpsmd.org>, "Dempsey, Lance" <E.Lancellotti_Dempsey@mcpsmd.org>, "Dixon, Jeanette E." <Jeanette_E_Dixon@mcpsmd.org>, "Domergue, Robert" <Robert_Domergue@mcpsmd.org>, "Doody, Joseph J." <Joseph_J_Doody@mcpsmd.org>, "Doran, Michael J." <Michael_J_Doran@mcpsmd.org>, "Evans, Leroy C." <Leroy_C_Evans@mcpsmd.org>, "Fahrner, Paul J." <Paul_J_Fahrner@mcpsmd.org>, "Fernandez, James G." <James_G_Fernandez@mcpsmd.org>, "Freda, Jonathan J" <Jonathan_J_Freda@mcpsmd.org>, "Fuggitti, Marco G." <Marco_G_Fuggitti@mcpsmd.org>, "Garran, Christopher S." <Christopher_S_Garran@mcpsmd.org>, "Goodwin, Alan S." <Alan_S_Goodwin@mcpsmd.org>, "Green, Elizabeth K." <Elizabeth_K_Green@mcpsmd.org>, "Gregory, William M. (Sherwood HS)" <William_M_Gregory@mcpsmd.org>, "Heimbach, Karl S." <Karl_S_Heimbach@mcpsmd.org>, "Hilliard III, Harold J" <Harold_J_HilliardIII@mcpsmd.org>, "Johnson, Henry R." <Henry_R_Johnson@mcpsmd.org>, "Kelley, David S." <David_S_Kelley@mcpsmd.org>, "Koutsos, James P." <James_P_Koutsos@mcpsmd.org>, "Lane, Ronald D." <Ronald_D_Lane@mcpsmd.org>, "Levine, Deena" <Deena_Levine@mcpsmd.org>, "Lockard, Karen L." <Karen_L_Lockard@mcpsmd.org>, "Lowndes, Kevin E." <Kevin_E_Lowndes@mcpsmd.org>, "McLeod, Nelson" <Nelson_McLeod@mcpsmd.org>, "Miller, Dale L." <Dale_L_Miller@mcpsmd.org>, "Minus, Eric L." <Eric_L_Minus@mcpsmd.org>, "Mugge, Debra K." <Debra_K_Mugge@mcpsmd.org>, "Munk, Debra S" <Debra_S_Munk@mcpsmd.org>, "Murphy, Scott W." <Scott_W_Murphy@mcpsmd.org>, "Podosek, Heather A." <Heather_A_Podosek@mcpsmd.org>, "Ross, Edward J." <Edward_J_Ross@mcpsmd.org>, "Ryan, Maura M." <Maura_M_Ryan@mcpsmd.org>, "Sacramo, Raymond F." <Raymond_F_Sacramo@mcpsmd.org>, "Schrader, Lisa J." <Lisa_J_Schrader@mcpsmd.org>, "Spears, Reginald L" <Reginald_L_Spears@mcpsmd.org>, "Sullivan, Jeffrey K." <Jeffrey_K_Sullivan@mcpsmd.org>, "Tapley, James C." <James_C_Tapley@mcpsmd.org>, "Thom, Suzette A." <Suzette_A_Thom@mcpsmd.org>, "Thompson, Christopher L." <Christopher_L_Thompson@mcpsmd.org>, "Wetzel, Andrew R." <Andrew_R_Wetzel@mcpsmd.org>, "Williams, Darryl L" <Darryl_L_Williams@mcpsmd.org>, "Woodward, Jason D" <Jason_D_Woodward@mcpsmd.org>, "Working, Carole A" <Carole_A_Working@mcpsmd.org>Date: Saturday, June 4, 2011, 10:51 AM 

Please be aware that the public comment period for responses to the Staff Work Group’s report “A Review of Benefits and Issues Associated with Natural and Artificial Turf Rectangular Stadium Fields” has been extended one final tome to the close of business on June 7, 2011. All responses should be sent to:

TurfReportResponse@yahoo.com
Please access the report from the Council’s home page.

http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/csltmpl.asp?url=/content/council/index.asp
For your convenience a copy of the full report is attached to this email.

Thank you for your continued interest in this report.
Staff Work Group

*Note from the Parents' Coalition:  The yahoo.com e-mail address that is receiving responses to this report is not an official government e-mail address. The public does not know who owns that e-mail address or who is reading those e-mails. The public has no assurances that e-mails sent to turfreportresponse@yahoo.com will ever see the light of day. Don't risk it, send your comment directly to the Montgomery County Council at:  county.council@montgomerycountymd.gov

Churchill: We don't need artificial turf

the observer: Artificial turf implemented throughout county, not CHS

Churchill High School (CHS) is famous for its stadium, particularly its high quality Bermuda grass field. Even though it is widely regarded as one of the finest maintained fields in the county, the future of its place here at CHS is sparking debate.

Throughout Montgomery County, artificial turf is being installed as the primary playing surface at high schools. Walter Johnson and Richard Montgomery are two of the schools that boast these budget-busting landscapes.

However, CHS seems steadfast is maintaining its reputation as the primary natural grass field in the county.

“Churchill has arguably the best athletic fields in the state so we don’t need a turf field,” athletic director David Kelley said. “I am a huge fan of our stadium field and I’m thrilled that we are able to offer our student athletes such a superior playing surface.”