Action Alert from Takoma Park StoptheProcess

Action Alert from Takoma Park StoptheProcess advocacy group:

On Wednesday, June 10, please e-mail (or call) the superintendent
*AFTER* 2:00 p.m., but before 4 p.m. (if possible; later is better than
not at all). Ask him to extend the Boundary Advisory Committee deadline
until September 10, and ensure that representatives are appointed from
every affected neighborhood.

Here is his contact information:

Jerry D. Weast, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools
Carver Educational Services Center, Rm. 122
850 Hungerford Dr., Rockville, MD 20850
Phone: 301-279-3381
Fax: 301-279-3205

Jerry_D_Weast@mcpsmd.org

Also, please "cc" the following addresses in his office:

Cathy_E_Bertin@mcpsmd.org
Debra_G_Hollander@mcpsmd.org
Aggie_Alvez@mcpsmd.org
Juan_Cardenas@mcpsmd.org
Molly_Hong@mcpsmd.org
Brian_Edwards@mcpsmd.org
Sandra_L_Napoli@mcpsmd.org

MOST IMPORTANTLY, please "cc" me (Chuck) so that I know what's happening.

If you're really ambitious, please also "cc" -- or even compose a
modified message directly to -- School Board Member Barklay, at
Christopher_Barclay@mcpsmd.org

If you're super-ambitious, all of the other school board members'
contact info is at http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/boe/

TALKING POINTS

* If you are involved solely out of your concerns for the North Takoma
Ten (families that might be displaced to ESS elementary), please speak
your heart and mind. Talk about why Takoma Park is such a cherished
community for you, and how you will be affected or how you empathize
with the families that bought in our North Takoma neighborhood to go to
Takoma Park Elementary School (TPES). However . . .

* I encourage you to take a wider view of what's happening. Talk about
how the process has deprived the economically disadvantaged families
east of NH Avenue a seat at the table. (See message archives for details.)

* The issue -- at least right now -- is *not* that Takoma Park kids get
to go to Takoma Park schools. It is about neighborhood representation!
(FYI, the families in Takoma Park Ward 5 go to Rolling Terrace, and seem
to be happy with that.) The problem is that my neighborhood, and the
ESS neigborhood north of here, did not have a seat at the table. The
travesty is that the most disadvantaged people in Takoma Park also did
not have a say in whether or not their kids continue at the Sligo Creek
Math and Science Academy or get transferred into TPES.

* Please DO NOT take a position one way or the other on what happens to
the families east of NH Avenue ("SC5"). That's not for any of us to
say. They need a seat at the table to express their preference between
Sligo Creek and TPES. We need three more months to overcome the
language and cultural barriers to find out what those families actually
want!

* If the larger economic and racial injustices of this process are what
is motivating you to get involved, please say so! That's extremely
important! (See my previous message for the support we're receiving to
"stop the process" from various communities of color.)

* If you have no time to do anything but e-mail Dr. Weast and simply
say, "Stop the Process," please do so. And remember to "cc" me.

Many thanks! At first I guessed that our chances were 50/50. Now I'm
thinking we might actually win this! Then all of the neighborhoods can
come together at the table, as part of the official process, to generate
a win-win solution for everyone!

Onward,

Chuck
301-873-8806
charlesthomas@20910.org

www.stoptheprocess.org

From The Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood

The Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood
Reclaiming Childhood from Corporate Marketers

Three years ago, a newly formed company called BusRadio brazenly announced their intention to "take student-targeted marketing to the next level." Their plan? Install "free" radio equipment on school buses across the country so that children would be forced to listen to advertisements, and to promotions for BusRadio's commercial website, on their way to and from school. To a captive audience of students as young as six, BusRadio has promoted the highly sexualized Bratz dolls, television shows such as 90210 that glamorize teen sex and alcohol use, and a service that encourages children to look up the answers to their homework on the Internet instead of using their schoolbooks.

That's why CCFC has made turning off BusRadio one of our featured campaigns. We successfully organized CCFC members in school districts around the country to stop BusRadio in their communities. Now, with your help, we have a chance to turn BusRadio off for good.

At CCFC's request, the Federal Communications Commission will be reporting to Congress whether specially designed commercial radio broadcasts for school buses are in the public interest. As part of this proceeding, the FCC is now calling for public comment. CCFC is submitting extensive comments that detail the problems inherent in advertising on school buses and the hyper-commercial content of BusRadio. But we also need to demonstrate that parents all over the country are concerned about this commercial intrusion into the lives of schoolchildren. That's why the FCC needs to hear from you, too.

Please click here to tell the FCC that listening to ads should not be a compulsory part of the school day. Submitting a comment only takes a couple of minutes (we'll walk you through the process), and will help us reclaim our school buses from corporate marketers. And please encourage others to submit comments to the FCC by forwarding this email or clicking here.

Thanks,
The Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood

The Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood
A Program of the Judge Baker Children's Center
53 Parker Hill Ave
Boston, MA 02120
www.commercialfreechildhood.org

Press Release: Safe Healthy Playing Fields Coalition to Testify at Hearing

Safe Healthy Playing Fields Coalition

Press Release

Contact: Please e-mail contact@parentscoalitionmc.com
We will forward your request to members of the Safe Healthy Playing Fields Coalition who will get back to you ASAP.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Safe Healthy Playing Fields Coalition to Testify at County Council Hearing on June 9, 2009 at 1:30 PM

Members of the Safe and Healthy Playing Fields Coalition will testify on Tuesday, June 9, 2009 before the Montgomery County Council at a public hearing on a special appropriation to the Montgomery County Public Schools FY09 Capital Budget, for Walter Johnson High School.

The members of the Coalition support the installation of a new athletic field at Walter Johnson. As with any other athletic field or public park in the County, this field must be made as safe as possible for children and adults. Since this is a school field special attention must be paid to any possible threats to vulnerable, developing bodies and minds. The field's short and long-term effects on the environment must also be addressed.

The US Environmental Protection Agency and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identify the following problems with artificial turf fields:

-The presence of the neurotoxin, lead, in some turf fields

-High temperatures of up to at least 160 degrees F on the fields

-Potentially high bacteria levels

-Toxins leaching into groundwater from aging fields

-Athletes exposed to toxic dust from aging fields

-Disposal hazards and disposal costs of the rubber and plastic

In addition the Heat Island effect is well-known and documented for artificial turf fields. Heat Islands are a 24/7 phenomenon. They do not go away when the players leave the field.

What we don't know CAN hurt our children. What we DO know we have the responsibility and obligation to act on. Experts agree there is no "safe" level of lead for children, and the potential cleaning agents for artificial turf may pose additional health risks to children.

We request that post-installation provisions immediately apply to all currently installed fields at the Soccerplex and Richard Montgomery and fields under construction including Blair High School:

-Prior to installation, require that the turf – including the plastic blades and the tire-crumb base - test LEAD-FREE as analyzed and certified by an independent third party.

-After installation, for all current and future synthetic fields, periodically test for lead and other substances of concern for child health, particularly those substances specifically regulated by the government in children's products.

-After installation, for all current and future synthetic fields, periodically test bacteria levels and clean the turf following the evolving best practices.

-After installation, monitor the fields for temperature with provisions for cooling or closing in the event of on-field surface temperatures in excess of 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

-Test monitoring wells for any compounds leaching from the fields.

-Post warning signs with the recommended CDC precautions for athletes and parents.

-Plan for the cost and details of disposal of the plastic and rubber after the 5-10 year life of the field.

We ask the County Council NOT to approve any additional synthetic rubber-plastic fields, before piloting and comparing healthier, safer, more environmentally sustainable alternatives. These pilots should include well designed comparison studies of well-installed, organically maintained grass fields developed in consultation with sports field and plant experts. Other pilot fields to study might be safer, biodegradable or safe and clearly recyclable synthetic turf products for special field situations.

Please join us at 1:30 in the Third Floor Council Hearing Room, 100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, Maryland. Parking is available on the street and in the structure behind the Council office building.

Click here to view the packet of material under consideration by the Council.

Testimony from the members of the Safe and Health Playing Fields Coalition will be posted in cooperation with the Parents Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland on Tuesday afternoon.

Kathy Michels

Anne Ambler and supplement

Jerry Kickenson

FOR MORE INFORMATION check out the SHPF Coalition's Google Group. Subscribe to their group or just visit and read the materials that they have compiled.

Subscribe to MoCo Safe Healthy Playing Fields Coalition

Email:

Visit this group

Thanks to the Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland for dissemination of this press release, links to our testimony and for promoting our Google Group for more information!

Breaking: Council Committee Delays Vote on Artifical Turf

Today, the Montgomery County Council's Education Committee was slated to approve a contribution from an outside source toward the purchase of artificial turf for the Walter Johnson High School football field. However, Councilmembers Valerie Ervin, Michael Knapp, and Phil Andrews have delayed their vote on this funding. The delay is to allow Montgomery County Public Schools(MCPS) to respond to information received by Councilmembers with regard to health and safety issues surrounding artificial turf, and concerns from Maryland Turfgrass farmers that natural grass fields are not being considered.

At today's hearing, it was learned that MCPS does not clean or sanitize artificial turf fields on a regular basis. According to MCPS consultant Joe Lavorgna "no cleaning is required". Mr. Lavorgna also stated, without citing any authority, that the "fibers" in the artificial turf to be used in MCPS are lead-free. The issue with lead in artificial turf fields, however, does not just relate to the "fibers" but also to the use of crumb rubber - ground up tires in the base of the fields.

On Tuesday, June 9, 2009 at 1:30 P.M. the County Council will hold a public hearing on this matter. It is expected that comment will be heard from the Safe Healthy Playing Fields Coalition and from Maryland Turfgrass Association farmers.

Click here for Maryland Turfgrass Association testimony to MCPS Board of Education on May 26, 2009.

Click here for WTOP Kate Ryan's report on this decision.

Click here for all of the Parents' Coalition blog posts on Artificial Turf.

Let Your Facebook Friends Know About Jeff

Recently a blog post detailed the story of US citizen J.S. and Montgomery County Public Schools' decision to deny him a free public education.

Now there is a Facebook group where you can become a fan to show your support for Jeff and spread the word to your friends around the nation and the world about his predicament.

Contrary to the group name - Petition to enroll Jeff in Montgomery County Public School! - there isn't a petition to sign.

Just become a fan of the Facebook group and be sure to use the group page links to 'Invite People to Join' (your friends) and 'Share+' on your profile!

Other Steps You Can Take:

• Write your Board of Education representative
• Write your Montgomery County Council member
• Write your State Representatives

All contact info for your representatives can be found on the Parents' Coalition Contact Your Reps webpage.

And don't forget to become a fan of the Parents' Coalition Facebook page too!

Education Week: Curriculum Matters

This week on the Education Week blog, Curriculum Matters:

...Stacey A. Kopnitsky, an assistant principal at Cabin John Middle School, in Montgomery County, Md., schools, replied with an anecdote about how her school made a move to reduce tracking in English-language arts classes. The school decided to do away with a remedial class in English-language arts for the lowest performing students, and mix the students from that class in with students from two other classes of gifted and talented students. So the school blended the lowest-performing and highest-performing students in classes to learn English-language arts together. She said that each class was then taught by a team of two teachers. In one of the classes, one of the teachers who was part of the team was a special education teacher.

Guardianship - What Every MoCo Family Needs to Know

Thanks to Jerry Weast and the Montgomery County Public Schools for alerting parents of minor children and other adults to get out their wills and reassess their promises to family members. If you are a parent or adult in Montgomery County and have included in your family plans a request for some one to serve as a guardian for your children, or may have agreed to serve as a guardian for someone else's children in the event of a personal catastrophe, this applies to you.

Many of us have a clause in our wills appointing a guardian for our children, or have agreed to serve as a guardian for a relative or close friend's family in the event that the parents are unable to be there for the children.

Get out your wills, review them carefully, because a new twist in the process may impact whether your child or your relatives child can obtain a free public education in Montgomery County if they are residing with a court appointed guardian.

Here is a definition of "Guardianship:"

A legal relationship created by a court between a guardian and his ward--either a minor child or an incapacitated adult. The guardian has a legal right and duty to care for the ward. This may involve making personal decisions on his or her behalf, managing property or both.

An individual applies for a guardianship of a minor child by completing various forms
and submitting them to the county's Registrar of Wills. The court then issues
the actual order appointing the guardian.

What does this mean? Here is a link to the brochure from the Maryland State Bar Association concerning the basics of guardianship and a description of what happens in the event a guardian is needed:

How is a Guardian Appointed?

In all instances, a petition must be filed with the Circuit Court in the county where the alleged disabled person resides, is hospitalized or is located. The petition should state all reasons for the appointment of a guardian and whether the request is for guardianship of the ward’s person, property or both. Quite often, guardianships of person and property are sought in the same petition.

The petition should also provide the petitioner’s name, address and telephone number, date of birth and relationship to the ward. It must also include the ward’s name, address, gender, age, the name and address of the person with whom the ward resides and an alternate address for service of process if the ward resides with the petitioner. If a guardianship over property is sought, the petition should include a description of the ward’s assets. Also accompanying the petition must be:

-for a disabled ward, verified certificates from two physicians, describing the physical or mental disability that makes appointment of a guardian necessary (one of the medical statements must be dated within 21 days of filing for guardianship);

-a list of the ward’s potential heirs if he or she died without a will, existing guardians or government agencies acting as guardians and all other persons exercising some control over the ward, including their names, addresses, telephone numbers and the nature of their interest;

-the name and address of the ward’s attorney if he or she has one.

What Happens After the Petition is Filed?

After the petition is filed, the Court will sign an Order requiring the ward, his or her attorney, and any other interested person or agency to respond to the guardianship request within 20 days. The ward and any interested person or agency must be notified of the guardianship proceedings and his or her rights at the proceedings. The court
will appoint an attorney to represent the ward and may appoint an independent
investigator to look over the facts of the case and report written findings to the court. The court will also schedule a hearing or jury trial, where a judge or jury decides whether guardianship is appropriate and who should be appointed as the guardian.

Usually, the judge decides the validity of the guardianship petition . . .

What parents and potential guardians who intend to bring children to Montgomery County, or keep their children within the county, when they are no longer able to do so need to know is that a small clause will be inserted by judges into guardianship orders that reads:

. . . provided that such appointment shall not be considered a waiver of any tuition that may be assessed by the Montgomery County Public Schools, and provided further that such appointment shall not be used to determine any requested transfer within the Montgomery County Public School system.

Dr. Weast has insisted that judges insert this language limiting the scope of the guardianship into all judicial orders. This can have a devastating impact whether your child can continue to receive a free public education while living with a court appointed guardian.

Recently, when attempting to enroll students in MCPS, several guardians have been denied the ability to enroll their wards in MCPS schools without paying tuition. The rationale provided? See the related blog post concerning Jeff S. where Dr. Weast finds that there is "insufficient documentation of a crisis" to warrant granting Jeff S. a tuition waiver to enroll in MCPS.

This is every parents worse nightmare. In the event that something happens to you, your successor must document to MCPS a compelling crisis that meets Dr. Weast's standards before your chosen guardian can execute his/her responsibility for your child's education and obtain a tuition waiver in MCPS. No, our Dr. Weast won't take the judge's appointment of a legal guardian as a compelling need, he wants to have the last say. Parents - check your documents, and consider naming a relative or person who lives outside of Montgomery County if you want to guarantee a free public education. If you are unable to assume your parenting responsibilities for your child - that's enough of a crisis without having to pass this Weast test.

Thanks Dr. Weast for the alert! Who would have thought that the Superintendent of Schools has jurisdiction to limit guardianship appointments and that a guardian can no longer decide where to enroll a child in school?

But wait - isn't the appointment of a guardian already an indicator that the child/ward's parents are already in a crisis?

Board meeting with Council

Tuesday, June 16 at 11:30 AM
Board of Education invited to meet with County Council
Council Office Building

Today's Word of the Day is Australia

Remember Alexander in Judith Viorst's Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day?

That's what my day has been like, and after seeing this article from Bloomberg News, like Alexander, I too want to move to Australia.

Remember what happened to the Principal who ran a consulting business out of his school? MCPS called it a personnel matter and gave him a promotion so he could teach others.

Australia has it right. Bloomberg reports that one of their prime ministers resigned after letting a family member use government space for a private meeting, in violation of their ethics rules.

I am moving to Australia.

Thanks to the IECjournal for this tip.

And, as a nod to those who say this list doesn't offer enough praise, I'd like to thank Australia for getting it right. Can you share your expertise with Montgomery County Public Schools? We know they love to bring in consultants.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601081&sid=aPPicSOAGh0c&refer=australia#

Australian Minister Fitzgibbon Quits Over Code Breach (Update1)
By Gemma Daley

June 4 (Bloomberg) -- Australian Defense Minister Joel Fitzgibbon resigned after acknowledging that he violated the government’s code of conduct by allowing his brother to use his office for a business meeting.

Fitzgibbon, 47, is the first minister to quit since Prime Minister Kevin Rudd won an election in November 2007.

“I think Joel has done a first class job as minister,” Rudd told reporters in Canberra today. “But, we take seriously the standards of ministerial accountability.”

In a letter to Rudd, Fitzgibbon said he did not live up to the code of conduct over a meeting between his brother, Mark, Humana Inc. and Veterans Affairs Minister Warren Snowdon. Mark Fitzgibbon is chief executive of NIB Holdings Ltd., an Australian health insurer.

Joel Fitzgibbon also had to correct the parliamentary record this week over accepting accommodation from his brother to watch a rugby league match in Brisbane last year.

Fitzgibbon in March apologized for not previously disclosing gifts from Chinese business woman Helen Liu to parliament, including flights to China in 2002 and 2005 and a suit that he later returned. He also said he had exchanged birthday and Christmas presents with Liu, whom he described as a family friend.

A defense department investigation found there was no security breach in the relationship with Liu.

To contact the reporter on this story: Gemma Daley in Canberra at gdaley@bloomberg.net Last Updated: June 4, 2009 00:17 EDT

Terms of Service Privacy Policy Trademarks

Thanks to Congress . . .

for showing the good folks of Montgomery County how easy it is to adopt the new transparency initiative of the current administration.

If posting of expense logs can be done in short order with minimal need to current reporting systems, MCPS should have no trouble making their expense logs available.

Unless of course, we have something at issue with what is reported in the logs.

From the Speaker's Blog, The Gavel:

Speaker Pelosi Directs Statement of Disbursements Be Posted Online

June 3rd, 2009 by Karina

As part of Speaker Pelosi’s ongoing efforts to increase transparency and accountability in the House of Representatives, the Speaker’s office and the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) have been working on making the Statement of Disbursements - which documents all expenditures Congressional, Committee, Leadership, and administrative offices make - available online. Today, the Speaker sent the following letter to the CAO directing his office to begin posting the Statement of Disbursements online as soon as possible:

June 3, 2009

The Honorable Dan Beard
Chief Administrative Officer
United States House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20015

Dear Mr. Beard:

I am directing that the Chief Administrative Officer’s office begin to publish the quarterly Statement of Disbursements for the House of Representatives in an online format at the earliest date. The House is making every effort to operate in a transparent manner and online publication of these reports will expand accountability to taxpayers and the press.

For well over 100 years the United States House of Representatives has compiled and published, on a quarterly basis, a public Statement of Disbursements documenting the expenditures of each Congressional, Committee, Leadership, and administrative office. This publication provides an accurate accounting of the manner in which the House and its Members and officers spend all of the funds appropriated for the conduct of official business.

In the past, this publication has been made available in the Legislative Resource Center or by purchase from the United States Government Printing Office. However, this means for publishing material does not allow all interested parties to review the information contained in the reports. Consistent with my goal to increase transparency and ensure greater accountability to the public, please take all steps necessary to ensure that the quarterly Statement of Disbursements be made available online free of charge to the public and on a suitable House website.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

best regards,

NANCY PELOSI
Speaker of the House

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009 at 11:22 am by Karina and is filed under Speaker Pelosi, Oversight. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.

What does it cost to attend a MCPS high school?

There was an interesting post on this blog the other day that cited a New York newspaper article about how much parents were paying to send their children to public schools. At one school the "suggested donation" was $600.

What are families in Montgomery County paying per child in fees for our children to attend their local public high school?

Here is a snapshot of the average amount of fees paid per high school student for each of the MCPS high schools listed.

Churchill $872
Whitman $795
Bethesda-Chevy Chase $741
Seneca Valley $554
Quince Orchard $547
Wootton $544
Blake $538
Poolesville $532
Paint Branch $514
Sherwood $507
Richard Montgomery $506
Rockville $472
Northwest $451
Magruder $418
Damascus $408
Walter Johnson $408
Clarksburg $400
Blair $377
Gaithersburg $372
Springbrook $350
Wheaton $350
Watkins Mill $340
Kennedy $338
Einstein $295
Northwood $295

Please note that this was based on 2006-07 school year financial information put out by MCPS for all fees collected at each school. That means that these averages include both extra-curricular fees and curricular fees paid by students to their local school.
This does not include funds paid in to PTAs or school foundations.

Here is the document that gave rough estimates of how much each local middle school and high school collected during the 2006-07 school year in fees from students. The amounts were only shown on a graph and exact figures were not provided. The averages above are based on estimates only. Contact your local high school principal for the exact amount of fees collected for any given school year.
2006-07IAFDATAMCPSmanagementreport

Publish at Scribd or explore others: School Work Magazines & Newspape budget annual reports

MCPS Vendor Removes Link

On June 1, 2009, this blog reported on a MCPS vendor that was using a Montgomery County Council of PTAs (MCCPTA) memo as an endorsement on its website.

As of today, the link from the EasyLobby website to the MCCPTA memo has been removed.

Guess who?

Did a Troll recently visit the Parents' Coalition? Read the Washington Post article. There is more to the story...stay tuned!

Clipart from Clipartheaven.com

Preying on Potomac Parents - MCPS and the Practice PSAT

I had trouble finding a title for this post. Alternate titles included "Caveat Emptor Prospective PSAT Parents" "Pickpockets in Potomac" or "Would you pass the 'Parent inSecurity Aptitude Test?'"

I am sure most of you who are reading the list know about the PSAT administered by the College Board. It's the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test, given to 11th graders, as a pretest for the SAT, or Scholastic Aptitude Test, used in the college admission process. If you want to read more about taking these tests, see the College Board Website for details. Aside from indicating a student's strengths and identifying areas of weakness, the scores are used in the NMSQT - the National Merit Scholarship program.

Here in MCPS, where everyone is above average, our kids take the exam in ninth and tenth grade too - on the theory that it's good to practice for a practice exam. Someone must have read Malcolm Gladwell's "Outliers" and is offering our students an opportunity to get their 10,000 hours of practice.

But, given this is Montgomery County, it's also home to some of the more affluent members of society. Parents who are willing to pay to be sure to give their kids every advantage possible.

So, in a bit of educational creativity, the head of the guidance department sent the following letter home to parents of current ninth graders at Wootton High School. (Technically, the school is in Rockville, zip code 20850, although they like to consider themselves part of Potomac.)

Capital Educators

Now, if your household received this letter, wouldn't you assume that this program is worthwhile?

Parents need to know that the PSAT for 10th graders doesn't really serve any student related purpose. Parents also need to know that student scores on PSATs are related to maturity level, knowledge gained through additional schooling, and many other factors. I suspect that college admissions staff would agree with me that there is little point in stressing yourselves or your students over a test that doesn't have much individual value when given in 10th grade.

Unless you are in Potomac. Then you think you are buying an advantage.

And if you are a teacher at a school in Potomac. Then you think you can get some profit by brokering a "partnership."


My advice to parents? Don't be fooled by this attempt to play into your insecurities. Wait until your child is closer to applying to colleges, see what he or she needs, and, if you really need to supplement, do so in a manner that fits your needs and your finances. You have plenty of options - including free practice tests offered by other educational services, free online courses offered through MCPS and lower cost options, including the course offered through Montgomery College or the SAT workbook/software available through your local bookstores. Most knowledgeable schools will provide the information, but fall short of a Wootton type recommendation. Here is the disclaimer posted by Mary Hull of Richard Montgomery concerning Revolution Prep:

This material is neither sponsored nor endorsed by the BOE of MCPS, the
superintendent, or this school. Please make your own decision when using this
information/resource.

Note also that schools in the less affluent sections of our county are already taking advantage of these options. See, for example, what students are told at Blair, Watkins Mill, and Blake.

If my arguments fail to persuade you that PSAT practice for 10th graders is not worthwhile - then please - at least ask the guidance department why this particular company. Did the department research the companies and get comparative pricing? What does the partnership involve? Is it really in your students best interest or is this course in the best interest of another entity - like the school guidance department?

Finally, what you and Wootton staff don't know is that under MCPS conflict of interest rules, MCPS employees can not: endorse nor recommend a business firm or an individual for services, or a specific product. See http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/policy/pdf/gcara.pdf

And what happens to violators:

An alleged violation of this regulation is cause for an immediate investigation by the deputy superintendent of schools. If it is determined that an employee has violated this regulation, the employee may be suspended and/or terminated . . . .

Will MCPS's Deputy Superintendent, Dr. Lacey, take action? Probably not, it's Wootton, the requirements are old and musty (2002), and we all know the rules don't apply to schools in MCPS where the test scores are above average and government is no longer part of the curriculum.

Even if Dr. Lacey doesn't step in, parents should empower themselves. Just say no to PSAT prep classes for 10th graders, and let your current ninth grader enjoy school without worrying about college prep classes.



Montgomery County Public Schools Conflict of Interest Regulation

Parents blogging about schools-that's us!

The Parents' Coalition blog is cited as an example of parents using online tools to push back on their local school districts in a posting on the dangerously irrelevant blog written by Scott McLeod, J.D., Ph.D.*

From the article:

Back in February I noted that parents are using online tools to push back on their local school districts. Embodying the themes expressed in Clay Shirky’s excellent book, Here Comes Everybody, parents and other stakeholders are using blogs, online discussion boards, e-mail listservs, YouTube channels, and other social media tools to organize, advocate, criticize, support, and otherwise express their opinions about their local school systems.
Here are some examples...
click here to continue reading the dangerously irrelevant article.

The "More" Child blog also followed up on this discussion on June 1st.

*Scott McLeod, J.D. Ph.D. is an Associate Professor and Coordinator of the Educational Administration program at Iowa State University. He also is the Director of the UCEA Center for the Advanced Study of Technology Leadership in Education (CASTLE), the nation's only center dedicated to the technology needs of school administrators, and was a co-creator of the wildly popular video, Did You Know? (Shift Happens). Dr. McLeod blogs regularly about technology leadership issues at dangerouslyirrelevant.org.

MCCPTA memo linked in EasyLobby Ad

EasyLobby is a visitor management product that is now being used in some MCPS buildings. According to the Superintendent:

"All of our technology partners know they are not permitted to use MCPS testimonials in advertising." Superintendent Jerry Weast, January 7, 2009(Click on link and see answer to Question #9)

However, EasyLobby has found a way to include a statement about its product from Montgomery County by linking their website to a memo on the Montgomery County Council of PTA's (MCCPTA) website. The MCCPTA memo in turn, links back to the EasyLobby home page. Included in the MCCPTA memo is the following statement:

"Searching for the right software was a challenge since most security systems are designed for office buildings, but MCPS found “Easy Lobby” which allows them to download data at no additional charge compared to a rival, Raptor which charged a fee for the same service."

According to this memo on National PTA and it's ability to endorse products:

"It’s important to note that National PTA does not endorse these companies or their products and services. Due to IRS regulations, an endorsement by a non-profit organization would jeopardize its tax-exempt status. Endorsement of a company is when you make qualitative statements about a company or its products. For example, if PTA stated that our members should go shop at Office Depot because they have the “best office supplies” or they are “better” than Staples. These statements would be endorsements, which PTA does not practice with any companies we work with. It is perfectly legal for non-profits and under PTA’s privacy policy to make our members aware of special offers, discount opportunities or benefits without providing an endorsement."

UPDATE 6/4/09: EasyLobby removes link to MCCPTA memo.

Takoma Park families fight to save neighborhoods

Tech-savvy parents in Takoma Park have taken to the Internet to discuss, debate and exchange information on MCPS' proposals to change school boundary lines. Parents have video of a MCPS Boundary Advisory Committee meeting that ends with MCPS Senior Facility Planner Deborah Szyfer stating, "Please turn that off for a moment because I think people are uncomfortable with the video taping."

Other parents have a blog to discuss these changes and multiple online discussion groups have sprung up to allow parents to rapidly communicate on this issue.

Here is the video with excerpts of the May 20, 2009, meeting of the MCPS Boundary Advisory Committee on the school zone decisions affecting Takoma Park and surrounding areas.

Glossary for video: "Options 4 and 5" would displace not only the 10-family Takoma Park neighborhood into East Silver Spring Elementary, but would also displace East Silver Spring (ESS) kids into Sligo Creek Elementary (which the ESS PTA doesn't want)."Option 1b": Nobody likes it as is, but everyone except Sligo Creek Elementary accepts it as the least-bad of the six options that the bureaucrats in Rockville developed."SC4" is the middle-class side of a 6-lane highway. "SC5" is east-of-New Hampshire Avenue: an economically disadvantaged, often ESOL neighborhood that did not have a representative at the table during the discussions about whether they should remain at the Math and Science Academy or get relocated.

Why have these parents taken to the Internet to advocate for their communities? One dad in the affected zone, Charles Thomas, said, "I love our rainbow community: immigrant families, gay and lesbian families, hippies, and professional and volunteer advocates for social and economic justice, world peace, and a healthy environment. We want to stay in Granola Park! Any neighborhood is at risk of having 10 families plucked away, with no seat at the table, for no justifiable demographic reason. It's like a computer generated these options randomly. The bureaucrats gave the community advisors six lemons and thwarted their efforts to make lemonade. It's time to stop the process and fix this problem, before it damages other communities like the six affected neighborhoods here."

School Fees and Union Busting

I admit - I am no longer enamoured of Joel Klein, NYC Chancellor of Schools.

Last fall, while we were fighting to enforce our rights to a free public education in Maryland, through our battle to eliminate school fees for textbooks and gym towels, NYC schools were faced with a similar dilemma.

However, like everything else in the Big Apple, its on a much larger scale, as indicated in this article from the New York Post. From the article:

The powerhouse parent groups boldly solicit donations - some accept credit cards and PayPal online - to bypass Department of Education rules, a Post investigation found. The PTAs advertise on Craigslist or at colleges and put $12-an-hour assistant teachers on their own payrolls - violating DOE policies and skirting union pay and benefit scales.

In the article, some parents admit that paying upwards of $500 as a fee to send their kids to these schools is a bargain compared to private schools - especially in NYC. Read further and you will see that under Mr. Klein's tenure - where smaller schools are often co-housed in the same building, one school may raise significant funding, while the other occupants? Too bad, how sad.

What is really striking about this piece is that the practice bypasses the unions and the hiring system in the school system. Advertising on Craigslist for a teachers aide? I am a product of the NYC public school system and grew up with a parent who toiled away at a NYC Title I school and still proudly carries her UFT card.

Am I disappointed.

First, with the Unions for putting up with this practice without a fight.

Second, for lawyer turned school system administrator Klein, who so conveniently forgets that it is his obligation to oversee the largest school district with a free public education.

And, most of all, with the residents of NY - who tolerate this practice.

Equity and a free public education are obviously far from reality in New York City.

This makes our PTSAs with their budgets in the $40,000 range look very modest.

Artificial Turf: Made in Calhoun, Georgia

I just found this great video of a turf manufacturing plant floor similar (I assume) to FieldTurfTarkett, which has a monopoly in Montgomery County. This is from AZGrassman. This is where your millions of Montgomery County tax dollars are going: to manufacture artificial turf in Calhoun, Georgia. Here's how they make the artificial turf!

Thanks Ms. Brandman! Thanks Mr. Andrews, President of the County Council, and all the Councilmembers who voted UNANIMOUSLY on the Consent Calendar the other week. That would be: Marc Elrich, Duchy Trachtenberg, Nancy Floreen, George Leventhal, Roger Berliner, Mike Knapp, and Valerie Ervin. I can't think of a better place for my hard-earned dollars to go. Oh wait, they COULD stay in our county and the money could go to our sod farmers in our wonderful Agricultural Reserve, and...wake up freestategal, wake up, it was just a dream!


Special kudos to Mike Knapp. The sod farmers live in HIS district, but really what's more important, his constituents or making sure FieldTurfTarkett, a Canadian Company, gets all the County business.


The money is going to Calhoun, Georgia. Named after John C. Calhoun. Of course as every schoolchild knows, Montgomery County is named after Richard Montgomery. Do some googling to check out the different biographies of these two men.


And here's how natural turf is made. No video, but on this beautiful Saturday you can go out and take a look in and enjoy your yard to see what our Montgomery County farmers have done.