US Dept of Justice: All children entitled to equal access to public education

Under Federal law, State and local educational agencies (hereinafter “districts”) are required to provide all children with equal access to public education at the elementary and secondary level. Recently, we have become aware of student enrollment practices that may chill or discourage the participation, or lead to the exclusion, of students based on their or their parents’ or guardians’ actual or perceived citizenship or immigration status. These practices contravene Federal law. Both the United States Department of Justice and the United States Department of Education (Departments) write to remind you of the Federal obligation to provide equal educational opportunities to all children residing within your district and to offer our assistance in ensuring that you comply with the law. 

Read full text of  the letter to school districts from the Department of Justice at this link: http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-201101.pdf

Questions and Answers for School Districts and Parents

http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/qa-201101.pdf

 

Fact sheet

http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/dcl-factsheet-201101.pdf

MontCo school officials resist new budget | Brian Hughes | Education | Washington Examiner

MontCo school officials resist new budget | Brian Hughes | Education | Washington Examiner

Many county officials are criticizing the schools' response, saying the agency is turning a blind eye to cutbacks in public safety, parks, libraries and other public services.

"What they are doing certainly isn't helpful -- acting like it's the end of days," said Council President Valerie Ervin, D-Silver Spring. "We can do this without affecting the classroom. Their version is not reality."
Read more at the Washington Examiner: http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/2011/05/montco-school-officials-resist-new-budget#ixzz1MwxY7GEu

MCPS "is the only agency that will receive an increase in its total budget this year"

Montgomery County school system not ruling out lawsuit over budget
Property taxes to rise, employee benefits to change
by Erin Cunningham | Staff Writer

...Of the county's fiscal 2012 budget, $1.37 billion in county tax dollars will go to schools.
Including state funding, total tax dollars spent on schools in fiscal 2012 will be $1.95 billion — 55.9 percent of all tax-supported funding in the county.
The county spent $1.415 billion on Montgomery County Public Schools in fiscal 2011.
The school system's tax-supported budget next year will be $1.95 billion — 1.6 percent more than in fiscal 2011... 

..."Montgomery County Public Schools is the only agency that will receive an increase in its total budget this year," said Councilwoman Nancy M. Floreen (D-At large) of Garrett Park...

County, state and federal funding of MCPS over last 9 years

Additional information from County Councilmember Roger Berliner's FY12 budget update:

Each year, the MCPS budget is largely comprised of funding from three sources: County, state, and federal dollars. (Other sources of revenue, like student activity fees and programs funded through private grants for example, comprise a small portion.) If you'll take a look at the chart below, which illustrates County, state and federal funding over the last nine years, you'll see that County funding of MCPS continued to increase through 2009, was essentially flat in 2010, and for the first time fell in absolute terms in FY2011.

Voluntarily asked for pay reduction...

...and look at what the job entails.

From New York State Education Department

...King requested that the salary for the position be reduced by 15%, from the current $250,000, in recognition of the challenging fiscal environment facing New York State and the State Education Department. 

...As Commissioner of Education, Dr. King will serve as chief executive officer of the State Education Department and as President of the University of the State of New York (USNY). USNY is comprised of more than 7,000 public and independent elementary and secondary schools; 270 public, independent and proprietary colleges and universities; 7,000 libraries; 900 museums; 25 public broadcasting facilities; 3,000 historical repositories; 436 proprietary schools; 48 professions encompassing more than 761,000 licensees plus 240,000 certified educators; and services for children and adults with disabilities.

Gazette: Programs for suspended students eyed for cuts

Fate of operations in Gaithersburg, Sandy Spring and Burtonsville in question

by Danielle E. Gaines | Staff Writer

A Montgomery County-funded program that helps suspended students and those facing expulsion keep up with classwork while they're barred from school campuses is on the chopping block.

The Health and Human Services and Education committees of the County Council considered a cut to SHARP, the Student Help and Academic Resource Program, at a meeting Wednesday because the program serves a limited number of students and cost the county $114,000 last fiscal year.

"While it's small, it all adds up. I'm kind of torn," said Councilman Craig Rice (D-Dist. 2), who voted for the cut.

After a 3-2 vote in favor of the cut, committee members voted to forward the elimination to the full council on May 16. A meeting originally scheduled for Tuesday was delayed, said Neil Greenberger, County Council spokesman.

County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) has recommended flat funding for the program in fiscal 2012. Leggett's budget also includes an $8.8 million spending reduction, to about $240.2 million, for the Health and Human Services department.

SHARP was created in 1998 and at its peak had seven locations — Bethesda, Burtonsville, Gaithersburg, Germantown, Montgomery Village, Sandy Spring and Silver Spring. Montgomery County began funding the program in 2000 and restructured it to eliminate four sites in fiscal 2010 because of declining attendance.

Eileen Shea, director of the Gaithersburg program, defended it at Wednesday's meeting.

When a student is suspended from high school, it often represents a low point in his or her life, Shea said outside the meeting room. The SHARP program aims to buoy those students' spirits by helping them stay on top of their schoolwork during their time outside of the classroom...

Story Continues Here 

MCPS budget in the GREEN!

The Chart below was used today at the Montgomery County Council's discussion of the FY12 budget.  Here is an explanation of the chart from Councilmember Roger Berliner and the chart.

...it should be noted that even though the Council has had to make tremendously difficult decisions regarding the school system's budget, MCPS's total tax-supported budget as it stands now is an increase of $31 million over its FY11 tax-supported budget.  I believe the following chart, that represents the percentage change of agency budgets FY09-11 and the County Executive's recommendation for FY12, is a compelling illustration of the commitment this Council has demonstrated to our school system during a time of unparalleled economic downturn...

% Change Agency & Department Budgets FY09-12
County Executive Recommended on March 15, 2011 for FY12


First columns in green:  MCPS, then Montgomery College.


In red, from left to right:  Police, Fire, Montgomery County Govt.,Transit Services, MNCPPC, HHS, Recreation, Transportation and Libraries.

First Message from the Incoming Superintendent

From: Montgomery County Public Schools
Sent: Friday, May 13, 2011 12:22 PM
Subject: A Message from Dr. Joshua Starr, Incoming Superintendent

To the staff of Montgomery County Public Schools,

This week begins what I expect will be a long and fruitful journey at Montgomery County Public Schools for me and my family. It is an honor and privilege to be the next superintendent and to succeed Dr. Jerry Weast, an exceptional leader who has worked with you to make MCPS a national model of excellence.  

In the coming weeks and months, I will be getting out to your schools, offices, and facilities to  meet with you and hear your thoughts, but I wanted to take this opportunity simply to say “hello” and to tell you how excited I am to come to work with you.

Montgomery County Public Schools has earned a distinguished reputation as a school district that is getting it right by setting high expectations for all students, offering a wide array of opportunities and supports and, most importantly, getting outstanding results. In my conversations with staff, community members, the Board of Education, and Dr. Weast, it is clear that this reputation has been built by the teachers, support professionals, and administrators of MCPS.

I know that transitions can be challenging. Transitions also can be exciting opportunities for growth and new beginnings.  I want to assure you that I do not believe that MCPS is a school district that needs radical changes or quick fixes. You’re doing a great job and it is my goal that this transition will not disrupt in any way the fine work you are doing.

I can’t wait to get to know all about MCPS and I look forward to learning from all of you. Over our years together, we will learn how to improve opportunities and outcomes for all children. We will look at our results, study our policies and programs and then determine, in a collaborative way, how to make this great school system even better so that every student achieves at the highest level.

I look forward to beginning my work here on July 1. Until then, it is my hope that you have a successful end of the school year.

Sincerely,

Josh

"no or minimal impacts" to classrooms, said Councilman Philip M. Andrews (D-Dist. 3)

Gazette:  Montgomery schools see county funding request slashed by $127 million

...The council is considering a recommendation from its Education Committee to provide $1.37 billion in funding to Montgomery County Public Schools for fiscal 2012. Included is a cut of $18.7 million to the school system's planned funding of $553 million for employee benefits in fiscal 2012... 

...The council is considering a recommendation from its Education Committee to provide $1.37 billion in funding to Montgomery County Public Schools for fiscal 2012. Included is a cut of $18.7 million to the school system's planned funding of $553 million for employee benefits in fiscal 2012... 

...But the idea behind the council's cuts was to get savings from employee benefits while having "no or minimal impacts" to classrooms, said Councilman Philip M. Andrews (D-Dist. 3) of Gaithersburg, a member of the Education Committee...

Options for BCC Boundary Changes

Patch: Options Presented For B-CC Elementary Boundary Study

Gazette: Bethesda-Chevy Chase boundary study meeting asks for community input

Local high school graduates struggle in community college | Lisa Gartner | DC | Washington Examiner

Local high school graduates struggle in community college | Lisa Gartner | DC | Washington Examiner

...At Montgomery College, 75 percent of students are graduates of Montgomery County Public Schools. The nationally acclaimed school system sent one-fourth of its 2010 spring graduates to Montgomery College, where 60 percent of students require remedial courses. Students fresh out of high school come in at closer to 70 percent, spokesman Marcus Rosano said.

Students who do not demonstrate a grasp of basic college skills on placement exams are enrolled in remedial courses, which generally do not count toward their degrees. They can read and do fractions, but can't analyze literature or apply their skills to advanced math.

"Based on the press that comes out of [Montgomery schools headquarters], you'd think everyone is leaving MCPS with a pocketful of AP courses that they've mastered," said Joseph Hawkins, a remedial instructor with Prince George's County and Howard County community colleges before spending 19 years in MCPS's data office...

Read more at the Washington Examiner: http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/dc/2011/05/local-high-school-graduates-struggle-community-college#ixzz1MlbMvcmE

Stamford Advocate.com: "I did not take the job because of the salary," Starr said

Starr will get raise in Md.

...Last year, Starr's base salary at Stamford was $215,000. It was to increase to $220,000 in the second year of his three-year contract.

"I did not take the job because of the salary," Starr said during a phone interview Wednesday afternoon, shortly after signing his contract. "I didn't know what the salary would be. I took the job because it was the right job for me at the right time."

Starr, who served as Stamford's superintendent for six years, is in Montgomery County "house hunting" with his family.

"Whether we buy or rent, we've got to find something that will work for us, and be in the neighborhood that enables me to be able to commute without having to go too far, and one that's right for our family. If we buy, we buy. If we rent, we rent. It depends on what's available and what fits," Starr said.

In September, Starr and his family rented a home in Stamford, and moved to Connecticut from Brookly, N.Y...

Read more: http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Starr-will-get-raise-in-Md-1375249.php#ixzz1M6A7DbAt

Gazette: Gaithersburg High slated for new artificial field amid debate

No mention in this Gazette article of the lawsuit by FieldTurf against their supplier. No mention of the fact that MCPS and Montgomery County have an exclusive deal with FieldTurf and do not allow any other vendors to bid on artificial turf installations. Hopefully the Gazette will do a follow up story with all of the facts about the placement of very expensive, no bid, potentially defective plastic grass at MCPS high schools.

Gaithersburg High School parents are digging in for a war over artificial turf at Montgomery County schools.
Parents and other representatives from the school attended a forum held by the Montgomery County Council of Parent Teacher Associations last Wednesday night to discuss an April report on the benefits and pitfalls of artificial turf fields.
The 98-page report, created by staff from Montgomery County Public Schools, the Montgomery County Department of Parks and the county's agencies for environmental protection and health and human services, was commissioned after a County Council Transportation and Environment Committee meeting in July.
The committee was asked by residents from other county school areas and the Mid-County Citizens Advisory Board to issue a moratorium on artificial turf fields because of environmental and health concerns.

Full Story Here

We Paid for Starr's Attorney to Read the Contract

You bet. 

We are super generous here in Montgomery County, Maryland. We even paid for the new Superintendent's attorney to review his contract with the Board of Education. And the hourly rate for the attorney? At whatever the Board's outside counsel charges! Anyone know what that is?

See the contract, bottom of page 8.

We're just givers. That's what we are here in Montgomery County. 

Note: A couple more school Counselors and Media Specialists can trim their hours to pay for this little perk, OK? 

And the Sharp Street program for students, you understand right?

Artificial Turf: REMINDER: Comments are due on the Report Friday May 13th

All,

Public comments on the Public Draft of  'A Review of Benefits and Issues Associated with Natural and Artificial Turf Rectangular Stadium Fields' are due this Friday, May 13th. Please read the report and email comments.

The deadline for public comment on the report (which can be found at is this Friday May 13

Send comments to email address: TurfReportResponse@yahoo.com.

That deadline is important in order to to be included in the public comments!

Please make sure to cc the Board of Education (boe@mcpsmd.org), the county council (county.council@montgomerycountymd.gov) and County Executive Ike Leggett (ocemail@montgomerycountymd.gov).  Otherwise it is likely your comments will not become part of the public record.

It is also useful to cc the press to make sure your comments are part of the public record. Here are some emails:

kryan@wtop.com

aujifusa@gazette.net

lgartner@washingtonexaminer.com

and Robert Samuels at the Washington Post (not sure of his email).

For background, type 'Artificial Turf' in the search field of the blog and read the background on the environmental hazards of artificial turf composed of used auto and truck tires.

A recent scientific panel in Chicago is useful background – (on You-Tube use this link and the associated links to see and hear the full forum).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAdDiqDRL2I&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL.

Please also see a a recent presentation Dr. Kathy Michels, of thd Safe, Healthy Playing Fields Coalition gave to the Montgomery County Council of PTAs (MCCPTA) at < http://www.artificialturffacts.org/> .

Other useful information can be found at http://www.synturf.org/.

Thank you very much for taking the time to support for our environment and children.
Again the deadline for input is this Friday May 13.

Thank you.

Paula Bienenfeld
Education Committee Chair, Montgomery County Civic Federation

How the Yankees and MCPS Differ

Dear Josh,

It’s me again. So, where’s my Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) baseball cap?

I heard that you’re a Yankees fan and you think MCPS is like the “Yankees” of public school districts. Even though I’m a sucker for a good sports metaphor (e.g., you taking over the MCPS head job is like a minor league manager being called up to majors), I don’t get the Yankees comparison. In fact, I think the Yankees/MCPS comparison is a serious strike out, without any balls or fouls.

Strike 1: The Yankees have real grass. MCPS is running away from real grass and selling the public on artificial turf as if it was the next best thing to slice bread. Click here to read about the Yankees “love” for real grass.

Strike 2: The Yankees love real time player statistics. MCPS procrastinates to no end on public requests for current school level statistics. Why doesn’t MCPS have some type of real time public database that allows the public to play with school statistics? I could imagine all kinds of cool sorts and presentations, including arranging divisions of red and green zone schools. Click here if you love playing with player statistics.

Strike 3: The Yankees public website is actually fun and you can buy a baseball cap. The MCPS public website sucks. You can’t even buy a MCPS baseball cap. Come on Josh, if we’re gonna be the Yankees of public school education world then we gotta sell stuff via the MCPS website. Click here if you want to purchase your Yankee baseball cap.

By the way, I didn’t mean anything bad by the minor league thing (above)—you moving up from Stamford (Connecticut) to MCPS is like being called up from the minors to the majors, but it is true. Right? But in reality, some minor league managers make it in majors. Just watch out for those brushback pitches walking the hallways of 850 Hungerford Drive.

Joseph Hawkins

Special Meeting Regarding Proposed Middle School Location in Rock Creek Hills

Special Meeting Regarding Proposed Middle School Location in Rock Creek Hills • Tuesday, May 17, 7:30pm-9:30pm • North Chevy Chase Elementary School • 3700 Jones Bridge Road, Chevy Chase

There will be a special meeting of the Rock Creek Hills Citizens Association to address the Board of Education’s April 28, 2011 decision to conduct a feasibility study of whether to build a new middle school in Rock Creek Hills at the site of our local park, Rock Creek Hills Local Park. A vote will be taken on this important matter and the result will be forwarded, with Board comment, to the appropriate County officials. The board staff will attend. There is substantial disagreement on this matter. Those opposing the proposed school emphasize what will likely be the loss of virtually all recreational facilities, the probable limitations to buffering, and the possible problems with traffic circulation and staff parking. Those supporting the construction point to the benefits for neighborhood children from walking to their school or from having a much shorter bus ride compared to the alternative of a new school in the Rosemary Hills area in east Silver Spring. In accordance with the covenants, only RCHCA residents, with current, paid dues may vote at this meeting. The Board has no position in this matter and will abide the decision of our members.

Gazette: Programs for suspended students eyed for cuts

Fate of operations in Gaithersburg, Sandy Spring and Burtonsville in question

by Danielle E. Gaines | Staff Writer

A Montgomery County-funded program that helps suspended students and those facing expulsion keep up with classwork while they're barred from school campuses is on the chopping block.

The Health and Human Services and Education committees of the County Council considered a cut to SHARP, the Student Help and Academic Resource Program, at a meeting Wednesday because the program serves a limited number of students and cost the county $114,000 last fiscal year.

"While it's small, it all adds up. I'm kind of torn," said Councilman Craig Rice (D-Dist. 2), who voted for the cut.

After a 3-2 vote in favor of the cut, committee members voted to forward the elimination to the full council on May 16. A meeting originally scheduled for Tuesday was delayed, said Neil Greenberger, County Council spokesman.

County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) has recommended flat funding for the program in fiscal 2012. Leggett's budget also includes an $8.8 million spending reduction, to about $240.2 million, for the Health and Human Services department.

SHARP was created in 1998 and at its peak had seven locations — Bethesda, Burtonsville, Gaithersburg, Germantown, Montgomery Village, Sandy Spring and Silver Spring. Montgomery County began funding the program in 2000 and restructured it to eliminate four sites in fiscal 2010 because of declining attendance.

Eileen Shea, director of the Gaithersburg program, defended it at Wednesday's meeting.

When a student is suspended from high school, it often represents a low point in his or her life, Shea said outside the meeting room. The SHARP program aims to buoy those students' spirits by helping them stay on top of their schoolwork during their time outside of the classroom...

Story Continues Here 

Weast Found Cash to Hire Safari Buddy?

A May 11, 2011 Gazette article states that Adrian Talley will be taking over the MCPS Office of Shared Accountability from Acting Associate Superintendent Donald Kress.

Donald Kress?

Is this the same Donald Kress that retired from MCPS in 2007?

The same Donald Kress that was on the October 2008 African safari with Superintendent Weast?

Where did the money come from to pay for ANOTHER outside Consultant? How much has this outside Consultant been paid? 

Media Specialists (librarians) and school counselor hours are being sliced.  Do they know there is extra cash floating around MCPS? 

We look forward to the MCPS Fact Check that details how this retired MCPS employee ended up back on the payroll this year and how much he was being paid. (Maybe he just volunteered?)

Your Property Values Will Decline, Teachers Threaten

Over the weekend, the community received a mailer, courtesy of those folks that also bring you the Apple Ballot.


The teachers' union makes the claim that Montgomery County homeowners will see a decline in the value of their homes unless MCPS gets all the money it's demanding for its budget.


Raise taxes? Jeopardize Montgomery County's AAA bond rating? No thank you. And, by the way, take me off your mailing list.