| It was a busy day at the Montgomery County Board of Elections! As of 9:22 PM this evening there are now 11 candidates in 3 different Board of Education races. Based on the information at this time, there will be Primary elections for only the At Large seat and the District 2 seat. With only 2 candidates in the District 4 race, that race will not show up on the ballot until the General Election in November. Reminder that all Board of Education seats are elected countywide. All voters will be able to vote in each of these 3 races, no matter where they live. Montgomery 2012 Presidential Primary Election Board of Education At Large August, Lou Non-Partisan Contact Information 13605 Mills Avenue Silver Spring, MD 20904 (301) 879-3331 laugust@wildtech.org Juris. Montgomery Status Active - Filed Regular - 01/06/12 ----- Kauffman, Phil Non-Partisan Contact Information 17621 Gatsby Ter Olney, MD 20832 (301) 570-4836 Philip_Kauffman@yahoo.com Juris. Montgomery Status Active - Filed Regular - 12/09/11 ----- Panner, Morris Non-Partisan Contact Information 4701 Willard Ave. #436 Chevy Chase, MD 20815 (617) 680-3725 mpanner@gmail.com Juris. Montgomery Status Active - Filed Regular - 01/10/12 ----- Shudofsky, Aryeh Non-Partisan Contact Information 8201 16th St Apt 426 Silver Spring, MD 20910 (267) 403-0446 aryeh.shudofsky@gmail.com Juris. Montgomery Status Active - Filed Regular - 01/11/12 ----- Board of Education District 002 Ali, Saqib Non-Partisan Contact Information 12504 Degas Court Gaithersburg, MD 20878 (240) 812-9671 info@saqibali.org Juris. Montgomery Status Active - Filed Regular - 01/11/12 ----- Byrne, Susan Non-Partisan Contact Information 14453 SETTLERS LANDING WAY Gailthersburg, MD 20878 (301) 200-2535 suebyrne@suebyrne.org Juris. Montgomery Status Active - Filed Regular - 01/11/12 ----- Ellinport, Jeanne Non-Partisan Contact Information 319 Argosy Dr Gaithersburg, MD 20878 (301) 670-0770 jeanne@jeanneellinport.com Juris. Montgomery Status Active - Filed Regular - 01/11/12 ----- Evans, Fred Non-Partisan Contact Information 9905 Silver Brook Dr. Rockville, MD 20850 (301) 706-3993 fredevans1970@gmail.com Juris. Montgomery Status Active - Filed Regular - 12/20/11 ----- Smondrowski, Rebecca Non-Partisan Contact Information 101 Short St. Gaithersburg, MD 20878 (301) 325-6246 rsmondrowski@gmail.com Juris. Montgomery Status Active - Filed Regular - 01/11/12 ----- Board of Education District 004 Barclay, Christopher Non-Partisan Contact Information 7108 14th Avenue Takoma Park, MD 20912 (301) 202-4706 chrisb20912@yahoo.com Juris. Montgomery Status Active - Filed Regular - 01/05/12 ----- Seckinger, Annita Non-Partisan Contact Information 3004 Collins Ave Silver Spring, MD 20902 (240) 426-3869 annitaboe@gmail.com Juris. Montgomery Status Active - Filed Regular - 01/11/12 |
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Board of Education races heat up!
Why is There No Modern Day Roscoe Nix in Montgomery County?
by Joseph Hawkins
http://rockville.patch.com/
I’m glad that as a Montgomery County Public School employee, I knew Mr. Nix. For more than a year in the late 1980s, I served as a consultant to a NAACP Blue Ribbon Panel that Mr. Nix established to examine why so few black males enrolled in and graduated from Maryland colleges and universities. And I have defended Mr. Nix’s role in putting race on the MCPS table—long before Jerry Weast arrived in our county....Read Mr. Hawkins article on Roscoe Nix at this Patch link:
http://rockville.patch.com/
11th largest school system names candidates for Superintendent
The 11th largest public school system in the country is conducting a PUBLIC superintendent search.
11th largest.
That's a bigger public school system than world class-Baldridge Montgomery County Public Schools.
It's Palm Beach County in Florida.
What are these people thinking?
They are conducting a PUBLIC Superintendent search. PUBLIC as in the NAMES (GASP!!) of the 25 candidates AND their RESUMES (HORRORS!) are posted on the school systems website for the PUBLIC to review.
Here, see for yourself by clicking this link. But cover your eyes. Here in world class-Baldridge land we aren't allowed to know this kind of super secret information. Read more about this very public superintendent search in this Palm Beach Post News article.
In progressive Montgomery County, Maryland our Board of Education conducts superintendent searches the "right" way! They do it in secret, even if they have to violate the Maryland Open Meetings Act! What role does the public have in a public school anyway?
Our Board of Education is so intent on keeping public information secret that they have even hired an outside attorney to beg the Maryland Open Meetings Compliance Board to expunge the Opinion that found a violation in last year's superintendent search process.
11th largest.
That's a bigger public school system than world class-Baldridge Montgomery County Public Schools.
It's Palm Beach County in Florida.
What are these people thinking?
They are conducting a PUBLIC Superintendent search. PUBLIC as in the NAMES (GASP!!) of the 25 candidates AND their RESUMES (HORRORS!) are posted on the school systems website for the PUBLIC to review.
 |
| Palm Beach County |
In progressive Montgomery County, Maryland our Board of Education conducts superintendent searches the "right" way! They do it in secret, even if they have to violate the Maryland Open Meetings Act! What role does the public have in a public school anyway?
Our Board of Education is so intent on keeping public information secret that they have even hired an outside attorney to beg the Maryland Open Meetings Compliance Board to expunge the Opinion that found a violation in last year's superintendent search process.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Notice: Do not use the MC Board of Elections website!
If you are interested in running for a Montgomery County Board of Education seat, do not use the Montgomery County Board of Elections website to determine your Board of Education district. The MC Board of Elections website has not been updated since the Maryland Legislature scrambled the Montgomery County Board of Education districts.
Call the Board of Elections directly at 240-777-8502 to determine your Board of Education district.
There are 3 seats up for election this year. 2 seats require candidates to live in specific "districts". Call the Board of Elections at the above phone number to see if you qualify for a district seat. And, 1 seat is an "at-large" seat and anyone in Montgomery County can file to run for that seat.
As of today, there will NOT be a Board of Education Primary election because there aren't enough candidates up for any of the seats.
Call the Board of Elections directly at 240-777-8502 to determine your Board of Education district.
There are 3 seats up for election this year. 2 seats require candidates to live in specific "districts". Call the Board of Elections at the above phone number to see if you qualify for a district seat. And, 1 seat is an "at-large" seat and anyone in Montgomery County can file to run for that seat.
As of today, there will NOT be a Board of Education Primary election because there aren't enough candidates up for any of the seats.
Monday, January 9, 2012
And the Inspector General says...
The Montgomery County Inspector General has released his report on the MCPS surprise surplus from last spring.
What the Inspector General Found:
1) The Monthly Financial Reports MCPS provides to County elected leaders
present the estimated year-end financial results of MCPS relative to the
budget. The reports display differences between amounts budgeted and
estimates of revenues and expenditures but should present more complete
actual revenue and expenditure data for analysis.
2) The actual information reported in the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) differs from the data presented as “actual” in the operating budget submissions.
MCPS is able to reconcile the amounts but reconciliations are not presented
in MCPS documents. Internal service fund information is only presented in the CAFR.
3) Although Maryland State law requires that the County appropriate funds by specified categories, and that the BOE request and report by these categories (as it does in the Monthly Financial Reports and the CAFR), fewer than 25 out of over 1,000 pages in the MCPS operating budget present data related to the State categories. The budget documents do not clearly link the State categories to the operating or program budget data.
The presentation makes it difficult to evaluate the request by State categories and determine the impact of funding decisions. However, we noted that in the December, 2011 submission of the Superintendent’s FY2013 Operating Budget, MCPS included a new pie chart addressing “Where the Money Goes by State Category.”
4) At the time the Council made its final decision on the MCPS appropriation for FY 2012, the Council staff had not been provided updated information regarding the projected health benefits costs in FY 2011. The information was not presented to the Council Education Committee or the Council for review and consideration.
Mcps Final Report Jan 2012
What the Inspector General Found:
1) The Monthly Financial Reports MCPS provides to County elected leaders
present the estimated year-end financial results of MCPS relative to the
budget. The reports display differences between amounts budgeted and
estimates of revenues and expenditures but should present more complete
actual revenue and expenditure data for analysis.
2) The actual information reported in the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) differs from the data presented as “actual” in the operating budget submissions.
MCPS is able to reconcile the amounts but reconciliations are not presented
in MCPS documents. Internal service fund information is only presented in the CAFR.
3) Although Maryland State law requires that the County appropriate funds by specified categories, and that the BOE request and report by these categories (as it does in the Monthly Financial Reports and the CAFR), fewer than 25 out of over 1,000 pages in the MCPS operating budget present data related to the State categories. The budget documents do not clearly link the State categories to the operating or program budget data.
The presentation makes it difficult to evaluate the request by State categories and determine the impact of funding decisions. However, we noted that in the December, 2011 submission of the Superintendent’s FY2013 Operating Budget, MCPS included a new pie chart addressing “Where the Money Goes by State Category.”
4) At the time the Council made its final decision on the MCPS appropriation for FY 2012, the Council staff had not been provided updated information regarding the projected health benefits costs in FY 2011. The information was not presented to the Council Education Committee or the Council for review and consideration.
Mcps Final Report Jan 2012
Let's Condemn Private Land for Schools
It's a new low for the Montgomery County Board of Education...
At the January 10, 2012 Board of Education meeting the Board will vote to proceed with requesting that a piece of farmland in Germantown be condemned for use as a school site.
Initially, think about the legal bills that the taxpayers of Montgomery County will be footing to fund this legal process. Estimate of cost, anyone? Remember the Board of Education legal advice comes via no-bid contract awards. Anyone know what taxpayers are paying an hour for these firms to give legal advice to the Board of Education?
Then, take a look at the list of properties the Board of Education already owns. Remember that many sites are leased out to private entities, and one site in particular is being preserved for use by Comcast and cell tower companies rather than used for public school purposes.
The land the Board of Education wants condemned is in the Northwest Cluster. It is farmland. See images for an up close look at the Northwest Cluster of public schools. The land is known as the Phillips Farm and is shown with a yellow marker in the center of the Google Map below. Click on any of the images to enlarge them for easier viewing. You might know this farm. It's just 2 miles down the road from the Soccer Plex.
At the January 10, 2012 Board of Education meeting the Board will vote to proceed with requesting that a piece of farmland in Germantown be condemned for use as a school site.
 |
| Northwest Cluster |
Then, take a look at the list of properties the Board of Education already owns. Remember that many sites are leased out to private entities, and one site in particular is being preserved for use by Comcast and cell tower companies rather than used for public school purposes.
 |
| Close up of NW Cluster |
 |
| Location of farm landCondemnation |
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Secret MCPS/M-NCPPC Committee to Meet Jan 9th at 3 PM
Well, it was a secret until now.
Remember how MCPS and M-NCPPC decided to form a Joint Working Group to tackle the sticky issue of MCPS designating park sites as school sites? What ever happened to that Joint Working Group? Did it meet? Who is in the "group"? Well, MCPS and M-NCPPC took the Joint Working Group behind closed doors so there haven't been any meeting announcements or press coverage on the work of this group.
What better way to discuss this important issue than behind closed doors? As Board member Patricia O'Neill says, the public can be such PIAs. Better to have meetings that aren't announced to the public and don't allow the press access to cover the work of the group.
But the Parents' Coalition thought you should know what this very important Joint Working Group has been up to behind closed doors.
So, here are the minutes of the heretofore secret M-NCPPC/MCPS Joint Working Group on school site selection. See below for the agendas, members, minutes and meeting dates.
By the way, the next meeting of this group is January 9, 2012 from 3 PM - 5PM at the MCPS Department of Facilities Management.
M-NCPPCMCPS Joint Working Group Oct-Dec2011
Remember how MCPS and M-NCPPC decided to form a Joint Working Group to tackle the sticky issue of MCPS designating park sites as school sites? What ever happened to that Joint Working Group? Did it meet? Who is in the "group"? Well, MCPS and M-NCPPC took the Joint Working Group behind closed doors so there haven't been any meeting announcements or press coverage on the work of this group.
What better way to discuss this important issue than behind closed doors? As Board member Patricia O'Neill says, the public can be such PIAs. Better to have meetings that aren't announced to the public and don't allow the press access to cover the work of the group.
But the Parents' Coalition thought you should know what this very important Joint Working Group has been up to behind closed doors.
So, here are the minutes of the heretofore secret M-NCPPC/MCPS Joint Working Group on school site selection. See below for the agendas, members, minutes and meeting dates.
By the way, the next meeting of this group is January 9, 2012 from 3 PM - 5PM at the MCPS Department of Facilities Management.
M-NCPPCMCPS Joint Working Group Oct-Dec2011
MABE: The Handout They Didn't Hand Out Last Night
UPDATE: Sunday, January 8, 2012:
It seems that some of the MABE links on Maintenance of Effort have become disabled since the original posting. To see the MABE legislative position on Maintenance of Effort, click HERE.
To see the MABE proposed amendments on the MOE "funding floor", CLICK HERE.
Our tax dollars, via the dues that the Board of Education pays, are being used to develop these platforms. Don't you think we should be permitted to read them?
***************************************
Turns out the Maryland Association of Boards of Education presented a "Call for Maintenance of Effort Reform" at the MACo conference last August, in Ocean City.
You can read the whole presentation HERE.
Interestingly, Valerie Ervin gave a presentation at the same conference, on Montgomery County's experience during the last budget cycle with the maintenance of effort issue. You can read her entire presentation HERE.(Just scroll down to the list of presentations, and click on it).
It seems that some of the MABE links on Maintenance of Effort have become disabled since the original posting. To see the MABE legislative position on Maintenance of Effort, click HERE.
To see the MABE proposed amendments on the MOE "funding floor", CLICK HERE.
Our tax dollars, via the dues that the Board of Education pays, are being used to develop these platforms. Don't you think we should be permitted to read them?
***************************************
Turns out the Maryland Association of Boards of Education presented a "Call for Maintenance of Effort Reform" at the MACo conference last August, in Ocean City.
You can read the whole presentation HERE.
Interestingly, Valerie Ervin gave a presentation at the same conference, on Montgomery County's experience during the last budget cycle with the maintenance of effort issue. You can read her entire presentation HERE.(Just scroll down to the list of presentations, and click on it).
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Montgomery Co. lawmakers weigh tax hikes to fill budget hole | Washington Examiner
...In the budget proposal presented at the beginning of last month, Montgomery County Public Schools Superintendent Joshua Starr asked for pay raises for all employees...Read more at the Washington Examiner: http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/maryland/2012/01/montco-lawmakers-weigh-tax-hikes-fill-budget-hole/2070621#ixzz1ipaTf400
Voter Registration
All,As big elections are coming up I want to remind everyone that 17 year olds can vote in the Primary as long as they will be 18 by the time of the general election.
This is from the MD AG website at http://www.oag.state.md.us/voting/index.htm.
Voter Registration
1. A person may register to vote if he/she meets the following requirements:
Must be a U.S. citizen
Must be a Maryland resident
Must be at least 16 years old. Although 16- and 17-year-olds may register, they may not vote until they are of age.
A 17-year-old who has registered may vote in the Primary Election, provided the individual will be 18 years old on or before the General Election.
Not have been convicted of buying or selling votes
Not have been found by a court unable to communicate a desire to vote while under guardianship for mental disability
Not have been convicted of a felony for which they are currently serving court-ordered sentence of imprisonment, including parole and probation for the conviction.
So please make sure your child registers to vote; you do not have to be 18 to vote in the Maryland primary -- and please pass this message on.
Thanks!
Paula Bienenfeld
Registered Voter
Thursday, January 5, 2012
MCCPTA-NAACP School Funding Meeting
On January 4, 2012, MCCPTA and the NAACP co-sponsored an evening forum on "Maintenance of Effort." It was held at the Carver Center, in the auditorium. The panelists included Senator Jamie Raskin, Delegate Brian Feldman, Delegate Sheila Hixson, Shirley Brandman, and John Woolums, Government Relations director for the Maryland Association of Boards of Education. Montgomery County Public Schools spends a lot of money on the MABE lobbying group: $47,937 in FY 2012 already.
The moderator lobbed softball questions, designed to elicit MCCPTA's desired responses, to the panel. At the same time, MCEA passed four-page flyers through the audience with their desired outcomes detailed. (Click HERE to see the chart on the last page of the flyer)
Some of the more interesting statements from the panel included the following:
Shiela Hixson: We send a block of money with no strings attached. It is between the county and the school board how to spend it.
Jamie Raskin: Education is a high priority. Delegate Hixson and I have met with teachers to hear what it is like with no raises. This was arranged by MCEA.
Berliner: Education is our number one priority. We reaffirm our committment year after year. We have had unprecedented economic challenges. We are no on a sustainable path going forward, with a multi-year fix. We will meet MOE going forward. Current MOE law is too inflexible. Doesn't allow for consideration of economy. We're trying to arrange a meeting with Dr. Starr, the Board of Education, Ike Leggett, to talk about the penalty.
Brian Feldman: The State Board of Education is appointed. They have no fiscal expertise. Are they the appropriate people to decide the waiver issue? They are not elected.
Sheila Hixson: With the budget, we have a problem again. It is YOUR (Montgomery County's) choice to go above and beyond with education funding. Last year's MOE bill is pre-filed. Montgomery County has maxed out on the piggyback tax.
Brian Feldman: What are other options? Need to maintain AAA bond rating. Bond rating depends on tax revenue. We are growing less wealthy. That benefits us in terms of money from state. Our job is to get as much money for county. What happens after that we can't dictate. We need one voice. If not, then there is exposure.
Because it didn't seem like the moderator was going to ever permit questions from the audience, I asked. The moderator wanted to ask just one more question of the paid lobbyist from MABE, and then she opened it up to questions from the audience. Stay tuned for the video of Roger Berliner stating that the public wasn't going to be offered the opportunity to attend the meeting between the County Council, Board of Education, and Ike Leggett on the issue of what to do about the "penalty."
The moderator lobbed softball questions, designed to elicit MCCPTA's desired responses, to the panel. At the same time, MCEA passed four-page flyers through the audience with their desired outcomes detailed. (Click HERE to see the chart on the last page of the flyer)
Some of the more interesting statements from the panel included the following:
Shiela Hixson: We send a block of money with no strings attached. It is between the county and the school board how to spend it.
Jamie Raskin: Education is a high priority. Delegate Hixson and I have met with teachers to hear what it is like with no raises. This was arranged by MCEA.
Berliner: Education is our number one priority. We reaffirm our committment year after year. We have had unprecedented economic challenges. We are no on a sustainable path going forward, with a multi-year fix. We will meet MOE going forward. Current MOE law is too inflexible. Doesn't allow for consideration of economy. We're trying to arrange a meeting with Dr. Starr, the Board of Education, Ike Leggett, to talk about the penalty.
Brian Feldman: The State Board of Education is appointed. They have no fiscal expertise. Are they the appropriate people to decide the waiver issue? They are not elected.
Sheila Hixson: With the budget, we have a problem again. It is YOUR (Montgomery County's) choice to go above and beyond with education funding. Last year's MOE bill is pre-filed. Montgomery County has maxed out on the piggyback tax.
Brian Feldman: What are other options? Need to maintain AAA bond rating. Bond rating depends on tax revenue. We are growing less wealthy. That benefits us in terms of money from state. Our job is to get as much money for county. What happens after that we can't dictate. We need one voice. If not, then there is exposure.
Because it didn't seem like the moderator was going to ever permit questions from the audience, I asked. The moderator wanted to ask just one more question of the paid lobbyist from MABE, and then she opened it up to questions from the audience. Stay tuned for the video of Roger Berliner stating that the public wasn't going to be offered the opportunity to attend the meeting between the County Council, Board of Education, and Ike Leggett on the issue of what to do about the "penalty."
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Starr and Weast discovered to be in business venture together
State agency documents reveal business relationship between current and former superintendents
Documents obtained from a Maryland state tax agency reveal that MCPS Superintendent Joshua Starr oversees a company that funnels contracts to a company owned by former Superintendent Jerry Weast.
It's no secret that Starr is on the Board of Advisors of the Montgomery County Business Roundtable for Education, commonly known as MCBRE. In spite of its name, MCBRE is an independent business venture and is not owned by Montgomery County government or Montgomery County Public Schools.
Earlier this year, Weast formed a private consulting company, the Partnership for Deliberate Excellence.
According to the website run by another company, the 114th Partnership, a "joint effort" is underway "between the Partnership for Deliberate Excellence, founded by the nationally renowned Dr. Jerry Weast, and the 114th Partnership."
The website run by the 114th Partnership goes on to say, "The 114th Partnership is a national nonprofit program based on the success of the Montgomery County Business Roundtable for Education (MCBRE)." However, the 114th Partnership website does not mention any financial relationship between MCBRE and the 114th Partnership.
But according to documents filed with the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation, the 114th Partnership is wholly owned by MCBRE.
Are you confused? Is it difficult to see the business relationship between Starr and Weast? Don't worry -- you are supposed to be confused -- as that's part of the motivation for setting up shell companies.
So, let's try to simplify this.
Superintendent Starr is on the Board of the MCBRE,
which owns the 114th Partnership Company,
which funnels business to the Partnership for Deliberate Excellence,
which is owned by former Superintendent Weast,
and the revenue ends up in Weast's hands.
Documents obtained from a Maryland state tax agency reveal that MCPS Superintendent Joshua Starr oversees a company that funnels contracts to a company owned by former Superintendent Jerry Weast.
It's no secret that Starr is on the Board of Advisors of the Montgomery County Business Roundtable for Education, commonly known as MCBRE. In spite of its name, MCBRE is an independent business venture and is not owned by Montgomery County government or Montgomery County Public Schools.
Earlier this year, Weast formed a private consulting company, the Partnership for Deliberate Excellence.
According to the website run by another company, the 114th Partnership, a "joint effort" is underway "between the Partnership for Deliberate Excellence, founded by the nationally renowned Dr. Jerry Weast, and the 114th Partnership."
The website run by the 114th Partnership goes on to say, "The 114th Partnership is a national nonprofit program based on the success of the Montgomery County Business Roundtable for Education (MCBRE)." However, the 114th Partnership website does not mention any financial relationship between MCBRE and the 114th Partnership.
 |
| Click on image for larger view |
Are you confused? Is it difficult to see the business relationship between Starr and Weast? Don't worry -- you are supposed to be confused -- as that's part of the motivation for setting up shell companies.
So, let's try to simplify this.
Superintendent Starr is on the Board of the MCBRE,
which owns the 114th Partnership Company,
which funnels business to the Partnership for Deliberate Excellence,
which is owned by former Superintendent Weast,
and the revenue ends up in Weast's hands.
How Are We Getting to Mars Without Some Stress?
It is nearly six months on the job, and Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Superintendent Joshua Starr is still running his mouth. The dude loves to talk. Here he is on November 22nd talking to the county PTA organization...Click here to read Patch article by Joe Hawkins on getting MCPS to "Mars".
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Post Letter: Common Sense on Closing Suspension Gap
Washington Post, Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Letter to the Editor
...
Letter to the Editor
...
"But we have removed many courses that these students can enjoy and learn from in favor of Advanced Placement and honors courses that students and parents feel are the only rigorous path to college. In many cases, technical arts and art and music have been axed because the schools say they cannot afford to keep them. In truth, the money is there, but the priority is to fund advanced courses. It is being entrenched in students’ minds as early as first grade that the only way to a successful, productive life is through college. If we give all kids — no matter their race — a reason to come to school and to learn how to achieve something of which they can be proud, suspension levels will fall."G.P., Frederick
Diane Ravitch on Jerry Weast's Pearson Foundation trip to Australia
 |
| https://twitter.com/#!/DianeRavitch This Tweet from Diane Ravitch links back to this Parents' Coalition article. |
Still time to file for 3 Open Board of Ed seats
File Today fo Run for Open Board of Education Seats
In 2012, there will be an election to fill 3 Montgomery County Board of Education seats.
The filing deadline is January 11, 2012 at 9:00 PM.
File Today!
Wednesday, January 11, 2012 9:00 pm
Candidate Filing Deadline
Deadline to file a Certificate of Candidacy .
Not later than the Wednesday that is 83
days before a primary election. § 5-303(a)(2)
The filing deadline is January 11, 2012 at 9:00 PM.
File Today!
Wednesday, January 11, 2012 9:00 pm
Candidate Filing Deadline
Deadline to file a Certificate of Candidacy .
Not later than the Wednesday that is 83
days before a primary election. § 5-303(a)(2)
Candidate Filing
- Candidate Information Sheet (PDF)
- Certificate of Candidacy for Write-In Candidate (PDF)
- Certificate of Withdrawal or Declination (PDF)
- Declaration of Intent to Seek Nomination by Petition (PDF)
- Affidavit for use of Alternate Name (PDF) - Updated!
- Certificate of Nomination or Designation (PDF)
- Write-in Candidate Information Sheet (PDF)
- Statement of Organization (PDF)
Montgomery County Board of Elections
18753-210 North Frederick Avenue - Directions Gaithersburg, MD 20879
Hours of Operation: Mon - Fri: 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
|
Monday, January 2, 2012
New York Times on Jerry Weast's trip to Australia
NYT: New Questions About Trips Sponsored by Education Publisher
By MICHAEL WINERIP
Published: January 1, 2012
By MICHAEL WINERIP
Published: January 1, 2012
In the summer of 2010, Lu Young, the superintendent of schools in Jessamine County, a Lexington, Ky., suburb, took a trip to Australia paid for by the Pearson Foundation, a nonprofit arm of Pearson, the nation’s largest educational publisher.
Ten school superintendents went on the trip, which cost Pearson $60,000...
...Were the trips an effort by the foundation to influence government officials so the company would obtain a lucrative state contract?...
Why YOU Should Run For Board of Education!
I would like to encourage anyone interested to run for a seat on the Board of
Education. While my campaign wasn't successful, I am still glad I did it:
1. If everything has gone perfectly for your child, and you have no complaints,
and you're happy with the status quo, then you don't have to run. But if you
think things can be better, wrongs should be righted, problems fixed, then don't
you owe it to the community to try and help?
2. You meet the nicest people. I met lots of folks who were dissatisfied with
the status quo and wanted to help bring about change. There weren't enough of
us, but one of these days there will be.
3. The democratic process should really WORK here in Montgomery County. We
should have opponents for every race. Otherwise, what's the point of voting?
To "bless" the pre approved union's candidate? No more "free rides" for
incumbents who think it's more important to sell our curriculum to a for-profit
company on 48 hours notice than to question more deeply the transaction. No
"free ride" for the incumbent who trots out to Denver for a conference touting
labor-management cooperation when the previous year the incumbent was ready to
sue the taxpayers. And, oh yeah....did we ever get an explanation of the "slush
fund" at the end of last year?
It only cost 25 dollars (I think) to file to run for office. Isn't it at least
worth 25 dollars to have the opportunity to challenge an incumbent who so
plainly has put other priorities ahead of kids with special needs, gifted kids,
taxpayers, etc?
Just do it.
Lyda Astrove
Education. While my campaign wasn't successful, I am still glad I did it:
1. If everything has gone perfectly for your child, and you have no complaints,
and you're happy with the status quo, then you don't have to run. But if you
think things can be better, wrongs should be righted, problems fixed, then don't
you owe it to the community to try and help?
2. You meet the nicest people. I met lots of folks who were dissatisfied with
the status quo and wanted to help bring about change. There weren't enough of
us, but one of these days there will be.
3. The democratic process should really WORK here in Montgomery County. We
should have opponents for every race. Otherwise, what's the point of voting?
To "bless" the pre approved union's candidate? No more "free rides" for
incumbents who think it's more important to sell our curriculum to a for-profit
company on 48 hours notice than to question more deeply the transaction. No
"free ride" for the incumbent who trots out to Denver for a conference touting
labor-management cooperation when the previous year the incumbent was ready to
sue the taxpayers. And, oh yeah....did we ever get an explanation of the "slush
fund" at the end of last year?
It only cost 25 dollars (I think) to file to run for office. Isn't it at least
worth 25 dollars to have the opportunity to challenge an incumbent who so
plainly has put other priorities ahead of kids with special needs, gifted kids,
taxpayers, etc?
Just do it.
Lyda Astrove
Suddenly, Ethics rode into town.
What has brought about this sudden change at MCPS? Could it be that there is a new sheriff in town?
What about all of the other conflicts of interest that have existed for years on the ranch? Will the new sheriff push for a review of those issues as well, or was this just a one time ethics review just for show?
In December of 2011, the MCPS Ethics Panel actually met, discussed an ethics issue, and issued an Opinion. The Opinion is shown below with the names of the parties redacted.
Redacted Montgomery County Board of Education Ethics Panel Advisory Opinion
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Montgomery County Public Schools asks state for more construction funding | Washington Examiner
Montgomery County Public Schools are asking the state to reconsider the $24 million its willing to pay for construction projects because it's $160.5 million short of what the cash-strapped school system says it should have gotten.
Now, school officials are appealing, hoping the state will give them at least $40 million, the amount the county had expected Maryland to contribute to the schools' fiscal 2013 Capital Improvement Program. If the state can't close the funding gap, the county could either pull funds away from other areas of its budget or cancel some school construction projects.
Read more at the Washington Examiner: http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/education/2011/12/mcps-asks-state-more-construction-funding/2048121#ixzz1iGoYRf7y
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)