Does MCPS Ever Re-Check? Fairfax schools finds seven felons among employees, including heroin smuggler

We already know that the answer is "no" for MCPS. Background checks are only done when employees are hired, and then, never again. 

Fairfax County Public Schools has discovered the administration mistakenly hired seven employees who were convicted felons, including a high school teacher who was once part of an international drug ring...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/fairfax-schools-finds-seven-felons-among-employees-including-heroin-smuggler/2014/01/27/e76b0612-8791-11e3-a5bd-844629433ba3_story.html

January 30th: County Council Update from Inspector General

-  1/30, 2 pm, Audit Comm. update on Inspector General and Office of Internal Audit

@mcpssuper Spends $32K in October Fighting Families of Children with Disabilities #equitywarriorfail

Another day, another $32K!

MCPS and the Board of Education continue to spend excessive amounts of money fighting families of children with disabilities. The $32,398 sum listed below just represents the fees for outside counsel for only ONE month (October 2013)! And Phil Kauffman and pals spent another few thousand in October on the Rock Terrace issue ($8,699). (The Carney Kelehan bill for October 2013 totaled $57,781. The largest amount was for policy matters ($33,232), the largest part of which related to subpoenas and requests for student records ($8,699).)

Special Education Legal Expenses

Special education legal fees for outside counsel for October 2013 totaled $32,398. The year-to-date total of $54,247 is $42,378 (43.9%) lower than the same period in the previous year. In addition, total year-to-date special education legal costs of $54,247 is $106,133 (66.2%) lower than the budgeted amount of $160,380 for this time period.

Want to read the whole legal fees report? Click HERE.

Starr's Favorite Sewer Project Back in the News

Remember when Superintendent Josnua Starr suddenly decided to be a supporter of private sewer construction? Here's more on the Mitchell Rales (Glenstone Museum) connection.

...Leggett, for example, received $12,000 from billionaire businessman and art collector Mitchell Rales and members of his family. Rales successfully sought a controversial sewer connection from the county for his Potomac gallery in 2012...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/maryland-news/2014/01/26/de4228ba-847e-11e3-8099-9181471f7aaf_story.html?wprss=rss_local-montgomery-social&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Dancis: Do not rush students into Algebra in Grade 8

Is PISA [Program for International Student Assessment] valid? The question rarely asked. Answer: NO!


It's Finland Beware – NOT Beware of Finland. Finnish engineering students have difficulty with fractions and simple algebraic expressions.
"What does [how students answered the questions on] the International PISA Math Test Really Tell Us?" is the title of my article," which appeared in American Association of School Administrators Journal of Scholarship and Practice. See Pages 31-42 at
http://www.aasa.org/uploadedFiles/Publications/Journals/AASA_Journal_of_Scholarship_and_Practice/JPS-Winter2014-FINAL.pdf

What does PISA Math Really tell us? Students need instruction in multi-step Arithmetic word problems. 


What does PISA Math not tell us? Students need instruction in Arithmetic and Algebraic calculations. Students need the opportunity to develop "number sense".


For these reasons, do not rush students into Algebra in Grade 8.

Jerome Dancis, PhD

MCPS confirm Aguilar graduated from Blake HS

...Montgomery County schools officials confirmed that Aguilar graduated last June from James Hubert Blake High School in Silver Spring. He was admitted to Montgomery College but never attended, a spokeswoman said...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/police-id-assailant-in-columbia-mall-shooting/2014/01/26/e9cf39ec-8696-11e3-916e-e01534b1e132_story.html

Cold? If you were a BOE member you could be in sunny California!

MCPS Board of Education member Christopher Barclay shown in Twitter picture
from Walter Johnson High School principal. Date of Tweet:  January 25, 2014.

How much is this January "vacation" for these dozen or so MCPS employees and a Board of Education (BOE) member costing taxpayers? 

When exactly will the BOE discuss the purpose and findings of this trip? Based on past MCPS travel, the answer to that question is NEVER!

Hint: INNOVATION = JUNKET

Developer withdraws Piney Orchard cell tower plans - CapitalGazette.com: Local News

Developer withdraws Piney Orchard cell tower plans - CapitalGazette.com: Local News

Exclusive: SEARCHABLE MCPS Budget Information!

At the recent Board of Education budget hearings, BOE members asked MCPS staff questions. MCPS staff is never able to answer the questions on live television, so the answers are typed up and submitted to the BOE at a later date.

(It's sad that the BOE has to ask questions about the budget, but since they don't write the budget they have no clue what's in it!) 

On the evening of January 23, 2014, the BOE held their first FY 2015 Operating Budget worksession.  At the worksession the answers to the BOE budget questions were distributed in binders.  MCPS posted the 44 pages of answers online in a non-searchable PDF file.

Why can't MCPS make a searchable PDF document?
No worries. We can!  So, here you go with TWO searchable versions of important MCPS budget information.

2/4/2014 UPDATE:  These budget answers have now been Revised.  See the searchable Revised document at this link. 

You can either read and search this document on

Dropbox: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/31645241/FY2015%2001-23-14.pdf

or on  SCRIBD:

  FY2015 01-23-14 by Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland

Charter Schools in Maryland

Total Number of Charter Schools in Maryland

Charter schools are only in 7 counties.   
Anne Arundel County Public Schools ... 2
Baltimore City Public Schools ... 38
Baltimore County Public Schools ... 1
Frederick County Public Schools ... 2
Montgomery County Public Schools ... 1  [Charter school is closing.]
Prince George's County Public Schools ... 7
St. Mary's County Public Schools ... 1

Breaking News: Milestone Communications withdraws cell tower proposal from elementary school

Patch: Company Drops Plans for Cell Tower at Piney Orchard Elementary

  Piney Orchard Withdrawal by Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland

MCPS background check lets "things slip through" the screening process

Gazette:  MCPS official: ‘No red flags’ when Bowman hired

...The school system officials addressed community concern that Bowman, 37, of the 4900 block of Veronica Court in Indian Head has faced other charges in the past.
Goodman said “there were no red flags” among the information the school system had when it hired Bowman, but that the school system might have acted differently if it had known more about him.
In Prince George’s County District Court, Bowman faced charges in 2010 related to second-degree assault and violating a protective order, according to online court records.
The records show he pleaded guilty to only one charge of violating a protective order and was fined $100.
In a school system with a large number of employees, Goodman said, sometimes things slip through the school system’s screening process that includes a background check, transcripts and letters of recommendation...

...One person who attended the meeting asked why the school system allowed Bowman back into the school after its investigation but police had arrested him after they looked into the incidents.
Hellmuth said that the arrest doesn’t signify criminal intent on Bowman’s part...

...He added there are some “nuances” between the statements the female employees gave to the school system and those they gave to police.
After one man raised concerns during the PTA meeting that Bowman returned to work with the female employees, Grundy said Bowman’s reported behavior involving inappropriate, non-sexual touching did not warrant moving him out of the school...

...Lori Sciannella, a substitute teacher who has worked at the school since October, said after the meeting she still had unanswered questions, including whether the employees involved had had an opportunity to go to police when they raised their concerns about Bowman that led to the school’s investigation.
“I would hope that they would tighten up their vetting process,” she said of the school system...

National Handwriting Day: 20 Quotes About The Power Of Writing

National Handwriting Day: 20 Quotes About The Power Of Writing

Balt. Sun Investigates: Some parents, educators are rethinking role of AP

...Designed a half-century ago to give a few thousand elite students a chance to skip introductory college classes, Advanced Placement is now the required portal to college for any ambitious teen.
But its widespread acceptance as a national gold standard has altered the nature of high school for students like Boltz, some critics say. They see an education system that rewards top students who take 10 to 12 AP classes during their high school careers — the equivalent of more than a year of college — but narrows the choice of classes they can take and creates undue stress.
The system is driven partly, they say, by colleges that use Advanced Placement — the number of classes taken and exam scores earned — to rank applicants, and by savvy local school administrators who want to boost a school's national rankings. School districts routinely point to those rankings, giving principals an incentive to get more students to take the classes.
Now some parents, educators and even university admissions officers are rethinking the role of AP classes. A Baltimore County parents group wants teachers and administrators to be more upfront about the demands of the classes.

Read more: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/sun-investigates/bs-md-ap-misuses-20140118,0,4055233.story#ixzz2rA7QXRho

Montgomery County Public Schools will open two hours late tomorrow (Jan. 23)

EMERGENCY MESSAGE: 1/22/2014 at 5:02 PM -- Refresh page to update message

Montgomery County Public Schools will open two hours late tomorrow (Jan. 23) due to emergency weather conditions. Bus service will be provided on a two-hour-delayed schedule. Morning prekindergarten, morning half-day Head Start, other morning half-day programs and field trips are canceled. Other activities and programs that begin at 10:30 a.m. or earlier are canceled. Administrative offices will be open on time. Day care programs in school buildings will remain open as scheduled.

MENSAJES DE EMERGENCIA: 1/22/2014, 5:02 PM -- Refresque la página para actualizar mensaje

Montgomery County Public Schools abrirán dos horas más tarde mañana debido a las condiciones de emergencia por tiempo inclemente. Los autobuses escolares funcionarán en un horario de dos horas de retraso. Las clases de la mañana de pre-kindergarten, Head Start de media jornada por la mañana y demás programas de media jornada por la mañana y excursiones quedan cancelados. Otras actividades y programas que comienzan antes de las 10:30 a.m. también quedan cancelados. Las oficinas administrativas abrirán en su horario habitual. Los programas de cuidado infantil que operan en edificios escolares permanecerán abiertos según su horario programado.
See Emergency Information

MCPS Schools Closed on Wed. Jan. 22, Administrative Offices Open 3 Hours Late

Montgomery County Public Schools are closed January 22, 2014 due to emergency weather conditions.  All school activities and community activities in school buildings also are cancelled.

Administrative offices will open three hours late.

Day care programs in school buildings may choose to open, but parents should check with their day care provider.

MCPS Teacher Benjamin Robert Cano sentenced | WJLA.com

Benjamin Robert Cano sentenced | WJLA.com

...In a plea deal, the charges were reduced to two misdemeanor sex offenses in the fourth degree and assault in the second degree. Tuesday, Cano was sentenced to two years supervised probation. The circuit court judge also said that Cano is to have no unsupervised contact with minors, he can't get a job that involves youth and he should seek mental health treatment as directed by his probation officer.

Read more: http://www.wjla.com/articles/2014/01/benjamin-robert-cano-sentenced-99476.html#ixzz2r530RPjZ
Follow us: @ABC7News on Twitter | WJLATV on Facebook

County Council to Rock Terrace parents: Drop Dead

Here is the press release from the Montgomery County Council to the parents of the children at Rock Terrace, and to the taxpayers of the County:

Statement of Council President Craig Rice on Rock Terrace School Work-Study Program

Release ID: 14-015 Release Date: 1/17/2014 Contact: Neil Greenberger 240-777-7939 or Delphine Harriston240-777-7931 From: Council Office

Montgomery County Council President Craig Rice today said that the Council will not review the work-study program at Rock Terrace School in Rockville at this time because it understands that the State’s Attorney is currently investigating the pertinent facts. The Montgomery County Board of Education Tuesday approved Superintendent Joshua Starr’s plan to provide funds for special needs students at Rock Terrace School who participated in the work-study program over a six-year period. “As with most specific matters involving programs at County public schools, it is the responsibility of the Board of Education to oversee them,” said Council President Rice. “Montgomery County Public Schools has indicated it has looked into this matter and taken steps it felt were appropriate. Those who may have additional information should contact the Office of the State’s Attorney.”                                                                                                             # # # #

NOAA National Weather Service 2014 Summer Student Volunteer Program Application Deadline: Friday Jan 24th

2014 Summer Student Volunteer Program 

The Baltimore/Washington Forecast Office of the National Weather Service is accepting applications through January 24, 2014, for volunteer interns for the summer of 2014.  This program provides selected college students with the experience of performing a mentored meteorological research project, presenting a briefing on their research, and assisting in operations at an NWS forecast office.  Students will be selected after a competitive application and interview process.

Students wishing to apply to the student volunteer program must 1) submit an application and 2) include a resume and an official transcript.  Applicants are asked to provide available work days and times in their application.

Expectations of the students volunteering at NWS Sterling include:

• Volunteer for approximately 16-20 hours per week from late May through early August.
• Work on an assigned research project with a forecaster.
• Complete specified goals of both the school and the NWS.

Students will be required to complete a research project during their time at the office, with the goal of submitting their research to the 2014 National Weather Association Annual Conference.  Research of past students includes:

“Tornado Climatology for the Sterling, VA Weather Forecast Area,”

“A Study of Small Craft Advisories on the Potomac and Upper Chesapeake Bay,”

“Location of Flash Flood Prone Areas,”

“A Study of the Feb 2007 Sleet Storm,”  

“Increased accuracy in predicting severe hail size using Doppler radar,”

“Sociological Impacts in the Washington DC Metro Area resulting from the convective wintertime event of 26 January 2011”

“Gauge Correlations and Tidal Anomaly Indicators in the Chesapeake Bay and Tidal Potomac”

One of our students was awarded second place at the 2013 NWA conference.

Students will have opportunities to become familiar with NWS Policies and Procedures, Operational Software and Computer Systems, and Hydrological/Meteorological Products.
This is a volunteer program; students will not be paid for their time at the office.  However, it may be possible for the student to earn class credit.  This can be determined by the school’s advisor or department head.  Students will most likely spend two to three days a week in the forecast office from late-May through early August.

The application form may be downloaded here.

Email the application, resume and transcript(s) to andrew.woodcock@noaa.gov by Friday January 24, 2014.

Montgomery moves forward on plan to remedy mismanagement at special education school

By Donna St. George, Tuesday, January 21, 11:14 AM 

Montgomery school leaders are moving forward with a plan to make payments to students at a special education school for withdrawals from their school-arranged bank accounts, in spite of strong criticism that the proposal is inadequate.

The school board voted 6 to 1 last week to support the plan offered by Superintendent Joshua P. Starr to resolve mismanagement of work-study funds at Rock Terrace, a special education school in Rockville. Board Member Michael A. Durso opposed the plan, and student board member Justin Kim was absent.

and...

Lyda Astrove, a lawyer who has advocated for the families of Rock Terrace, had called Starr’s proposal “insulting” when it first became public, saying the $200 payments amounted to a “lowball” offer.

After the board’s action, Astrove said she was heartened that Durso “seemed to get it,” but was disappointed in the outcome. “I still think they need an independent auditor to look at it,” she said.

For the entire article go here.