Patch: In MCPS, Black Immigrant Students Shine Academically

by Joseph Hawkins

Montgomery County Public Schools Superintendent Joshua Starr is interested in understanding “performance variability,” and he talks about it constantly.
Here he is just last week talking to high school journalists about it.I’m not 100 percent sure what Starr means by performance variability, but here is a wild guess: I think, for example, he wants to know why affluent MCPS graduating seniors score 1800+ SAT points versus poor MCPS graduating seniors who barely score 1200. Great idea! But figuring out variability requires doing a better job of describing student populations and I’m not convinced that MCPS does this very well.
We know, for example, that there is inner-group variability amongst black or African-American MCPS students. Black girls read better than black boys, and from time to time, MCPS publishes reading scores that back this up. I cannot, however, remember MCPS ever publishing scores for students receiving federal free and reduced meals (FARMS) versus  results for non-FARMS black students. MCPS uses FARMS as a proxy for being poor. If you participate in the program you are poor. Nonetheless, it is unclear to me if poor black students perform lower than their affluent black peers or if poor black girls and affluent black girls out-read their counterparts, poor black boys and affluent black boys. I would guess that they would, but who really knows?

READ FULL PATCH ARTICLE HERE

WTOP: Search starts fresh for new Mont. Co. middle school site

Max Smith, wtop.com

KENSINGTON, Md. - A new middle school is needed in the Bethesda-Chevy Chase area -- that much the area can agree on. But where to put it has been another story.
Now Montgomery County Schools Superintendent Joshua Starr says the site selection process is going to start all over again. WTOP REPORT AT THIS LINK.

Audio Report 1

Audio Report 2

Silver Chips: New attendance policy: recycled and unimproved

The 'new' MCPS attendance policy veils a feeble attempt to reinstate the despised Loss of Credit system

Starr inquiry uncovers questionable use of student funds

An inquiry by Superintendent Starr has revealed that money that was collected from students -- and earmarked to fund student activities -- has been quietly diverted to funding capital improvements at several schools.

According to a six page memo from Starr, Independent Activity Fund (IAF) money has been used to purchase items such as restroom hand dryers, artwork tiles, mural hanging services, a hallway security gate, switches for an auditorium scene shop, and an athletic equipment storage shed.

Under MCPS regulation DIA-RA, IAF funds belong to the "student body currently in attendance" at each school. Event ticket sales, field trip fees, art class fees, and other curricular and extracurricular fees are among the sources of revenue that are used to fund each school's IAF.

Starr's memo also reveals that school PTAs and other outside entities have funded various capital improvements at select schools.

The memo is referenced as a discussion topic on the November 8th Board of Education meeting agenda. 

The first page of the memo is shown below.  To see Starr's entire memo, go to:

http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/boe/meetings/agenda/2011-12/2011-1108/12.4%20CNE.pdf

Did MCPS lose State funding by starting Cabin John MS construction before State approval?

Here is a May 24, 2010 e-mail from the Maryland State Deputy Treasurer for External Affairs that states that as of that date the Cabin John Middle School (CJMS) modernization project had not yet been approved by the Board of Public Works. 

The CJMS modernization project was started prior to that date.  

That means the CJMS project began before State approval for planning or funding dollars. 

from Howard Freedlander
date Mon, May 24, 2010 at 1:47 PM
subject School construction in Montgomery County
mailed-by treasurer.state.md.us
Janis Sartucci— 

Thank you very much for your inquiry to our website about construction of a concrete retaining wall along the perimeter of a school construction site. You asked whether the Board of Public Works approved the Cabin John Middle School project in Potomac.
I did two things in response to your question: I checked documents related to the public school construction capital improvement program, and I communicated with Dr. David Lever, executive director of the public school construction program. First, the Board of Public Works has not approved either planning or funding for this project in the fiscal year 2011 capital improvement program. Though the project is eligible for state approvals, fiscal constraints have precluded approval of this $18,486,000 project. Second, design of the retaining wall rests with the county and the board of education.
Again, we appreciate your taking the time to write us.

Howard

Howard Freedlander
Deputy Treasurer for External Affairs
Goldstein Treasury Building
80 Calvert Street
Annapolis, MD 21401

Has the County Built Schools Beyond What the State will Fund?

Emphasis has been added to the County Council's Education Committee memo for November 7, 2011, excerpt below to show two areas of concern:

• 1) The State does not use the same room class size calculation as MCPS and therefore does not fund construction based on the class size calculations used by MCPS; and, 
• 2) MCPS has been building schools without State approval and thus without State approval and funding in place prior to construction. For example, Cabin John Middle School construction was begun before the project had State approval. The question raised in this memo is will the State continue to fund projects that are built without prior State approval? The Council memo has a list of all of the current construction projects that fall in to this category right now. From a parent/community perspective forward funding of school construction by the County Council takes the State review of the construction project out of the process. Forward funding allows, for example, the Cabin John "wall" to be built without any oversight from any other State agency. MCPS is able to simply build whatever they want without another State agency reviewing the plans and cost. 

From the County Council Press Release:  At 2 p.m. Monday in the Seventh Floor Hearing Room, the Education Committee, which is chaired by Councilmember Ervin and includes Councilmembers Rice and Phil Andrews, will discuss Montgomery County Public Schools’ (MCPS) preliminary request for Fiscal Year 2013 state aid for school construction. The request would be forwarded to the state’s Interagency Committee on School Construction. 


MCPS is requesting FY13 state aid of $194.7 million. Another $493.9 million in state aid eligibility for currently approved projects is assumed by the County for FYs 2014-18. 


From the County Council Education Committee Staff Report: 

Class Size Reduction Initiative One continuing area of  contention between MCPS and the State involves MCPS'  elementary school class size reduction (CSR) initiative.  From a capital perspective, this initiative results in space needs that exceed State aid eligibility guidelines for these schools.  Therefore, all of  the CSR schools in the current request (these schools are noted on the draft resolution) are likely to receive significantly less State aid than requested. 

Forward-Funding of  Projects As expected because State aid has been far less than the County's eligibility over the past several years, the County is now forward funding projects.  The County did this in the late 1980s and early 1990s and ultimately did receive State aid reimbursement. However, there are no guarantees.  Further, how the County funds this effort makes a difference.  If  the County forward-funds these projects with bonds, and State funding is not received within 18 months after the final  bills for a project are paid, the County will have to seek current revenue from the State in the future for reimbursement.  

Further complicating matters is the fact that the lAC has made clear that it is hesitant to grant planning approval to eligible projects as long as there is a backlog of  projects with planning approval awaiting funding.  The result is that the County has a list of  projects seeking both planning approval and construction funding  (see ©2-3  of  the draft resolution).  If the County forward-funds projects that have not yet received planning approval, there is no guarantee the State will consider reimbursing the County in the future.  

If State aid is not forthcoming for numerous projects on the eligibility list, the Council will need to decide whether to continue its approach of  forward-funding these projects, or whether to defer construction of  some projects pending future  receipt of  State aid.  Since most projects on the current State aid eligibility list will already be under construction by the time State action for FY12 is finalized, the only practical way to minimize forward-funding in the future would be to defer approval of  new projects in FY13  or beyond.

Who is getting a new car?

We don't know. 

But there is a car purchase on the next Board of Education agenda. Don't expect the Board to tell the public who is getting a new car paid for by taxpayers. This item is on the Consent Agenda. 


All the Agenda shows is a line item for $60,935 for Off the Lot - New Vehicles.

It could be another Ford Escape or Expedition or one of each! 

Here's our previous post on MCPS take home cars: 

27 Take Home Cars; No Audit; No Logs Kept; Most Parked Outside of County

Pearson gets $70,000 sole source magnet testing contract

From the November 8, 2011 Board of Education meeting Consent Agenda:

4320.1 Magnet Program Admissions TestingAwardeeNCS Pearson $ 70,000
4320.1 Magnet Program Admissions Testing N/A Sole Source

-----

Remember the Pearson - MCPS Board of Education deal in 2010? 


And the New York Times' two articles on Pearson funded trips for administrators?

Eight schools stage exhibition in effort to make badminton an official high school sport

Gazette: Trying to make varsity

Curriculum 2.0 Implementation Update

MCPS will brief the Board regarding Curriculum 2.0 implementation on Tuesday, November 8 at 11:00 am. Superintendent Starr has provided a memo as background for that briefing.

It is interesting how tightly MCPS clings to its ideology. Despite vigorous dissent by many parents, MCPS still insists that "a very small number of students may still need to advance a grade level in mathematics in order to receive sufficient challenge". Very small. All other students must fit into one size of instruction. But MCPS will differentiate, as if that has a track record of success. I fail to see anything useful here - just more happy talk.

The Warrior Online: Flashmob Ensues After 5th Period

Sherwood High School:  Hallway Riot

After 5th period Tuesday rowdy sophomores, juniors and seniors took to the hallways as security staff could do nothing to control the crowd of 300-some students until they dispersed four minutes later.
A small group of 15 students gathered in the F-hall bathroom at the beginning of the week after 5th period and soon the group swelled to over 80 students. Security caught wind of the “parties” and rushed to intervene on Friday, but arrived too late to halt the rucus. The crowd was too massive and the partiers took to the halls to cause a frenzy. The noise was deafening as the students rushed through the halls yelling, crowdsurfing and jumping around... 

Complete article and video at this link.  


See also recent posts on BCC High School and Gaithersburg High School. 

MCPS Parents Support Guaranteed Active Recess

• Target: Montgomery County, MD, Board of Education and Superintendent Joshua Starr
• Sponsored by: MCPS Parent Supporting Outdoor Recess in the Cold 

In MCPS, principals keep elementary school children inside crowded 50-60 kids to a room at the slightest hint of cold or inclement weather. They are expected to play quietly and calmly during their only down time. In addition, teachers and lunch aides take away recess as punishment.
Our children need ACTIVE time. This helps them both learn and be healthy.
Please note this is our 2nd petition on this topic. Both will go together in a 2nd round to the Board of Education. You do not need to sign again if you signed last year.

Soccer coaches rethinking division alignments

Gazette:  Only two of 15 Montgomery 4A South Division contests were decided by more than two goals

Committee: Despite overcrowding, Rockville development law is effective

Gazette:  Growth policy recommendations focus on implementing standards

As Rockville residents struggle with traffic congestion and overcrowded schools, a committee tasked with reviewing the city’s growth and development law says the ordinance is effective as-is.  Only one of 24 committee recommendations addresses changing the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance and Standards, which establishes standards for public facilities such as transportation, schools and fire protection to protect them from becoming overburdened.  The other 23 apply to the standards that implement the law, said Julie Palakovich Carr, chairwoman of the nine-member Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance Committee that has reviewed the document since December.  The group presented recommendations to the Rockville Planning Commission on Oct. 26...

Standards recommendations 

Rockville needs to receive more accurate school enrollment projection numbers from Montgomery County Public Schools, said committee member Tom Gibney.  Rockville should create a commission to advise the mayor and council on education in the city limits and monitor enrollment in schools, the group recommends.  And this commission should monitor student enrollment and student generation rates by housing type to identify inaccuracies in school system enrollment projections.  The committee found the school system’s projections to be flawed, Gibney said.

And the city should work more closely with the school system, Gibney said. “There appears to be some sort of animosity between the two groups that needs to be fixed,” he said...

Bullying a major problem in area schools | Lisa Gartner | DC | Washington Examiner

Bullying a major problem in area schools | Lisa Gartner | DC | Washington Examiner

Nov 3rd Seneca Valley HS Forums for New State Superintendent Selection

FORUMS, ONLINE SURVEY SET TO HELP TARGET NEXT STATE SUPERINTENDENT

REGIONAL MEETINGS, SURVEY DESIGNED TO DETERMINE IMPORTANT LEADERSHIP CHARACTERISTICS

BALTIMORE, MD (October 13, 2011)

Open forums have been scheduled by the Maryland State Board of Education for the public to provide input on the leadership characteristics necessary for the next State Superintendent of Schools. Also available is an online survey for those unable to make it to a forum in person.The forums will take place at seven locations around the State from October 27 through November 10. Forums will be held at two different times at each location, 2:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Forums will be facilitated by representatives of Hazard, Young, Attea, & Associates, the consulting firm the State Board selected in August to help in the search process. The firm also developed the survey, which can be found atwww.ecragroup.com/mdss. The deadline for completing the survey is Nov. 18. The State Superintendent search process is Maryland’s first in 20 years. Dr. Nancy S. Grasmick retired on June 30, having served in the position since 1991. Dr. Bernard Sadusky has been serving as Interim State Superintendent since that time. He is not a candidate for the permanent position. The dates and locations of the open forums are as follows: October 27 – Easton High School (Talbot County) 723 Mecklenberg Avenue, Easton, MD 21601 November 2 – Laurel High School (Prince George’s County) 8000 Cherry Lane, Laurel, MD 20707 November 3 – Seneca Valley High School (Montgomery County) 19401 Crystal Rock Drive, Germantown, MD 20874 November 7 – Huntington High School (Calvert County) 4125 N. Solomons Island Road, Huntington, MD 20639 November 7 – Mountain Ridge High School (Allegany County) 100 Dr. Nancy S. Grasmick Lane, Frostburg, MD 21532 November 9 – Edgewood High School (Harford County) 2415 Willoughby Beach Road, Edgewood, MD 21040 November 10 – Baltimore Polytechnic Institute (Baltimore City) 1400 W. Cold Spring Lane, Baltimore, MD 21209 Attachment: Announcement from the State Board President

Breaking News: Starr calls for New BCC MS #2 Site Selection

Superintendent Starr: "Let's start over..."

At the November 2, 2011, Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Joshua Starr detailed all of the issues that have arisen during the BCC Middle School #2 Site Selection process including the Open Meetings Act violation, the challenge of the site selection that is currently pending at the State Board of Education, and concluded his presentation by announcing that a new site selection committee should be formed and the process should be re-started.  

"one child who has been very sadly left behind"

Gazette Letter: Schools could have done more to help find missing boy

In an article in The Washington Post, Dana Tofig, a Montgomery County Public Schools spokesperson, stated that with 147,000 students, it is not feasible to contact police simply because of unexcused absences [“Search for missing Germantown boy continues,” Oct. 14]. 

I would like to know just how many students MCPS currently has who have been unexcusably absent from school for more than a week? No, the police should not be notified of every single absence every day, but William McQuain was missing for eight days. 

Is this such a pervasive problem in MCPS that, should they notify the police of a student missing from school for as long as William was, the sheer number of reports would overwhelm the police department? When a child is missing for as long as William was, and without any word from someone on his emergency contact list on file at the school, I think the police might want to know about it. 

As I have read online articles from many different news agencies over the last few days, the comments are almost all the same — why didn't the school system notify the authorities about William's absence and their inability to reach someone who knew where he was? It is apparent that MCPS could have done more to help prevent the trail to finding William from growing cold. 

It is unfortunate that William's disappearance did not occur during [standardized] testing — I'm sure there would have been a much greater effort on behalf of MCPS to find out why he wasn't in school to participate in testing. He is one child who has been very sadly left behind. 

D.L. Ackerman, Germantown

Guest Post: Westbrook ES PTA on Secret Site Selection Process for BCC Middle School #2

As you read along, please note that the Site Selection Report referenced in this PTA letter was obtained for the public via a Maryland Public Information Act request by the Parents' Coalition.  


Why didn't the PTAs that participated on the Site Selection Committee release the report? 


And, why did the members of the Site Selection Committee sign trumped up "confidentiality agreements" when they participated in the two site selection meetings?

Dear Westbrook, As ... mentioned in his list serve email last week, this month's BCC Cluster meeting included vigorous conversation about the proposed second middle school, to be completed at the earliest in 2017. [The site selection committee’s report about it can be seen here,http://bit.ly/opNp6f.] There's little debate over whether a new middle school is needed in the central or eastern part of the cluster (Rosemary Hills Elementary has 2 grades in which there are 9 classes!), but a small, yet loud, contingent of constituents is lobbying hard to turn back the clock on the approval process because they feel disenfranchised from the site selection process, given its secrecy. The school superintendent, Dr. Starr, has mostly heard from those people that oppose the new middle school’s site (Rosemary Hills/Lyttonsville Local Park), and Dr.Garran, community superintendent for the B-CC cluster, encouraged the PTA presidents and cluster representatives at last week's meeting to contact Dr. Starr, board of education members, and even county council members to articulate support, if we in fact do support the new middle school and its proposed site. It seems pretty clear that although the selection process lacked transparency, the chosen site is the best available option. You can read the report for yourself. I sent an email to Dr. Starr and all members of the county council and attach it here for your information. If you feel you would like your voice heard, too, I've attached the email addresses below. Karen *** Dear Dr. Starr, I write to urge you to approve the site for the new B-CC cluster middle school... Westbrook is overcrowded. Our teachers do an amazing job with what they have, but the limitations are real. Our student population outnumbers building capacity by 132 kids and we exceeded our projected enrollment this fall by 6. Next fall we are projected to have 443 students. There are 86 students in the third grade with my oldest son. In three years these third graders will reach Westland and the middle school will already be bursting at the seams. (By way of comparison, the recent graduating fifth grade classes have been considerably smaller. In 2010, Westbrook graduated just 38 fifth graders and in 2009 it was 50 graduates). There is no doubt the cluster needs a second middle school given the growth that we see on this side of the cluster and hear about on the other side. This is not a case of if you build, they will come – the elementary students are already on their way. It is my understanding that there are those that oppose the proposed site for a variety of reasons, but we cannot afford to move backward. This cluster needs a second middle school in 2017, as long as the quality and quantity of programs at Westland are neither diluted nor diminished. Our cluster currently has an outstanding middle school that offers various class offerings and a rich variety of specials and extracurricular activities. A new middle school should not mean that the cluster has two "satisfactory" middle schools instead of one "outstanding" school. Our hope is that the new school will be provided with the resources required to achieve parity with the current Westland, and not that Westland's resources will be somehow rebalanced to account for a new school. Thank you for your time and attention to this issue. Karen Thornton Westbrook Elementary School PTA Co-President EMAIL ADDRESSES: Superintendent: Joshua_Starr@mcpsmd.org Christopher Garran (pls. copy him on letters to Dr. Starr) Christopher_S_Garran@mcpsmd.org School Board: boe@mcpsmd.org County Council ( I recommend sending to all): councilmember.andrews@montgomerycountymd.gov; councilmember.berliner@montgomerycountymd.gov; councilmember.elrich@montgomerycountymd.gov; councilmember.ervin@montgomerycountymd.gov; councilmember.floreen@montgomerycountymd.gov;councilmember.rice@montgomerycountymd.gov; councilmember.riemer@montgomerycountymd.gov; councilmember.leventhal@montgomerycountymd.gov; councilmember.navarro@montgomerycountymd.gov; county.council@montgomerycountymd.gov

MontCo passes bill to spur economic development | Rachel Baye | Education | Washington Examiner

...But the taxes pay for school and road construction, critics say, so delaying the tax payments could delay some long-awaited projects, like the Clarksburg Cluster elementary school, additions to Whetstone and Bradley Hills elementary schools, the Chapman Avenue extension and Montrose Parkway East.

As much as $20 million could be pushed off from the county's current six-year construction budget into later years, said Deputy Council Staff Director Glenn Orlin, potentially affecting any project that is not fully funded...

Read more at the Washington Examiner: http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/education/2011/11/montco-passes-bill-spur-economic-development#ixzz1cVnZy6Sl