Close MCPS Schools 6/8/23 Due to Poor Air Quality & Smoke

 Petition · Close MCPS Schools 6/8/23 Due to Poor Air Quality & Smoke · Change.org

NYT: Schools Received Billions in Stimulus Funds. It May Not Be Doing Enough.

Pandemic aid was supposed to help students recover from learning loss, but results have been mixed.

When the pandemic shut down schools across the country, the federal government responded with billions of dollars to help districts support remote learning, serve free meals to students and safely reopen schools.

In 2021, the Biden administration gave districts another $122 billion through its $1.9 trillion stimulus package, an amount that far surpassed previous rounds. Districts were required to spend at least 20 percent of those funds on helping students recover academically, while the rest could be used on general efforts to respond to the pandemic.

Yet, while most schools have since deployed various forms of interventions and some have spent more on academic recovery than others, there are ample signs that the money has not been spent in a way that has substantially helped all of the nation’s students lagging behind.

Recent test scores underscore the staggering effect of the pandemic, which thrust much of the nation’s students into remote learning for extended periods of time. Students in most states and across almost all demographic groups experienced major setbacks in math and reading after many schools closed their doors. In 2022, math scores underwent the largest declines ever recorded on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, which tests a broad sampling of fourth and eighth graders dating back to the early 1990s...

Pandemic Stimulus Aid May Not Be Doing Enough to Help Schools - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

MCPS Summer School Focuses on ‘Highly Impacted’ Students by Invitation Only

This year MCPS Summer School will be invitation only. 

“The school system is shifting back to its pre-pandemic structure that targets students that would benefit most from a summer program,” according to MCPS spokesperson, Jessica Baxter.

Registration for summer school opened May 15, but not all students were able to register. MCPS says this shift focuses on the students most impacted.  Jessica Baxter, the school system’s spokesperson, noted emergency funds the district received to address pandemic-related learning loss, is winding down...

MCPS Summer School Focuses on 'Highly Impacted' Students by Invitation Only - Montgomery Community Media (mymcmedia.org)

Case of Measles in Montgomery County

A case of measles has been identified in the county. If you were at the Cabin John Ice Rink on Wednesday, May 24th between 6 - 9 pm, or at a professional office building at 16220 Frederick Road in Gaithersburg on Tuesday May 30th between between 11 am - 2 pm you may have been exposed to the measles.

This is a serious disease that can lead to blindness, and if you are pregnant, can affect the fetus.

Measles vaccines are easily available.

County Press Release below, link here. 

For Immediate Release: Friday, June 2, 2023

 Montgomery County and Maryland health officials announced this evening that one case of measles has been confirmed in a Montgomery County resident.  Anyone who visited the Cabin John Ice Rink, located at 10610 Westlake Drive in Bethesda on Wednesday, May 24, between the hours of 6 and 9 p.m. and a professional office building located at 16220 Frederick Road in Gaithersburg on Tuesday, May 30 between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., may have been exposed to measles.

Measles is a contagious vaccine-preventable viral infection which is easily spread to unvaccinated persons through coughing, sneezing and secretions from the mouth. The measles virus may remain in the air for up to two hours.

There were five confirmed measles cases reported in Maryland in 2019, and there have been no measles cases reported since then.

People, especially those who are not vaccinated against measles, who were at either of these locations during the possible exposure times should monitor themselves for any early symptoms of measles, especially fever. People who develop a fever or other symptoms of measles should contact their health care provider. Those with symptoms should not go to childcare, school, work or out in public, as they might have the early symptoms of measles and might be contagious. People with these symptoms should call their doctor about their symptoms before showing up in the waiting room so that the office can take measures to prevent spread to other patients.

Measles symptoms typically develop 10-14 days after exposure to the virus but can develop as soon as seven days and as long as 21 days after exposure. Early symptoms of measles are fever more than 101 degrees F; runny nose; cough; and red, watery eyes. Usually, one to four days after the early symptoms, a red rash appears on the face and spreads to the rest of the body.  A person with measles is contagious beginning four days before the rash appears until four days after the rash begins. People are considered immune to measles if they were born in the United States before 1957, previously had measles or have had two measles vaccine shots.

Those who are most at risk of complications from measles infection are pregnant women, infants less than one year old, and those who are immune compromised. Such persons who might have been exposed on May 24 or May 30 should consult with their healthcare provider to see whether or not treatment with a medicine called immune globulin, which can help prevent measles if given within six days of exposure, is indicated.

Anyone concerned that they may have been exposed to measles or who might have measles infection should call their doctor’s office for instructions prior to going for an evaluation.  Those who may have potentially been exposed may also call Montgomery County Health and Human Services’ Disease Control Office at 240-777-1755 to determine their risk of contracting measles.

Families’ college savings values still unclear as treasurer takes over Md. 529 program

As the State Treasurer’s Office assumes oversight of the troubled Maryland 529 prepaid college trust and investment plans, it remains unclear when, or if, families’ account values will be restored to previous, higher balances that the state has said were the result of a calculation error.

The treasurer’s office, which took over responsibility for the program on Thursday, is working “expeditiously … to enable account holders to access all funds they are entitled to,” Shareese Churchill, deputy treasurer of communications and public affairs, wrote in an email.

Treasurer Dereck Davis, though, has been hesitant to give a specific timeline for when families might be able to access their earnings...

Families’ college savings values still unclear as treasurer takes over Md. 529 program | Maryland Daily Record (thedailyrecord.com)

MCPS considers requiring students to take a financial literacy course before graduating

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (7News) — The Montgomery County Public Schools Board of Education is taking a closer look at a resolution approved in November of 2021.

"Requiring a .5 credit for financial literacy with it being considered for graduation as a graduation requirement," said MCPS Superintendent Dr. Monifa McKnight at a school board meeting on May 25.

If the School Board approves the idea, MCPS would join a growing number of school systems in the area and across the country that require students to take a financial literacy course to graduate...

MCPS considers requiring students to take a financial literacy course before graduating | WJLA

Structural Antisemitism at MCPS schools Part 2

Two students gave public testimony at the May 10, 2023 Board of Education meeting on the antisemitism in our MCPS schools. The second speaker was Anya Kleinman, who is a freshman at Richard Montgomery High School. Her testimony in full is below, both on video and in print.

She spoke movingly about the antisemitism in MCPS schools districtwide. She spoke about "Swastikas etched onto school desks and bathroom stalls, hate speech in classrooms, and graffiti on school walls." She stated that "This is creating an unsafe and non-inclusive learning environment for the Jewish students of Montgomery County."

One of her main points is that there is "an astounding lack of Holocaust education."

She pointed out that according to the Montgomery County Police Department there has been "a disturbing 55% surge in anti-Jewish incidents between 2021 and 2022." 

Anya Kleinman - BOE Testimony by freestategal

Structural Antisemitism at MCPS schools

The number of antisemitic acts continue to increase within MCPS schools. At the May 10, 2023 Board of Education meeting two students, Gila Kay, a sixth grader in middle school, and Anya Kleinman, a freshman at Richard Montgomery HS, provided testimony about their, and their Jewish classmates, experiences with almost daily harassment and antisemitic threats. Apart from 'community conversations' MCPS has done little to address this issue. In fact, MCPS staff were asked repeatedly to address antisemitism in their antiracism audit, and they refused. Repeatedly.

Gila Kay stated that "Somebody told me as a quote unquote joke that my Jewish friend and I should be put in a concentration camp." She said, "I've seen swastikas on multiple desks at my middle school."

Here is Gila Kay's testimony in full. Both testified and there was no response from any member of the Board of Education, or staff.

Intruder searching for girl enters Springbrook High School undetected, witnesses say..Witnesses and school officials estimate the man was in the building for at least 20 minutes.

Montgomery County Police cited a man living in a homeless shelter for criminal trespass after incident. He was not arrested

SILVER SPRING, Md. — Montgomery County police have cited a man with criminal trespassing after he entered Springbrook High School in the White Oak Section of Silver Spring Thursday without being detected by school authorities.

Witnesses say the man told students he was searching for a girl he had met at a nearby McDonald's. Concerned students made videos of the intruder wandering in hallways and alerted school officials.

Witnesses and school officials estimate the man was in the building for at least 20 minutes. The man left before administrators and security workers could react...

Man trespassing at Springbrook High School entered behind student | wusa9.com

Schools Will Honor Raises, Won’t Raise Class Size in ‘Difficult’ Budget...McKnight vowed. However, she added, “Out of necessity, some things must go.”.. [But not expense] accounts and unmonitored @mcps credit card use. Those stay.

Montgomery County Board of Education members discussed the “difficult choices” they face paying for programs after the Montgomery County Council’s adoption of Fiscal Year 2024 budget.

Montgomery County Public Schools will receive $74.3 million less than it requested.

While MCPS will receive the most money ever from the County Council, it needs additional funds due to increasing enrollment, inflation and salary increases.  MCPS’ FY 2025 budget looks even grimmer as one-time federal grants will expire by then as BOE members stressed at their Thursday business meeting.

“Next year’s fiscal cliff is looming on the horizon,” said Superintendent Monifa McKnight.

Regardless of any fiscal reductions, “We will honor our negotiated contracts, and we will not raise class size,” McKnight vowed. However, she added, “Out of necessity, some things must go.”..

Schools Will Honor Raises, Won't Raise Class Size in 'Difficult' Budget - Montgomery Community Media (mymcmedia.org)

County report reveals that highest paid MCPS employees tend to live outside of Montgomery County

For MCPS employees, there is a striking inverse correlation between earnings and the inclination to reside in Montgomery County. The statistics for FY2023 highlight this stark disparity, with a mere 58.6% of highly compensated administrators and principals choosing to make Montgomery County their home, in contrast to a significantly higher proportion of 81.6% among relatively low paid clerical workers, janitors, teachers' aides, and blue-collar employees.

These findings strongly suggest that principals and administrators are opting to establish their residences outside of Montgomery County not due to financial constraints, but rather because they perceive other counties as more conducive to their preferred way of life. Meanwhile, it is noteworthy that relatively modestly paid secretaries, janitors, and blue-collar workers continue to favor Montgomery County as their place of residence, despite the often-cited "lack of affordable housing" in the area.

The situation is equally discernible among teachers affiliated with the MCEA, as they, too, exhibit a higher tendency to reside outside of Montgomery County compared to their lower-paid counterparts, such as secretaries, janitors, and blue-collar workers represented by the SEIU. In fact, the data from FY2023 illustrates that only 63.8% of teachers chose to reside in Montgomery County, whereas a substantial majority of 81.6% of SEIU members elected to call Montgomery County their home.

 https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/council/Resources/Files/agenda/col/2023/20230512/20230512_3.pdf

Pages 43 to 44 (PDF 47 to 48):

MCAAP - Montgomery County Association of Administrators and Principals -- Typically paid $130,000 to $300,000.

MCBOA- Montgomery County Business and Operations Administrators -- Typically paid $80,000 to $130,000.

SEUI - Service Employees -- Typically paid $20,000 (part time) to $50,000.

MCEA - Teachers -- Typically paid $57,000 to $110,000.

Given the above data, it seems disingenuous for teachers to claim that they can't afford to live in Montgomery County when a significantly greater percentage of lower paid MCPS employees are able to afford to live in Montgomery County. 

Memorial Day

 Remembering and honoring all who lost their lives for our country.

Walter Johnson High School Charging Students $71 to Attend Free Public School Graduation. FYI: There are no fees to attend MCPS graduations.

The Maryland legislature and the Montgomery County Board of Education have not authorized the charging of any fees for attendance at MCPS graduations.  There are no legal senior dues or fees to attend Montgomery County Public Schools.  That fact becomes clear when a comparison of high schools shows that some MCPS high schools don't have any senior dues or graduation fees. 

As the Parents' Coalition has shown over the years, Kennedy High School students are charged the highest "senior dues." 

If any Montgomery County Board of Education members would like to explain why Kennedy High School students have been targeted for these illegal fees, we would be happy to post their explanation.

wj-senior-letter---class-of-2023.pdf (montgomeryschoolsmd.org)

The 16 yr old charged with killing another teen inside the Wheaton Metro station is a tenth grader at Magruder High School.

The 16 yr old charged with killing another teen inside the Wheaton Metro station is a tenth grader at Magruder High School. After listening to evidence in a bond review today the judge called the violence a “sad state of affairs”. Emmanuel Simmonds was ordered held without bond. pic.twitter.com/7TZaAWX0i3

— Paul Wagner (@paulcwagner) May 25, 2023

Former MCPS transportation official pleads guilty to felony theft scheme

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (7News) — A former Montgomery County Public Schools Department of Transportation official pleaded guilty to theft on May 18...

...Recently obtained documents allege Ewald charged more than $460,000 on his MCPS-issued credit card between 2016 and 2022.

Those purchases include gift cards, furniture and items that were allegedly shipped to his home --- not to MCPS.

Other records show Ewald appeared to have paid off a loan for a $64,000 Lincoln Navigator with off-the-books reimbursements...

Former MCPS transportation official pleads guilty to felony theft scheme | WJLA

Opinion U.S. surgeon general: I am concerned about social media and youth mental health

 

Vivek H. Murthy is the surgeon general of the United States.

“It’s a different kind of love, the love you have for your children,” my father would often say when I was growing up. When I became a parent and found myself hovering over my children’s cribs late at night to make sure they were okay, I understood. Nothing is more important than keeping our kids safe and giving them every chance to grow and thrive. As they reach adolescence, this means paying attention to how social media can affect their health and well-being.

When I travel around the country talking with parents, the No. 1 question they ask me has to do with social media: “Is it safe for my kids?” Nearly 70 percent of parents say their job is harder now than it was for parents 20 years ago, mainly because of technology and social media...

Opinion | U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy warns of social media for kids - The Washington Post

Tonight 5/22/23: Is Montgomery County Cutting Corners When Trying to Close the Digital Divide?

 Monday, May 22, 2023, 7PM EDT, Webinar

PRESENTERS:
THEODORA SCARATO — Executive Director, Environmental Health Trust

MITSUKO HERRERA — Program Director, Montgomery Connects, Montgomery County Office of Broadband Programs

SABINE NESCHKE — Policy Analyst (business and technology issues), Bipartisan Policy Center

 

Public infrastructure is more than roads and bridges. Bridging the "digital divide" is important for improving educational, economic, health, and political equity. Montgomery County is increasing broadband service locally by expanding infrastructure for 5G mobile technology. But what questions are county officials asking in the process, and how can residents understand the impacts of this effort?

 

FREE. PUBLIC ALWAYS WELCOME.
Register here for the Zoom with opportunity for Q&A.
Watch Live on Facebook here!

Washington Post Buries MCPS Embezzlement Story and Leaves out Details: Ex-Montgomery Co. schools transportation employee pleads guilty to theft scheme

...The report from the Montgomery County inspector general found that some employees in the school system’s transportation department frequently misused county-issued purchasing cards, including more than $133,000 in prohibited purchases made by Ewald. It did not name Ewald directly in the report, but noted he had been placed on leave. A separate state audit found further evidence of ongoing theft, thousands of dollars in questionable credit card purchases and an “off the books” vendor account used by department employees...

Ex-Montgomery Co. schools transportation employee pleads guilty to theft scheme - The Washington Post

2 people injured after 'serious collision' involving Montgomery County school bus

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (7News) — Two people were rushed to the hospital after a "serious collision" involving a Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) school bus, officials said.

Just before 7:45 a.m., crews with the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS) responded to the area of Plum Creek Drive and East Village Avenue in Gaithersburg for a crash involving a school bus.

Police said their preliminary investigation revealed that the school bus was turning left from Plum Creek Road onto East Village Avenue when it was struck by a BMW traveling on East Village Avenue...

2 people injured after 'serious collision' involving Montgomery County school bus | WJLA

Update: @mcps Seth Adams Blames Parents for MCPS Poor Planning. Einstein HS will lose Tennis Courts. @mcps Seth Adams to Punish Students for His Poor Planning.

Portable Classrooms Placed at Einstein High School Tennis Court

Albert Einstein High School in Kensington is losing one of its tennis courts to make way for portable classrooms, and athletes there are not happy.

The portable trailers are needed due to over enrollment at the school, explained Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) spokesperson Jessica Baxter...

Portable Classrooms Placed at Einstein High School Tennis Court - Montgomery Community Media (mymcmedia.org)

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Let's remember who is behind all of these decisions. The Board of Education delegated all of their authority so they can hide and deny knowledge of decisions like these.  

From MCPS Staff Directory: