Report: MCPS’ Department of Transportation Abused Use of its Credit Cards @mcps @mocoboe

Montgomery County Public School’s Department of Transportation (DOT) abused its use of purchase cards [CREDIT CARDS], according to a 15-page report released Thursday by Montgomery County Inspector General Megan Davey Limarzi.

An earlier internal audit by the school district found “questionable purchases,” including gift cards, furniture, and other purchases that were shipped to an employee’s home.

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) reviewed $570,000 worth of transactions from July 2020 to June 2022 and ruled that $133,000 of these purchases by a former DOT assistant director were prohibited by MCPS policy.

The OIC and MCPS noted that $6,500 was spent on items that were considered not for use by MCPS.

According to the report, “The OIG also found that MCPS DOT management and staff regularly violated MCPS P-Card [CREDIT CARD] policies.”..

Report: MCPS' Department of Transportation Abused Use of its Purchase Cards - Montgomery Community Media (mymcmedia.org)

Breaking: Former MoCo Planning Bd Commissioner Partap Verma Describes Toxic Work Environment, Says Fmr PB Chair Influenced IG Investigation of Sitting Councilmember and more...

Listen to Partap Verma, then Carol Rubin and then hear Senator Ben Kramer's follow up question: 

Breaking: MoCo Inspector General Releases Investigation - Finds Misconduct In MCPS Credit Card Program By MCPS Transportation Staff

OIG Finds Misconduct in MCP... by Parents' Coalition of Montg...

OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL

Megan Davey Limarzi, Esq.

Inspector General

NEWS RELEASE

______________________________________________________________________________

For Immediate Release December 15, 2022

OIG Finds Misconduct In MCPS Purchase Card Program

Rockville, Maryland – Montgomery County Maryland Inspector General Megan Davey Limarzi 

announced today the release of a new Office of the Inspector General (OIG) report of 

investigation, Abuse of Purchase Cards by Montgomery County Public Schools 

Department of Transportation Employees, OIG Publication # 23-006, detailing the results of an

OIG investigation directed at abuses of MCPS’s purchase card program. The investigation was 

initiated in furtherance of the OIG’s mission to prevent and detect fraud, waste, and abuse in 

government activities; and propose ways to increase the legal, fiscal, and ethical accountability 

of County government departments and County-funded agencies.

The OIG analyzed the approximate $570,000 worth of transactions that occurred from July 2020 

to June 2022 through P-Cards assigned to MCPS DOT staff and found approximately $133,000 

in purchases made using P-Cards issued to the former MCPS DOT Assistant Director were 

prohibited by policy. The OIG and MCPS deemed that approximately $6,500 was spent on items 

that were possibly for non-MCPS related use. The OIG also found that MCPS DOT management 

and staff regularly violated MCPS P-Card policies. 

The OIG noted that MCPS took several steps to address program vulnerabilities since allegations 

of misconduct emerged, however opportunities still exist for them to strengthen oversight 

programs. The backstop against program abuses and failures is a strong audit and oversight 

program. The OIG found that MCPS’ P-Card monitoring program is not consistently followed

and P-Card audits of central office departments, like DOT, are not a part of routine audits. The 

OIG made similar observations in a 2016 review and recommended improved oversight. The 

OIG made 5 recommendations as a result of this investigation, some of which are again targeted 

at improving oversight of P-Cards.

The OIG pursued this investigation after consulting with the Montgomery County Police

Department about their investigation of alleged misconduct by the former MCPS DOT Director 

and former MCPS DOT Assistant Director. The OIG shared the results of its investigation with 

the State’s Attorney’s Office.

The full report can be found at 

https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/OIG/Resources/Files/PDF/IGActivity/FY2023/OIG-23-006.pdf

Please direct all inquiries to: Email: ig@montgomerycountymd.gov Phone: 240-777-8240

ACLU of Virginia: We've reached a settlement in our case about peer masking in Virginia public schools affirming that masking is a reasonable modification for students with disabilities that put them at severe risk if they contract COVID.

 In February of last year, 12 parents of students with disabilities filed a lawsuit against Governor Youngkin's Executive Order 2 & Senate Bill 739.

These directives restricted schools from requiring community masking to combat COVID spread & keep kids with disabilities safe. 

In March, a court preliminarily granted these parents the ability to request & receive community masking accommodations.

The parties have reached a settlement that we are waiting for the court to accept that will ensure kids with disabilities can be accommodated at school. 

Under federal disability law, schools MUST make accommodations if a child with a disability requires peer & teacher masking, regardless of the requirements of Executive Order 2 & Senate Bill 739.

Kids with disabilities deserve the same access to education as their peers. 

We are glad to be working with @BrownGoldLevy, @disAbilityLawVA, @arnoldporter, & @WashLaw4CR to move this case forward.

Read more about this lawsuit and its settlement:

Parents and State Settle Lawsuit on School Masking Accommodations for Students with Disabilitieshttps://www.acluva.org/en/press-releases/parents-and-state-settle-lawsuit-school-masking-ac

Thread by @ACLUVA on Thread Reader App – Thread Reader App

Councilmember Andrew Friedson (D) has a $500,000 campaign finance war chest that is overflowing with donations from development interests. Wasting no time, he has a fundraiser planned for Thursday that is co-hosted by, among others, a prominent developer, Aris Mardirossian...

Greater transparency necessary for Montgomery County development decisions

...A twin package of legislation introduced recently by state Sen. Ben Kramer (D-Montgomery) offers to take some other steps: adding some requirements for greater transparency for members of the planning board; limiting their ability to make donations to politicians; and in what some on the County Council have complained, cutting into the council’s authority to appoint all board members by allowing the executive to nominate, subject to council approval, a candidate for either chair or vice chair.

That would be a small reprise of the system in use in the late 1960s and not changed for a few decades, when the power over the board shifted back to the council. It would partly parallel the way it works now in Prince George’s County, which, with Montgomery, makes up the bi-county Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission. Kramer’s proposals still would leave the Montgomery County Council in charge of land use decision making, allowing it to continue to hold the power to approve or veto Planning Board development recommendations. He has proposed a task force to examine some of these issues. A hearing is scheduled for Thursday evening.

Transparency is an oft-used phrase these days in government. At the opening session on Dec. 6 of the newly elected 11-member Montgomery County Council, new members Kristin Mink (D) and Laurie-Anne Sayles (D) and returning member Will Jawando (D), put down markers on the issue of transparency, saying that there are many instances of the council operating in the dark, and calling for greater light.

Land use would be a good place to start.

Montgomery County’s system for making decisions about new development, overseen by the council, may be one of its most difficult to observe and understand. Councilmember Andrew Friedson (D) has a $500,000 campaign finance war chest that is overflowing with donations from development interests. Wasting no time, he has a fundraiser planned for Thursday that is co-hosted by, among others, a prominent  developer, Aris Mardirossian, whose Bethesda Land LLC is involved in a controversy over a promised park in downtown Bethesda...

Miranda Spivack: Greater transparency necessary for Montgomery County development decisions - Maryland Matters

Students with disabilities win dispute over masks in Va. public schools

Parents of students with disabilities in Virginia public schools have won a major legal dispute, winning the right to require mask-wearing by teachers and students to help protect their children against COVID-19.

One of Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s first acts was to stop mandatory mask wearing in public schools, signing executive order number two in January that left the decision of masking in the hands of parents...

Students with disabilities win dispute over masks in Va. public schools - WTOP News

Preteens steal packages in Montgomery County

Narcan demonstration at Wootton High School. @mymcmedia

Narcan demonstration at Wootton High School. @mymcmedia pic.twitter.com/RUUNVWbMpj

— Maryam Shahzad (@maryam_mcm) December 13, 2022

Why does Montgomery County 911 Refer a Sex Assault Call from Wheaton High School to Park Police?

❓ On December 9, 2022, Montgomery County's 911 call center received a call reporting a sex assault that occurred earlier at Wheaton High School.  When the dispatcher put out the call at 2:24:34 PM here is what transpired with the responding officer:

Dispatcher:  Sex assault, occurred earlier Wheaton High School.  Suspect not on scene. Student reporting sex assault...

Officer: Do you mind just passing that over to the Park Police? They are responsible now for Wheaton High School. 

TONIGHT: Police Chief Marcus Jones on public safety and State Senator Ben Kramer on Planning Board Legislation

The next General Meeting of the Montgomery County Civic Federation is Monday, December 12, 2022, at 7:30 p.m.

DECEMBER PROGRAM

The Program for the December Meeting will be a discussion about "public safety" in the County with our special guest, Montgomery County Police Chief Marcus Jones.

We will also be joined by Maryland State Senator Ben Kramer (D-19) who will discuss his legislation relating to the structure of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission and other issues.

To join the Zoom meeting from your browser, use this link. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86361556889 To participate by phone (audio only), call 301.715.8592. The meeting ID is 863 6155 6889. No password is required.

DECEMBER NEWSLETTER

More information about the program and other important civic news can be found in the DECEMBER 2022 Newsletter. https://montgomerycivic.org/files/CFNlatest.pdf

A print version of the newsletter is also available. Please pass the newsletter on to your neighbors.

MCCF MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL

If you have not already done so, please renew your membership this month so that you will continue to receive our notices. Individual memberships are available. We appreciate your support and participation. https://montgomerycivic.org/MCCFMembershipApplication1.html

We look forward to seeing everyone online on the 12th.

Montgomery County Civic Federation, Inc.

"Like" our Facebook page at

www.facebook.com/civicfed

Loudoun Co. former superintendent Ziegler, school official indicted by special grand jury

RICHMOND, Va. (7News) — Loudoun County Public Schools former superintendent Scott Ziegler and the school system's public information officer Wayde Byard were indicted by a special grand jury following an investigation into two sexual assaults.

A Loudoun County judge ordered Monday that the documents be unsealed, according to a release from Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares. The indictments were handed up by a special grand jury, which was empaneled in April at the request of Miyares...

Loudoun Co. former superintendent Ziegler, school official indicted by special grand jury | WJLA

Maryland State Board of Education Appoints New Executive Director

 From the Southern Maryland Chronicle, full story here. Yellow highlights my own.

BALTIMORE, MD (December 6, 2022) – Following a thorough, deliberative, and competitive recruitment and hiring process, the Maryland State Board of Education announced the selection of Zachary Hands as the State Board’s Executive Director. Zachary Hands will begin in his new role on December 14, 2022.

And: 

Previously Mr. Hands served as the Maryland State Department of Education’s Director of the Office of Education Policy and Government Relations, as well as Special Assistant to the State Superintendent. During that time, he notably served as a liaison during the meeting of the Kirwan Commission and the development of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, assisted in drafting and promulgating the State’s education equity regulation, and helped lead the Department during its response to the initial Covid-19 pandemic emergency and recovery process.

New @mocoboe members Immediately Left Town for Miami Vacation with rest of BOE and @mcps Superintendent.

Newly elected Board of Education members Grace Rivera-Oven and Julie Yang were on the Montgomery County Board of Education for just 7 days when they left town for Miami with the rest of the Board of Education members. 

This December vacation for the Board of Education and Superintendent will be paid for out of the MCPS Operating Budget.  Remember all those teachers begging for school supplies?  Sorry, the Board of Education and Superintendent needed to get some Miami sun in December.  Buy your own supplies teachers.  

@mcps Teachers buy your own supplies. Superintendent McKnight needed a Miami vacation in December.

At #CUBE22 conference, Dr. McKnight is interviewed by Alex Lopez about the importance of racial equity in education. "There's no more important goal than achieving equity in education.” https://t.co/nSUOzUrTXh @NSBAPublicEd pic.twitter.com/TybWmDh6xV

— MCPS (@MCPS) December 8, 2022

CUBE 2022 Annual Conference (nsba.org)

 

7th grader shot in thigh by classmate with BB gun in Silver Spring [Silver Spring International Middle School] @mcps @mocoboe

 

The Montgomery County Police Department was called to Silver Spring International Middle School Thursday after learning that a student shot her classmate with a BB gun.

According to a statement from the principal, the student was showing off the loaded BB gun to a friend while in her 7th-grade classroom, when it accidentally discharged and struck her friend in the thigh. 

The classroom teacher immediately called school administrators and security, who confiscated the BB gun and removed both students from the classroom.

The school nurse examined the student who was shot and found no injury...

7th grader shot in thigh by classmate with BB gun in Silver Spring (msn.com)

Heinemann’s billion-dollar sales have nationwide reach: @mcps @mocoboe spent $1,905,023.86 on Heinemann materials over 10 years

Heinemann’s billion-dollar sales have nationwide reach

APM Reports found that the controversial educational publishing company has sold instructional materials and professional resources in almost every state, earning at least $1.6 billion over a decade. 

Teaching children to read is not just a critical piece of elementary education. It’s also big business. 

In 2019, school districts spent more on English language arts programs for elementary schools than on all instructional materials for middle and high schools combined, according to the Association of American Publishers, an industry trade group. That year, school districts spent $1.33 billion on reading programs for kids in pre-K through sixth grade. 

Heinemann Publishing — which puts out curricula by Lucy Calkins, and Irene Fountas and Gay Su Pinnell — has been among the largest players in that market. What hasn’t been clear is just how much money Heinemann earns and how widespread its products are. That’s what APM Reports wanted to find out...

 ...Much of that money comes from districts across the country. APM Reports sent records requests to the largest school districts in every state — 100 districts in total — asking if they had purchased materials from Heinemann in the past decade. We obtained records for 87 districts. All but five said they’d purchased Heinemann materials...

 ...But most controversially, some of the books and curriculum have perpetuated a theory that’s commonly referred to as cueing. The theory holds that students can be taught to problem solve unknown words with multiple sources of information, like context and picture clues. It’s a strategy that cognitive scientists have refuted in repeated studies. Other publishing companies put out programs based on this theory, but Heinemann’s products are among the most popular...  

Heinemann’s billion-dollar sales have nationwide reach | APM Reports

Investing in indoor air quality improvements in schools will reduce COVID transmission and help students learn

As fall temperatures cool across the U.S., many schools will struggle to ventilate classrooms while also keeping students and teachers comfortable and healthy. Children and teachers spend over six hours a day in classrooms during the school year, often in buildings that are decades old and have inadequate heating, ventilation and air conditioning, or HVAC, systems.

Fall 2022 marks the start of the fourth school year affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has spotlighted the importance of indoor air quality in schools. Ideally, all school buildings would have adequate ventilation, filtered air in each classroom and windows that open. Sadly, this is not the case – and indoor air quality in many schools is poor as a result. This is especially problematic in the wake of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s August 2022 COVID-19 guidance for schools, which scales back other measures for limiting transmission, such as masking, testing and quarantining.

Beyond minimizing COVID-19 transmission, indoor air quality also matters for student academic performance. This is especially important given the learning losses that many children experienced in the first two years of the pandemic. Hot, stuffy classrooms make it harder for students to learn. So do cold classrooms.

Our research focuses on indoor environments and health – an area that has received increased attention during the pandemic, since most COVID-19 transmission occurs through shared air indoors. There is ample evidence that smart investments in school buildings can reduce transmission of infectious disease, while also improving learning and increasing well-being for students, teachers and administrators...

Investing in indoor air quality improvements in schools will reduce COVID transmission and help students learn (theconversation.com)

‘Tripledemic’ Causing Higher Volume of Patients in Emergency Rooms

Emergency departments are seeing an increase in patients with flu and RSV, according to Holy Cross Health Acute Care President Dr. Louis Damiano. 

And let’s not forget COVID. So we termed this the tripledemic, because of the three different upper respiratory tract environments,” Damiano said during a media briefing Wednesday. 

He said that in July and August, most upper respiratory tract infections were due to COVID-19, but that has changed. Now, about 50% of those visits at Silver Spring and Germantown locations are RSV or flu.

“The impact on the emergency room is that the volumes are higher, and as the volumes are higher and we try and see and triage the patients, it also results in longer wait times.”

‘Tripledemic’ Causing Higher Volume of Patients in Emergency Rooms - Montgomery Community Media (mymcmedia.org)

The US has never recorded this many positive flu tests in one week

This flu season’s ferocious start has given way to record-shattering levels of transmission — and massive strains on the American health system.

In the week ending November 26, more than 34,000 positive flu tests were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from labs around the US, as shown in the orange line on the chart below. That’s more positive flu tests than have been reported in any single week during any flu season on record, going back as far as 1997.

The trajectory dwarfs the past six flu seasons, including the relatively bad 2019-2020 one that immediately preceded the start of the Covid-19 pandemic (shown in the black line)...

2022 is the worst flu season in two decades. See the rise in charts. - Vox

Effort to Roll Back Recent Howard County Board of Education Election is Undemocratic

Like thousands of jurisdictions throughout the country, Howard County recently held an election for its school board, resulting in the election of Dr. Linfeng Chen of North Laurel and Jacky McCoy of Columbia to four-year terms as at-large members on the county Board of Education (BOE). It is doubtful, however, that other communities have seen state lawmakers react by proposing legislation rolling back the outcome of the November 8 election.

 

Specifically, Howard County Senator Clarence Lam and Delegate Courtney Watson have put forward a bill decreasing Dr. Chen and Ms. McCoy’s terms to two-years. That provision is part of broader legislation – Howard County 10-23 – that reduces the number of elected BOE members from seven members to five and granting authority to the Howard County Executive to appoint two members, based on recommendations from the county’s legislative delegation, beginning in 2024. Under the measure, three of the elected members would be chosen by state Senate districts as opposed to the current system of election by each of the five councilmanic districts and two members would be elected at large or countywide. (The Howard County BOE also has a student member that sixth through eleventh graders elect but the pending bill does not affect that position.)...

Guest Post: Effort to Roll Back Recent Howard County Board of Education Election is Undemocratic - HoCo Watchdogs