Vandalism at Walt Whitman High School

From WUSA9, reporter Samantha Gilstrap. For the whole story go here. 

To stop antisemitism in MCPS, follow @wwhs_jews4change on Instagram. Jews4Change is a group of Jewish Whitman students who are pushing for their school to better support Jewish students and staff, and address the antisemitic climate at Whitman. There is going to be a walk out on 12/22 (or possibly 12/21 if there is snow on 12/22) at Whitman in the morning. Support and promote the walk out, especially if you have high school students. Go to it if you can.

MARYLAND

'Jews not welcome' graffiti found at Bethesda high school

For the second time in a month, Montgomery County Police are investigating antisemitic vandalism in the community.

Ninth-grade student Rachel Barold at Walt Whitman reached out to WUSA9 after receiving an email from her principal regarding the incident. 

She says she was with other students at the time the email hit her inbox.

"We all opened our phones at the same time and you could hears kids saying 'oh my god' check your emails. Everyone was in shock about what happened," said Barold.

She claims the graffiti comes directly after a school lesson on the Holocaust.

Barold said a petition for the Holocaust lesson was started after Jewish students at the school began noticing their other classmates genuinely did not know what it was.

Barold said this should never be happening, adding that Whitman has issues with xenophobia.

"People are forgetting and it's scary because if you don't remember what happened, history repeats itself," said Barold.

Barold is helping to organize a walkout on Thursday, December 22 with the group Jews4Change at Whitman to draw awareness to the issue.

00:3002:28

The Pattern of Antisemitism at Walt Whitman High School

Following the heels of the antisemitic graffiti at Walt Whitman, an antisemitic email was sent to Whitman staff today. Here is the response from the principal, Robert Dodd. These consistent messages of Jew Hatred in MCPS public schools must be stopped. To date all the Jewish community has heard from councilmembers and County Executive Elrich are thoughts and prayers. No action is planned by them. 

MCCPTA has not issued any statement, and neither has anyone from the Board of Education. 

ABC7: Furniture, headphones, tires: OIG finds $133k in illicit spending from MCPS DOT employee

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (7News) — Charles Ewald was second in charge of MCPS' Department of Transportation.

The division has 1,800 employees and an annual budget of $120 million.

Last fall, Montgomery County's Office of the Inspector General (OIG) dug into Ewald's MCPS charge card statements and found $133,000 in prohibited spending...

Furniture, headphones, tires: OIG finds $133k in illicit spending from MCPS DOT employee | WJLA

Zirkin turned his back on child abuse victims

I was sad — but certainly not surprised — to learn of former state Sen. Bobby Zirkin’s about-face on his original 2019 stance regarding the passage of the Hidden Predator’s Act (”Catholic Church paid Maryland lobbyists more than $200K to help limit, prevent abuse lawsuits,” Dec. 8). He had the courage then to stand up to the Archdiocese of Baltimore and push legislation that would eliminate the statute of limitations regarding child sex abuse. But for the past three years, he’s been paid by the church to lobby against it. 

 In 1976, I first heard the catch phrase, “follow the money,” in the movie, “All The President’s Men,” about the Watergate burglary during the Richard Nixon White House years. Here is another example of a former state politician more interested in collecting a fee than what he at one time passionately believed to be the right thing to do. Why is it that money continues to override the decent thinking of today’s leaders? Can’t Zirkin collect fees lobbying for causes he truly believes in? I hope the former senator comes to his senses and stops his lobbying for the Archdiocese of Baltimore trying to maintain the statute of limitations on child sex abuse. 

There is another movie title I would like Zirkin to recall. This one is entitled, “Do the Right Thing.” — Mac Kennedy, Baltimore

Zirkin turned his back on child abuse victims | READER COMMENTARY – Baltimore Sun

Incident of Antisemitic Graffiti at Walt Whitman High School

12.17.22 Letter to WW Community- Antisemitic Graffiti by Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland on Scribd

Groups ask high court to bar ‘exorbitant’ fees for government documents

Frustrated by the rising cost of obtaining government documents, three public interest groups have turned to the state’s highest court for relief. 

The organizations want the Court of Appeals to interpret state law in a manner that would make most government documents available to the public free of charge. And in cases where fees are warranted, the groups say it’s time state and local governments stopped charging “exorbitant” rates. 

The groups — the ACLU of Maryland, the Baltimore-based Public Justice Center and the Washington Lawyers’ Committee — filed their petition with the Court of Appeals earlier this month. Their plea came in the form of an amicus brief filed in support of the appellants in Baltimore City Police Department, et al. v. Open Justice Baltimore, a civil rights organization. 

The groups’ lawyer noted that the General Assembly has instructed state and local agencies that they should waive document fees when doing so “would be in the public interest.” Despite that order, the public has seen “a disturbing pattern” emerge in recent years. 

“[A]gencies are increasingly demanding that public interest organizations like [the petitioners] pay thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars to access records about the operations and activities of the government,” the groups wrote. 

The ability of individuals and groups to hold governments accountable for their actions “begins to crumble if government agencies are permitted to erect barrier after barrier when nonprofit public interest organizations… seek access to public records in furtherance of their missions,” they added...

Groups ask high court to bar 'exorbitant' fees for government documents - Maryland Matters

Howard County Public Schools Bell Times for 2023/24 School Year

 

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.