Monday, February 29, 2016
Planning Board Member Presley is not eligible for reappointment
County Council Looking for New Planning Board Member to Start This Summer: Republican Amy Presley’s second term will end in June
$120,285 in Uncollected Property Taxes on Board of Education Cell Towers
 |
| Base of a Board of Education cell tower. |
The amount of property taxes owed on Board of Education cell towers could buy 2 more teachers for MCPS classrooms.
Sunday, February 28, 2016
Civic Federation: Protect Montgomery County homeowners by capping assessment increases at 5%
Maryland's
homestead property tax credit is a cap that helps protect people from
being taxed out of their homes during times of rising property
assessments. The default cap is 10% but most counties in Maryland have
chosen a much lower percentage to better protect their homeowners. Now
that property values are recovering, it is time for Montgomery County's
homeowners to have better protection. Five percent is a cap level
that has worked well in counties across the state and even in the Town
of Kensington.
The Montgomery County Council has never chosen to protect homeowners in this way, but our Montgomery County Delegates and Senators can do it by passing MC 28-16 (HB1078), a bill limiting assessment increases to 5%.
To add your signature to the over 350 signers of the change.org petition, go to:
https://www.change.org/p/maryland-state-house-protect-montgomery-county-homeowners-by-capping-assessment-increases-at-5
You can also leave a comment when you sign the petition.
The Montgomery County Council has never chosen to protect homeowners in this way, but our Montgomery County Delegates and Senators can do it by passing MC 28-16 (HB1078), a bill limiting assessment increases to 5%.
To add your signature to the over 350 signers of the change.org petition, go to:
https://www.change.org/p/maryland-state-house-protect-montgomery-county-homeowners-by-capping-assessment-increases-at-5
You can also leave a comment when you sign the petition.
Friday, February 26, 2016
Bill to Permit Alcohol Sales Across Street from BCC High School
Bill MC 8-16 is currently being reviewed by the legislature.
Montgomery County – Alcoholic Beverages Licenses –
Exemption From Minimum Distance Restrictions
http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2016RS/bills/hb/hb1067f.pdf
Montgomery County – Alcoholic Beverages Licenses –
Exemption From Minimum Distance Restrictions
http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2016RS/bills/hb/hb1067f.pdf
$37,218.51 in Back Taxes Owed on Cell Tower at Woodwards Road School Site
 |
| Children can not use this school site. It is leased to cell tower companies and Comcast. |
03696820 is one of the property tax identification numbers for the Woodwards Road school site cell tower. This one vendor owes $37,218.51 in back property taxes.
Again, no one on the Board of Education cares if the private companies using public school land do not pay their property taxes. What is the MCPS Real Estate office doing to collect these back taxes?
The Board of Education certainly does not need property taxes to fund MCPS!
Thursday, February 25, 2016
New tests show radon at potentially deadly levels in many schools
While the number of children and staff members who get lung cancer and die from radon exposure in MCPS facilities won't be known until many years in the future, tests reveal that the levels are well beyond EPA-recommended maximum levels in many classrooms and offices.
The most current available results are at the following link:
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/facilities/maintenance/default.aspx?id=460457
Some schools are still in the process of being tested, so if your school's results are not from 2015 or 2016, check back every week or so.
The most current available results are at the following link:
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/facilities/maintenance/default.aspx?id=460457
Some schools are still in the process of being tested, so if your school's results are not from 2015 or 2016, check back every week or so.
Summary Radon Test Reports For All Facilities
Individual Facility Radon Test Reports
| Elementary Schools | Middle Schools | High Schools | Other Facilities |
Some Upcounty Residents Not Happy With Board Suggestions For New School Name
Some Upcounty Residents Not Happy With Board Suggestions For New School Name: The Board of Education suggested naming new Clarksburg middle school for former Wootton High School Principal Michael Doran or one of three other former school system officials
Board of Education Candidates Forum
We invite you to join us for a free League sponsored educational program "Board of Education Candidates Forum"
The quality of our public schools impacts everyone in the County whether or not you have a student enrolled.
65% of MCPS’s 2016 budget of 2.79 billion comes from local revenues, including income and property taxes.
Invest wisely in our School Board. Learn more about current candidates, their priorities and positions before you cast your vote.
Monday, February 29, 2016
6:30 to 8:30 PM
Carver Educational Services Center Auditorium
850 Hungerford Drive
Rockville, MD 20850
Please see the linked flyer for further details. We encourage you to share this information with others.
The public is always welcome and admission is free.
The quality of our public schools impacts everyone in the County whether or not you have a student enrolled.
65% of MCPS’s 2016 budget of 2.79 billion comes from local revenues, including income and property taxes.
Invest wisely in our School Board. Learn more about current candidates, their priorities and positions before you cast your vote.
Monday, February 29, 2016
6:30 to 8:30 PM
Carver Educational Services Center Auditorium
850 Hungerford Drive
Rockville, MD 20850
Please see the linked flyer for further details. We encourage you to share this information with others.
The public is always welcome and admission is free.
'Turf War' taking place over competitive bidding #fieldturf #nobids
This is in Georgia, but the same thing has gone on here in Montgomery County for over a decade. We love no bid plastic grass purchases here in Montgomery County! Why get bids when you can just shop!
'Turf War' taking place over competitive bidding: A process meant to prevent fraud and misconduct is being called into question after millions of taxpayer dollars are allegedly being awarded to private companies without consent.
'Turf War' taking place over competitive bidding: A process meant to prevent fraud and misconduct is being called into question after millions of taxpayer dollars are allegedly being awarded to private companies without consent.
$32,225.65 owed on Kennedy High School Cell Tower in Back Property Taxes
 |
| Kennedy High School cell tower |
03696682 is one of the property tax identification numbers for the Kennedy High School cell tower. That tax id number shows thousands of dollars in back property taxes owed on the Kennedy High School cell tower.
Again, no one on the Board of Education cares if the private companies using public school land do not pay their property taxes.
The Board of Education certainly does not need property taxes to fund MCPS!
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
Superintendent candidate travel expenses revealed
MCPS took their time, but finally released a document summarizing the travel expenses for the superintendent candidates.
But note that these aren't the travel expenses for the 2016 search. These are for the 2015 candidate search, which ended with hiring Larry Bowers, right from within MCPS. So the BOE spent $9228.92 and got exactly zero in return.
We asked for the actual travel expense invoices. MCPS said that they they didn't have the actual invoices. Instead, they sent us the invoice below, which appears to have been prepared by the search firm, ECRA Group, Inc.
For all anyone knows, the figures from ECRA are entirely fictitious. With no names or receipts, we have nothing to show that the ECRA bill is legitimate. And neither does MCPS. It's all based on trust. Does your employer trust you this much?
Candidate A was frugal. Seems that she walked to and from the airport. She also walked to and from her hotel. She must be on a starvation diet because it seems that she ate absolutely nothing.
Candidate B was also quite frugal. He apparently ate TV dinners during his visit. Spending so little on meals would not make our previous superintendent or our current BOE look very good by comparison. We'd like to know how he got to and from the airport for a total of $15.00. This guy really knows how to cut costs.
Candidate C apparently thought that he was being recruited for a corporate executive job so he did whatever he could to spend, spend, spend on himself. Kind of like former Superintendent Starr and a number of other MCPS executives. $3806.00 in airline expenses. Did he fly first class? Or maybe he took two interview trips. Even so, $3806.00 in airfare? Did he come from London?
Candidate D didn't eat much. Possibly another TV dinner guy. He stayed at a reasonably priced hotel. But he sure did like to fly in style. First class, perhaps?
Candidate E was the most frugal overall. No shocking expenses. Maybe she didn't spend enough to please the BOE.
There were no travel expenses reported for local candidates. Or maybe they walked from Howard County, Baltimore County, etc. We'll never know.
But note that these aren't the travel expenses for the 2016 search. These are for the 2015 candidate search, which ended with hiring Larry Bowers, right from within MCPS. So the BOE spent $9228.92 and got exactly zero in return.
We asked for the actual travel expense invoices. MCPS said that they they didn't have the actual invoices. Instead, they sent us the invoice below, which appears to have been prepared by the search firm, ECRA Group, Inc.
For all anyone knows, the figures from ECRA are entirely fictitious. With no names or receipts, we have nothing to show that the ECRA bill is legitimate. And neither does MCPS. It's all based on trust. Does your employer trust you this much?
Candidate B was also quite frugal. He apparently ate TV dinners during his visit. Spending so little on meals would not make our previous superintendent or our current BOE look very good by comparison. We'd like to know how he got to and from the airport for a total of $15.00. This guy really knows how to cut costs.
Candidate C apparently thought that he was being recruited for a corporate executive job so he did whatever he could to spend, spend, spend on himself. Kind of like former Superintendent Starr and a number of other MCPS executives. $3806.00 in airline expenses. Did he fly first class? Or maybe he took two interview trips. Even so, $3806.00 in airfare? Did he come from London?
Candidate D didn't eat much. Possibly another TV dinner guy. He stayed at a reasonably priced hotel. But he sure did like to fly in style. First class, perhaps?
Candidate E was the most frugal overall. No shocking expenses. Maybe she didn't spend enough to please the BOE.
There were no travel expenses reported for local candidates. Or maybe they walked from Howard County, Baltimore County, etc. We'll never know.
.@MCPS special needs students' data stolen. Watch @ABC7News at 4pm
Burglar/s break into DuPont Circle office building, @MCPS special needs students' data stolen. Watch @ABC7News at 4p pic.twitter.com/cXEg3wDX0b— Kevin Lewis (@ABC7Kevin) February 24, 2016
Breaking: State BOE REVERSES Decision of MoCo BOE, "concerns about the logic of the Acting COO's decision to dismiss the Complaint" @MCPSOperations
 |
| From Twitter Profile |
"For the reasons stated above, we reverse the decision of the Montgomery County Board of Education to dismiss the appeal based on untimeliness and remand this case to the local board for appropriate processing and a decision. We note that the statement of the hearing examiner, adopted by the Acting COO, that erratic attendance compromised the Section 504 plan raises concerns about the logic of the Acting COO's decision to dismiss the Complaint when one of the reasons for the Section 504 plan was to compensate for absences related to the student's disability. "
Chevy Chase Elementary School principal calls for stop to cyberbullying
https://wjla.com/embed/news/local/md-elementary-school-principal-calls-for-stop-to-cyberbullying
*Former Superintendent Joshua Starr put elementary school students on Twitter. Now, parents are being told to keep their elementary school students off of Twitter.
*Former Superintendent Joshua Starr put elementary school students on Twitter. Now, parents are being told to keep their elementary school students off of Twitter.
Md. Senate holds up seven Hogan appointments #education
“None of the appointees should be aggrieved by this process,” said Sen. Jamin B. “Jamie” Raskin, D-Montgomery and chairman of the committee. “This is precisely what is contemplated by our constitution — advice and consent. We consent, but we also advise along the way.”
All of those being delayed are appointees to boards overseeing education, transportation and energy issues — subject areas over which the Senate has clashed with Hogan since the start of the session...
...The committee also held the appointment of Chester B. Finn to the state school board one day before the Senate recommitted a bill giving it confirmation powers over the next state schools superintendent...
http://thedailyrecord.com/2016/02/23/senate-holds-up-seven-hogan-appointments/?utm_source=WhatCounts+Publicaster+Edition&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=TDR+insider+022416&utm_content=Md.+Senate+holds+up+seven+Hogan+appointments
$8,101 in Back Property Taxes Owed on Springbrook Cell Tower
 |
| Warning on cell tower on Board of Education land. |
Account Number: 03696578
March 1st: Blair Ewing Center Construction Update
 |
| Ewing Center |
There will be a public information meeting on Tuesday March 1, 2016, at 7pm where the updated concept plans for the Alternative Education Programs at Blair Ewing Center will be presented. Everyone present at the public information meeting will have the opportunity to hear about the updated plans and provide input about the proposed project.
The meeting will be at the Blair G. Ewing Center (14501 Avery Road in Rockville, MD 20853) onTuesday March 1st from 7:00pm - 8:30pm.
Sign language interpreter services will be provided upon request with notice as far in advance as possible, but no less than 5 business days prior to the event. If you need this service or other services/aids to participate in this event, please email Barbara Ruppel, administrative secretary at Barbara_M_Ruppel@mcpsmd.org; TTY users should call Maryland Relay (711).
Separation-of-powers question stalls Md. state superintendent bill
Some Democrats say it is time to make adjustments to the 100-year-old law that gives board members the ability to independently hire a superintendent. But lawmakers who support the bill pressed the pause button Friday and called for an advisory letter from the Maryland Attorney General’s office because of concerns about the separation of powers between the legislative and executive branches...
http://thedailyrecord.com/2016/02/19/separation-of-powers-question-stalls-state-superintendent-bill/?utm_source=WhatCounts+Publicaster+Edition&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=TDR+Insider+012216&utm_content=Separation-of-powers+question+stalls+Md.+state+superintendent+bill
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)