Parents Decry Wootton Cell Tower Proposal - Bethesda Beat

Parents Decry Wootton Cell Tower Proposal - Bethesda Beat

...One parent asked Doran after he arrived, “This entire room is opposed to this; what can we do next time to make it clear we don’t want the tower?”
Then Doran set off the parents again by implying that although they’re clearly involved in this emotionally-charged issue, they don’t get involved in others. He said, “… yet when you have a chance to get involved in the school, then come out, too, because guess what, you don’t.”
Shouts rang out again, and parents asked Doran to say no to the tower on the spot...

WJLA Tonight: WATCHDOG - SCHOOL BOARD OFFICIAL EXPOSED

Should parents be spending their time raising their children or raising cash for principals?

...Cathy Stocker — vice president of the Friends of Westbrook School Foundation and PTA president at Chevy Chase Elementary School — said she helped raise about $247,000 for improvements to the all-purpose room and courtyard at Westbrook Elementary School in Bethesda...

http://www.gazette.net/article/20140512/NEWS/140519976/1144/montgomery-school-community-members-thinking-of-new-system-for&template=gazette

And Ocean City... .@mcpssuper #expenses

Our last set of credit card records for Superintendent Joshua Starr covers the months of August and September of 2013.

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

Part 4 is shown below:

  2013 Joshua Starr Aug through Sept by Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland

If we told you once, we told you twice . . .

the Wootton Community does not want a cell tower.

This is the second time the Wootton community has told Dr. Doran that cell phone towers, cell phone compound, generators, and other accessories are not welcome.

Really, honestly, truly Dr. Doran, we don't want it.  How many times do we have to tell you?  We told you in 2004, and we are telling you again - NO.

Many of the parents in the audience tonight (remember, it was a COMMUNITY meeting) have young kids - in elementary and middle school, even preschool.  Some community members don't currently have ANY kids in Montgomery County Public Schools.  This was your chance to meet them, and you blew it.

You said this was an opportunity - what type of opportunity?  What is the community benefit?  Our cell service is fine.  Kids can't use cell phones in schools anyway - are we missing something?

For some reason, you mentioned the artificial turf field - that one you said you advocated for.  Great, another long term chemical hazard.  So - to a new parent or community member, your big accomplishments are that you advocate for an artificial turf field and see an opportunity in a cell tower?

Your job is education - not fundraising or making the cell phone companies richer.  The County Council just fully funded the MCPS budget - and you need more money to do what?

If you want to be a business person, go ahead.  But Wootton HS and its cluster schools need a principal who is an educational leader, not someone who looks for placing yet another chemical hazard in our neighborhood.

Here are some pictures from tonight's meeting.

NBC4: Cell Tower Controversy at Montgomery County High School

MCPS Labels Community a Threat in Placement of Cell Towers on Playgrounds .@mcpssuper .@mocoboe #mcps

Yes, that's right. MCPS lists "communities opposition to cell towers" as a Threat to their goal of placing more cell towers on public school playgrounds.  

When exactly did the Board of Education vote to make the placement of cell towers on public school playgrounds a goal? They never did. 

So why is Superintendent Joshua Starr making cell towers a goal and calling public school neighbors threats?

http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/departments/facilities/rem/REMStrategicPlan2014.pdf

45% of MCPS Cell Tower Revenue Goes to Office that Manages Cell towers. 0% Goes to Teacher Salaries and Classrooms .@mcpssuper .@headmaster88

MCPS is doing a lot of whining today about how they need the revenue from a cell tower on the Wootton High School football field.  In fact, just last week the Montgomery County Council fully funded the Board of Education's Fiscal Year 2015 budget request.  

Here's what really happens to the revenue from cell towers on MCPS playgrounds and fields.  45% of that revenue goes to the MCPS Real Estate office that oversees cell towers.  The rest of the revenue is split up between school principals and deposited in their local school slush fund accounts.  None of the cell tower revenue goes to pay teacher salaries or to build classrooms.  

REM = Real Estate Management office of MCPS

Annual Sports Physicals and Fundraisers—A Healthy Combination for Kids? A Malpractice Risk for Physicians and Nurses?

By Tom Hearn

Like most school systems, Montgomery County [Md] Public Schools (MCPS) requires a student to get an annual medical clearance to participate in school-organized athletics. 

The medical examination for the clearance is called the Pre-Participation Examination, or PPE for short, and is supposed to screen for health risks like those related to sudden cardiac arrest, head injuries, and health issues unique to female athletes.  (Here are a link to the PPE form in English and Spanish.  Here is a supplemental medical history form for students with special needs.)

In the coming weeks, MCPS high schools will host sessions where high school athletes can get their PPE and medical clearance.  Physicians and nurse practitioners in the community donate their time to perform these PPEs and school booster clubs charge students a donation of $40 or so.  For one MCPS high school, the PPE fundraiser nets about $6,000 in donations. 

While kids need PPEs and school sports programs need funds, combining the two may not be good for kids.

The American Academy of Pediatricians and the American Academy of Family Physicians recommend that the PPE be conducted at what physicians call the student’s “medical home,” that is, the physician’s office.  

Conducting the PPE at a school gym or locker room may send a signal to both student and physician or nurse that the exam is merely a paperwork formality to go through for the student to be able to play sports.  This school setting may inhibit the student from being frank about a history of head injuries or other health risks that may jeopardize getting the clearance. 

Also, the annual PPE may be a student’s only encounter with the health care system.  Teen years are times when a student can first begin risky health behaviors, such as drug use, or find themselves in abusive relationships.  The teen years may also be when mental health issues begin.   The setting of a physician’s office is more conducive to an honest discussion about these issues than a school locker room.

Conducting PPEs at school fundraisers may also be bad for physicians and nurses who perform them.  One local physician told me that the health care provider he works for does not permit physicians they employ to perform PPEs at school fundraisers because of the liability issues.   Also, physicians and nurses should make sure medical malpractice coverage applies when they perform a PPE at a school fundraiser.

Some people say that what makes getting the PPE at the school fundraiser appealing is the difficulty of scheduling it at their physicians’ offices.  So maybe physicians can do a better job of making it less of a hassle to schedule.  

Funding school athletics programs is important so parents should still donate needed funds to their school’s booster club even if they don't participate in the PPE fundraiser.

Next blog post:  Are there some sports, like boxing, that a physician or nurse should not clear a student for, regardless of a student’s health history, because the health risk for kids is so serious?   

Tom Hearn is a parent in Montgomery County, Maryland.  He got interested in sports safety issues after his son sustained a concussion playing JV football. 

M&M's, Harvard, New York City, Gallup, Hans Riemer, Nancy Navarro... @mcpssuper #expenses

This is the third part in our series of credit card records from Superintendent Joshua Starr.  This document covers the period of May, June and July of 2013.

Yes, Superintendent Starr bought M&M's - plain and peanut - with this MCPS credit card.

Don't miss the last page of this set.  It's a split check dinner.  Starr's portion was $305.25 with no notation of who was at this dinner.

Here's the list of breakfast and lunch pals that got a free lunch on the MCPS Operating Budget during this time period.

John Mannes
Gislaine Ngounou (lunch)
Gislaine Ngounou (dinner)
Darryl Williams
Hans Riemer
Uma Ahulwalia
Sherwin Collette
Nancy Navarro
Myra Smith
Sherwin Collette (again)
Mike Durso
Donna Hollingshead
Chris Lloyd
A. Zuckerman
Hans Riemer and Brian Edwards (again for Riemer)
Rebecca Smondrowski
Sally Rudney

  2013 Joshua Starr May, June and July by Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland

Larry Bowers Out as MCPS Chief Operating Officer. Starr Immediately Appoints Lunch Buddy

The Washington Post is reporting that MCPS' Chief Operating Officer (COO) Larry Bowers is leaving MCPS.

This will be a big change in how MCPS operates.

MCPS COO Larry Bowers is often the person behind various actions of MCPS when the Superintendent and Board of Education are nowhere to be found.  For example, Larry Bowers was the MCPS staff person who signed for the Board of Education on the Promethean purchases even thought the Board of Education had never voted to approve this purchase.

The immediate appointment of Superintendent Starr's assistant as the new COO signals that the Board of Education will play no role in finding a replacement for the MCPS Chief Operating Officer position.

We don't know much about Andrew Zuckerman except that he is one of Superintendent Joshua Starr's lunch buddies.  By accepting a lunch paid for out of the MCPS Operating Budget  does that signal that Mr. Zuckerman is comfortable with MCPS Operating Budget funds being used as perks for administrators?

Tonight! BOE to meet with Montgomery College Trustees Off Camera. What's for Dinner?

The Montgomery County Board of Education and the Montgomery College Trustees are having an off camera meeting this evening.  The meeting starts at 5:45 PM, so you know what that means! Dinner!  What's on the menu?  Who is paying? 

The meeting is OPEN to the public.  It is just being held off camera so there is no record of what is actually discussed.  Look at the Agenda. There will be "individual table discussions."  Lots of off camera, unrecorded discussions between BOE members and Montgomery College Trustees.  

Stop by and grab a seat.  Let us know what you hear being discussed. 

  2014 May 19 MCPS-MontgomeryCollege by Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland

Have you had a lunch meeting with Joshua Starr? Here are some of the people he met with in 2013. #lunchbunch

This is the second in our series of credit card bills for Superintendent Joshua Starr.  The document below covers the time period from January through April of 2013 and shows when Superintendent Starr charged a meal, parking, air fare, train travel, gasoline, or hotels on his MCPS American Express card.

Here is the list of people and groups that Superintendent Starr met with during this time period as recorded in his American Express credit card receipts.

Gazette Editorial Board
LaVerne Kimball
Dr. Edelstein
Dr. Pollard
Dist Mgmt Council
Wireless Generation
Larry Leverett
George Perry
Gallup, Inc.
Leadership Montgomery
Dan Brown
Rebecca Thessin
Laura Steinberg
Christopher Barclay
Myra Smith
Dr. Lillian Lowery
Chuck Short
Elaine ____
Larry Leverett (again)
Diane Ravitch
Larry Leverett (again)
A. Zuckerman
Kim Statham
Dr. Christopher Garran

  2013 Starr January through April by Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland

Home or Away? Help Dr. Doran solve his cell phone tower dilemma!

Wootton HS will be getting a cell phone tower shortly - thanks to Dr. Doran the principal for his creative fundraising.

But - where will he place that tower?  According to our sources, the tower will be added to one of the existing lights in Wootton's football stadium.

The question is - will the lights be on the visitors or home bleachers?

Remember, the cell phone tower comes with approximately 100 square feet of equipment/hazmat accessories, including a generator, and the generator needs to have diesel fuel deliveries.  And noise.

From the pictures, the visitors side doesn't seem to have a lot of space for the equipment - keep in mind that Watts Branch runs right behind the stadium, with a fairly steep slope.

SO - which pole will Dr. Doran select?  Help him decide - and then let the school know your choice!

Home bleechers - light #1 at rear entrance of stadium, light #2 in front of the stands.

Visitor bleachers - light #3 on rear end of bleachers, light #4 closest to Wootton Parkway.

Is the money really worthwhile?  Does Dr. Doran want his staff to be responsible for monitoring the presence of the contractors and those who will maintain the hazmat/cell phone tower?  The generators and battery backup?  Or will that pesky tower just tap into the electricity for Wootton High school - after all, cell towers need

Of course, you can always let Dr. Doran know that hazmat facilities, with or without cell phone towers, have no place on public school property.

May 19th BOE Candidates Forum at Wheaton Regional Library

Monday, May 19, 2014,  6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Wheaton Regional Library
11701 Georgia Avenue (at Arcola)
Wheaton, MD 20902
240-777-0678

The public is always welcome and admission is free.

For More information:  301-984-9585, lwvmc@erols.com
 

League of Women Voters of Montgomery County, MD online Voters' Guide, VOTE411.org is now live

http://www.vote411.org/

MCPS Public Information Officer Gets Cell Tower Process Wrong

In today's Bethesda Magazine article on Wootton High School's cell tower proposal the MCPS Public Information Officer is quoted as saying,

“We have a process we follow for each request,” Tofig wrote in the email. “The providers must approach the school and set up public meetings through the school’s Parent-Teacher Association, as well as inform the neighborhood. 

However, under the official MCPS Process for approving a cell tower, the school's principal is responsible for contacting the surrounding community.

The principal will schedule an informational meeting with the PTA. The principal will ensure members of the surrounding community, HOAs, and civic associations are invited. Should there be substantial opposition; the principal may decline the request. Should the community be supportive, the provider will begin the formal approval process with local and County government agencies

In the case of Wootton High School neither the principal nor the cell tower provider (AT&T) notified the surrounding community.

Looks like its time to review the MCPS process!  So here it is:

  2014 MCPS Cell Tower Process by Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland

Red Flag: Council Did Increase MCPS Funding by $27.2 Million

About now you are probably reading happy press releases and e-mails from County Councilmembers about the fabulous deal they have cooked up to fund the MCPS FY 2015 Operating Budget.  Councilmembers (all up for re-election) are congratulating themselves on giving MCPS more money than was required by Maryland law without actually increasing the baseline amount they must legally fund MCPS under the Maintenance of Effort (MOE) law.

You might want to hold your applause for just a moment.  

While it is true that the Council has not raised the MOE baseline for the MCPS FY 2015 Operating Budget it appears that they are raising the MOE baseline for FY 2017 and beyond.

The "deal" cooked up behind closed doors by the Council includes that the Council will pay back the MCPS trust funds in FY 2016.

"Board of Education President Philip Kauffman said in a statement Monday that the council has assured the board that the money taken from the trust funds will be replaced in the fiscal 2016 budget."  Gazette 5/12/14

...and from the Council packet on the "deal" we learn that the $27.2 million is a permanent increase in the MCPS budget...

The FY15-20 Fiscal Plan will reflect the continuation of County funding on MCPS' behalf for retiree health benefits by including an additional $27.2 million in MCPS OPEB funding for FY16 and beyond.

Yes, MCPS just got a $27.2 million raise, but Councilmembers are hopeful that no one will talk about this until after the election.  For now, read the happy press releases and e-mails. 

Why won't Starr Fix the Roof at Wheaton Woods Elementary School?

If the roofs leaks in your house do you fix it or tear down the house?

For some odd reason, Superintendent Joshua Starr won't fix the roof at Wheaton Woods Elementary School.  Instead he is making the teachers and students live with a leaky rook until the school can be torn down and rebuilt.

Gazette:  For a wet Wheaton Woods, it’s four more years until it gets a new building

...After a downpour on April 30, water gushed into the Rockville school, taking down ceiling tiles and soaking about 12 areas in the school, including storage areas that held supplies, Cherissa Taylor, president of the school’s PTA, told county schools Superintendent Joshua P. Starr in an email.
“Whenever it rains, Wheaton Woods elementary has water leaks and falling ceiling tiles. Over time, this water damage can and will turn into mold issues,” Taylor wrote. “Our children deserve a safe, healthy environment in which to learn and our PTA and school community will not accept another year in a substandard building.”...

Council Fully Funds Starr's Lunches! See Where Starr Likes to Lunch!

If you listened to the Montgomery County Council discussing the MCPS FY 2015 Operating Budget on May 14, 2014, you heard Superintendent Joshua Starr mention the frequent lunches and breakfasts he has with various county officials.

Fortunately, the Council is fully funding the MCPS FY 2015 Operating Budget and Starr can continue with his breakfast, lunches, dinners, gas and travel purchases charged to taxpayers!

The Parents' Coalition did a Maryland Public Information Act request for one year of Superintendent Starr's MCPS American Express credit card bills and receipts. Here are the Superintendent Starr's credit card bills and receipts from September through December of 2012. 

Below is the list of the people that had a restaurant meal with Superintendent Starr that was charged to the MCPS Operating Budget during this time period:

Darryl Williams
Myrna Smith
Paul Vance
George Perry
LaVerne Kimball
Pat O'Neill
Nancy King
Janet Gilman
Dr. Edelstein
Dr. Pollard
Nancy Navarro
Matt Gandal
Marty Blank
John Mannes
Denis Hansen
Rebecca Smondrowski
Darryl Williams (2nd meal in this time period)

  2012 Joshua Starr credit card and expenses by Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland