Gazette.net 2010 Voters Guide
All Montgomery County Voters can vote in each Board of Education election.
In the primary, each voter can vote for 3 candidates. One candidate for the at-large race, one candidate for the District 1 race, and one candidate for the District 5 race.
Click on the red links below for the Gazette questions to candidates, their answers, and candidate videos.
School board: At-Large | District 1 | District 5
Board of Education, At-Large
Astrove, Lyda*
Brandman, Shirley
Lloyd, Lisa
Board of Education, District 1
Docca, Judy
Ibañez, Mike
Jones-Trower, Agnes*
Board of Education, District 5
August, Lou
Durso, Mike
Schaerr, Martha
Wilen, Louis M.*
*Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland members
Friday, August 20, 2010
Thursday, August 19, 2010
MCPS ACT Scores Show Slight Decline
DC Examiner: Local students improve slightly on ACT college exams
Where is the MCPS 2009 ACT exam data?
...In Montgomery County, the class of 2010 scored an average score of 23.4 out of 36 points, the school system said. The release did not include the 2009 average, but schools data show that the average score was 24 in 2008...***
Where is the MCPS 2009 ACT exam data?
Third Annual Parents Coalition Survey on School Fees
Here is the much anticipated third annual list of high school curricular fees for Montgomery County Public School students.
I'd like to credit Montgomery County Public School staff who compiled this list. All I did was file a request under the Maryland Public Information Act. This is a prime example of your tax dollars at work.
If you thought MoCo students are entitled to a free public education under the Maryland Constitution and state laws, you are right. Dr. Weast and the folks at Carver somehow missed that class, and continue to charge to attend MoCo schools.
The good news is that compared to the 2008-2009 list, MCPS is now charging less to attend public high schools.
More good news - If you student attends Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, your student will receive a terrific education AND attend the school with the shortest list of school fees. Thank you Mr. Williams and staff! Quince Orchard and Seneca Valley also deserve recognition for coming in close behind Blair HS in limiting the number of classes with fees.
As you read the list, I am including the following from Mr. Dana Tofig, ever the faithful MCPS employee, who is the final gatekeeper of all public documents and who graciously handled my request for corrected documents last night at 5 pm. From Mr. Tofig's cover letter accompanying the MPIA:
. . . the inability of a student to pay for materials and other expenses does not prevent a student from taking a particular class.
What does this mean?
As this writer has stated before, these fees are not mandatory. Maryland law guarantees a free public education. Should your family elect to pay, go ahead and make a contribution to the school. Keep in mind - this is a contribution, not a mandatory assessment. You child will not have his/her report card withheld. Your child will still have his/her transcripts prepared, and be able to attend graduation.
And now get your checkbooks out - here is the list.
MCPS 2010 2011_fees High School
Superintendent Jerry Weast's Contract
We know that Superintendent Jerry Weast's contract is a hot topic. Almost weekly someone is looking for a copy of the document that lays out the employment agreement between the MCPS Board of Education and the MCPS Superintendent. But, the contract isn't public. Even after 11 years as Superintendent, Jerry Weast's contract still has not been made public.
The contracts with the four employee unions are on the MCPS website.
Even Weast's administrators are more transparent! In the last year, three MCPS administrators have moved to other jurisdictions and become Superintendents and their contracts were all immediately made public.
You can see the Superintendent contracts for Stacy Scott, Susan Marks and Heath Morrison by clicking on each name.
Superintendent contracts from school systems around the D.C. area have also been made public.
Therefore, in the interest of the public, the Parents' Coalition has filed a Maryland Public Information Act request with MCPS for Superintendent Jerry Weast's contract. As soon as we receive it, we will make it available to you! Stay tuned!
Update: For the 1st time in 11 years...Jerry Weast's contract
The contracts with the four employee unions are on the MCPS website.
Even Weast's administrators are more transparent! In the last year, three MCPS administrators have moved to other jurisdictions and become Superintendents and their contracts were all immediately made public.
You can see the Superintendent contracts for Stacy Scott, Susan Marks and Heath Morrison by clicking on each name.
Superintendent contracts from school systems around the D.C. area have also been made public.
Therefore, in the interest of the public, the Parents' Coalition has filed a Maryland Public Information Act request with MCPS for Superintendent Jerry Weast's contract. As soon as we receive it, we will make it available to you! Stay tuned!
Update: For the 1st time in 11 years...Jerry Weast's contract
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Fact or Fiction? MCPS said "We saved about 80% of the sod."
"I have a question. When we were discussing the process, for Walter Johnson we were discussing removing a sprinkler system that had been installed and moving it to another school. Can you tell us how all of that played out?..."
The answer from MCPS Director of Facilities James Song included the following statement:
"We saved about 80% of the sod."
But in the August 16, 2010 ABC7 news story on the "relocating" of the brand new sod at Walter Johnson High School, that's the new sod that was removed to make way for an artificial turf field, the response from MCPS was:
"...And they acknowledge the grass field couldn't be recycled, as originally planned, because the weather prevented them from laying the sod down at Wheaton High School."Which was it Superintendent Weast?
Was the beautiful new sod football field, that had been used for only one football season at Walter Johnson High School, "relocated" to Wheaton High School, or was the beautiful new sod ripped up and hauled off in a dumpster?
Group challenges ‘Race’ finalist lineup
- 2theadvocate
- By WILL SENTELL
- Advocate Capitol News Bureau
Published: Aug 4, 2010 - Page: 12AA charter school advocacy group is questioning how four states made the list of finalists for $3.4 billion in federal prize dollars that are supposed to reward education innovation.
Louisiana, which is one of 19 finalists for “Race To The Top” dollars, is not a target of the criticism.
In fact, the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools says Louisiana has the ninth best charter school law in the nation.
But the group, based in Washington, D.C., is questioning the inclusion of Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina and Ohio as possible winners.
“I think the bottom line is that these states are essentially closed for business when it comes to creating new charter schools for families,” said Todd Ziebarth, vice president of state advocacy and support for the group. “And Kentucky is one of 10 states that does not have a charter school law,” he said.
“In terms of “Race To The Top it seems strange that these states . . . would be on the list of finalists,” he said...
Monday, August 16, 2010
ABC7: Parents Coalition questions turf costs at WJHS
Parents Coalition questions turf costs at WJHS
P.S. In the process of pulling together information for this news story, the Parents' Coalition learned that the beautiful, brand new sod that was put on the Walter Johnson High School football field last summer was pulled up and thrown in dumpsters. The "weather" that MCPS now claims prevented them from "relocating" the WJ sod is called winter. When MCPS pulled up the sod it was January and the sod had already been frozen. No big surprise that it went right into dumpsters as trash.
And what about the underground sprinkler system that was installed for one football season? "Relocated" or trash?
$86,493.50 WJHS Football Field Surprise
Remember when the Parents' Coalition exposed that Superintendent Jerry Weast had installed a $432,500 "temporary" grass football field at Walter Johnson High School?
The temporary grass football field was put in place for just 5 home football games. Then it was ripped up (shown in image at left) and replaced with a $1.2 million artificial turf football field. Superintendent Weast's response was that the grass field would be "relocated." But Superintendent Weast did not disclose the cost of "relocation" of a grass football field. And the Board of Education didn't ask.
It took a Maryland Public Information Act request to MCPS to find out the facts. The documents obtained by the Parents' Coalition are shown below. Now we know why the Board of Education didn't want to discuss this project in a public meeting.
We now know that the "relocation" of the grass football field cost taxpayers $86,493.50. That puts the total known expenditure for the Walter Johnson High School football stadium project at:
$1,718,993.50.
That's the cost of a grass field (per MCPS cost given to County Council), plus the cost of an artificial turf field, plus the cost of "removal" of the WJHS grass, and "relocation" of the WJHS grass.
Here's what the documents show:
9398.2 Retaining Walls and Stormwater Management
Modifications—Extension**
Awardee
Walker Willis/T/A Custom Masonry $300,000
WJHS Football Field Removal
The temporary grass football field was put in place for just 5 home football games. Then it was ripped up (shown in image at left) and replaced with a $1.2 million artificial turf football field. Superintendent Weast's response was that the grass field would be "relocated." But Superintendent Weast did not disclose the cost of "relocation" of a grass football field. And the Board of Education didn't ask. It took a Maryland Public Information Act request to MCPS to find out the facts. The documents obtained by the Parents' Coalition are shown below. Now we know why the Board of Education didn't want to discuss this project in a public meeting.
We now know that the "relocation" of the grass football field cost taxpayers $86,493.50. That puts the total known expenditure for the Walter Johnson High School football stadium project at:
$1,718,993.50.
That's the cost of a grass field (per MCPS cost given to County Council), plus the cost of an artificial turf field, plus the cost of "removal" of the WJHS grass, and "relocation" of the WJHS grass.
Here's what the documents show:
- December 14, 2009: MCPS Staff authorized $25,928.00 to be spent on the Walter Johnson High School football field. Actual final cost appears to have been $21,016.20. Note an expenditure of $25,000 must be approved by the Board of Education, but there is no evidence of the Board ever approving this expenditure.
- December 23, 2009: MCPS Staff authorized $15,726.10 to be spent in part, on moving "soil" from Walter Johnson High School to Wheaton High School.
- May 21, 2010: Invoice for $49,751.20 for new Wheaton High School football field. Did Wheaton High School really get truckloads of frozen grass in January from Walter Johnson High School? Or did MCPS just move some "soil" over from Walter Johnson High School and add new sod? (See page 6 - the word is "soil")
9398.2 Retaining Walls and Stormwater Management
Modifications—Extension**
Awardee
Walker Willis/T/A Custom Masonry $300,000
WJHS Football Field Removal
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Artificial Turf: How hot is it?
Summer practice is starting up. Just how hot are the artificial turf fields? Remember, these fields are heat islands, trapping heat, ALL the time. Not just when children are playing on the fields. Artificial field heat islands can be seen from space, as we wrote about in this space months ago. Next time you pay your electric bills, remember, this is what you are paying for. And, don't forget the added tax on energy the Montgomery County Council tacked on to your bill. Those added tax dollars are always needed at MCPS, which eats up 57% of our tax dollars. Check this short video, from WBAL TV and WLWT TV comparing natural turf fields and artificial turf fields at schools -- 92 degrees F on natural turf; 130 degrees F on artificial turf. "Anything above 104, you have to terminate your practice." That would be for safety reasons, however, its unclear if MoCo follows those safety practices.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Developer includes 4-5 Graduations in Plan for 6,500 Seat Arena at RedGate Golf Course
- Is the MCPS Superintendent included in the "educational groups" referenced in the executive summary for this proposal?
- There are 25 high schools in Montgomery County. 21 currently use DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. Why is the plan only projecting 4-5 high school graduations a year at the _______(Name to be sold) Arena?
From the June 7, 2010 Rockville City Mayor and Council meeting:
D&A Sports and Entertainment, LLC is proposing to construct on RedGate land a 6,500 seat arena, with surface parking to accommodate 2,500 cars.
According to their executive summary of their proposal:
"Two feasibility studies and two pro formas substantiate the unmet need for a 6,500 seat arena in the County on approximately 3-5 acres. Surface parking to accommodate 2,500 cars is required. There is an unmet need for entertainment, graduation sites, recreation including a hockey rink, and a civic center to host family events and have classroom capabilities. The civic center, if at Redgate, will be LEEDS certified and blend into the natural setting as per design planning by engineers at Skanska. The project will upgrade the roads in and out and allow for an enhanced 9 hole golf course and an improved clubhouse. The citizens will enjoy first rate entertainment at a local venue and have a local forum for graduations. The project will create 767 jobs and provide 1.3M in funding to the taxing authorities based upon 165 event dates and projected ticket sales, naming rights, box seats, advertising, etc. D&A proposes a lease of the land from the City and the City would own the civic center after thirty years. The business community strongly supports this project as does multiple recreational and educational groups."
Thursday, August 12, 2010
WP: Amid tightening of rules, Fairfax a rare bright spot in bleak Va. school results
By Michael Alison ChandlerWashington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, August 12, 2010; 12:27 PM
Thursday, August 12, 2010; 12:27 PM
Average math scores in Virginia rose slightly and reading performance remained static in the 2009-2010 school year, but the vast majority of schools across the state failed to meet new performance benchmarks for graduation rates and students with disabilities.
Fairfax County was the only school division in Northern Virginia and one of only 12 across the state -- out of 132 -- that met all requirements, compared with 60 last year. In all, 60 percent of public schools met state testing goals, down from 71 percent last year.
WTOP: 10 MCPS Schools Flooded
WTOP is reporting that 10 MCPS elementary schools flooded in this mornings' storm.
The MCPS website has not revealed the names of the 10 schools as of yet.
State Board Confused by MCPS Transfer Policy
Well if the Maryland State Board of Education is confused by the MCPS Transfer Policy, what hope is there for parents and guardians to understand it?
Here's the February 23, 2010, decision from the Maryland State Board of Education where the State Board of Education declares they are "concerned about the clarity of the transfer policy." The State Board states that "...further explanation need not be made to us. It should be made to parents with children in paired schools so that they understand when the sibling exemption applies and when it does not."
Has MCPS done what the State Board requested, have they clarified the transfer policy so that parents can understand it?It doesn't appear as if any changes have been made to the Change of School regulation since this February 2010 decision, nor has the Student Transfers website been updated.
Note that MCPS' Board of Education ASKED for this decision from the State Board. This was probably not what they expected to hear from the State Board.
Opinion10-08
Here's the February 23, 2010, decision from the Maryland State Board of Education where the State Board of Education declares they are "concerned about the clarity of the transfer policy." The State Board states that "...further explanation need not be made to us. It should be made to parents with children in paired schools so that they understand when the sibling exemption applies and when it does not."
Has MCPS done what the State Board requested, have they clarified the transfer policy so that parents can understand it?
Note that MCPS' Board of Education ASKED for this decision from the State Board. This was probably not what they expected to hear from the State Board.
Opinion10-08
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
23 new school audits available
Misuse of student-owned funds continues at some schools
An additional 23 school Independent Activity Fund audits are now available on the main Parents' Coalition web site, and many of the newest audit reports raise more questions than they answer.
Some of the audits appear to show improvements in fiscal management, but at the same time, a new level of obfuscation has crept into the reports. While most of the older reports cite specific compliance metrics, the newer reports give fewer numbers and make more generalizations about compliance.
Since the auditors follow a standard process that measures compliance, they could have easily included a uniform report that gives the numerical results of evaluations performed during each audit.
The Parents' Coalition has, in the past, asked MCPS to post all audits on the MCPS web site, but they have refused, claiming that the audits are "internal documents", even though the funds are officially classified as student property.
What is clear, however, is that misuse of funds continues at some schools, and no high school is fully in compliance with the rules for administration of the Independent Activity Funds.
More audits will be posted as soon as they are released by MCPS to the Parents' Coalition.
An additional 23 school Independent Activity Fund audits are now available on the main Parents' Coalition web site, and many of the newest audit reports raise more questions than they answer.
Some of the audits appear to show improvements in fiscal management, but at the same time, a new level of obfuscation has crept into the reports. While most of the older reports cite specific compliance metrics, the newer reports give fewer numbers and make more generalizations about compliance.
Since the auditors follow a standard process that measures compliance, they could have easily included a uniform report that gives the numerical results of evaluations performed during each audit.
The Parents' Coalition has, in the past, asked MCPS to post all audits on the MCPS web site, but they have refused, claiming that the audits are "internal documents", even though the funds are officially classified as student property.
What is clear, however, is that misuse of funds continues at some schools, and no high school is fully in compliance with the rules for administration of the Independent Activity Funds.
More audits will be posted as soon as they are released by MCPS to the Parents' Coalition.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
WUSA9: Hearing for Fired Teacher Abruptly Cancelled
Wheaton, Md. (WUSA) An unemployment appeals hearing for a fired teacher at the center of allegations of workplace intimidation against the principal at the Kemp Mill Elementary School in Silver Spring was abruptly cancelled Monday when 9news attempted to record the public proceeding... click here for text version of story and comments.
Cut bus route in Potomac causes stir for Travilah Elementary parents
by Cody Calamaio | Staff Writer
Next month, some North Potomac residents will watch a school bus drive past their street where it used to stop on its way to Travilah Elementary School...
...The eight-foot wide shared-use path for pedestrians and cyclists and was completed in June 2009, said Bruce Johnston, a division chief with the county Department of Transportation. The path, stretching between Darnestown and Dufief Mill roads, cost $11 million and was built in response to complaints that the road was narrow and had no shoulder, he said.
Residents said they are concerned the path is on the same level as the busy street with no barrier for children who may wander or vehicles that may swerve. Lewis said he has seen motorists drive on the path...
Monday, August 9, 2010
Your child's data in a national database
Anyone seen the cutting edge analysis from Superintendent Jerry Weast of your child's testing data? The robust metrics? Of course not. We are just the public and we pay for all this "data" and "robust metrics" based on the tests our children take. But we don't get to actually see it.
Here's one more national press release touting the "data-driven" MCPS Superintendent Jerry Weast, and using MCPS to endorse one more product.
Forbes.com
Press Release
National Student Clearinghouse(R) Partners with American Association of School Administrators...
08.09.10, 10:37 AM EDT
..."One example is Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland, where Dr. Jerry Weast, the district superintendent, has developed a data-driven approach to measuring K-12 performance anchored by Clearinghouse data," continued Torres. "The district combined its own information with StudentTracker data to determine how likely their Advanced Placement (AP) students were to enroll in, persist in, and complete college. MCPS is just one of the many school systems that have leveraged Clearinghouse data to develop cutting-edge analyses of their curriculum as well as robust K-12 performance metrics."...
MSA
For all we spend on schools in Montgomery County what are we getting?
We spend the most, but according to the Maryland State Assessment (MSA) test results we are currently 12th in Math and 7th in reading among the 24 school systems in Maryland.
This is what the current Superintendent and School Board have delivered.
Note that while we have moved up 3 places in Reading over the past 4 years, we have fallen three places in Math. Fallen to the middle of the pack - 12th of 24.
At the same time MCPS spends the most per pupil. 10% more than Howard County and 28% more than Frederick County. In the most extreme comparison, MCPS spends 37% more per student then Queen Anne's County which is arguably the highest performing school district in the state.
All data used is from the Maryland State Department of Education web site. Cost data is the most recent available, FY2008. MSA scores are from 2006 and 2010. MSA's are given to 3rd through 8th graders each spring.
Third Annual Parents Coalition Survey on School Fees
Stay tuned.
For those of you who have followed our blog faithfully, yes, I will be posting this year's list of curricular fees for high school students. Right now, MCPS is in the process of responding to a public information request for the documents.
I've been asked why only high schools. From my perspective, the practice regarding textbooks is most egregious in the high schools. When I look at the books my kids were required to purchase, many remained untouched, unused, and unassigned after purchase - so these could have easily been purchased by the school and reused year after year.
Of course, there was the infamous Blair towel too. No, this could not have been reused, but again, this also was not a towel or used by my child or the kids in the carpool.
If you are interested in filing your own request for school fees at the elementary or middle school level, or for any other information, its easy to do. Remember, information is presumed to be available to the public - its a public school system, supported by taxpayer dollars. All you need to do is ask!
Here is a template. Fill in the blanks and send it to pio@mcpsmd.org. and dana_tofig@mcpsmd.org
For those of you who have followed our blog faithfully, yes, I will be posting this year's list of curricular fees for high school students. Right now, MCPS is in the process of responding to a public information request for the documents.
I've been asked why only high schools. From my perspective, the practice regarding textbooks is most egregious in the high schools. When I look at the books my kids were required to purchase, many remained untouched, unused, and unassigned after purchase - so these could have easily been purchased by the school and reused year after year.
Of course, there was the infamous Blair towel too. No, this could not have been reused, but again, this also was not a towel or used by my child or the kids in the carpool.
If you are interested in filing your own request for school fees at the elementary or middle school level, or for any other information, its easy to do. Remember, information is presumed to be available to the public - its a public school system, supported by taxpayer dollars. All you need to do is ask!
Here is a template. Fill in the blanks and send it to pio@mcpsmd.org. and dana_tofig@mcpsmd.org
Under the Maryland Public Information Act, please provide copies of the [insert request here - for school fees add 2010-2011 projected supplemental student fees for materials and other curricular expenses approved for each] [insert source of information - eg, middle schools, elementary schools] in MCPS.
I request a "waiver" of the 30 day response time and any associated fees, and that you provide the materials responding to my request promptly.
Kindly note that I will pick up the materials from your offices. Please call me at [your phone number here] when the materials are available for pickup.
Thank you.
[your name here]
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