Special Education Legal Expenses
Special education legal fees for outside counsel for March 2016 totaled $64,673. The year-to-date
total of $265,519 is $46,843 (21.4 percent) more than the same period in the previous year.
In addition, total year-to-date special education legal costs of $265,519 are $95,345 (26.4 percent)
less than the budgeted amount of $360,864 through this time period.
The Jeffrey A. Krew bill for March 2016 totaled $64,673.
Friday, June 10, 2016
we're prescribing 259 million prescriptions for opioids every year — that's one for every adult American
"Our culture has gotten to a
culture of excess, where we're prescribing 259 million prescriptions for opioids
every year — that's one for every adult American. We are 5 percent of the
world's population, but 80 percent of the world's opioid prescriptions. There's a
bigger issue of culture that has to change."
— Dr. Leana Wen, Baltimore's health commissioner, in an interview with The Daily Record.
— Dr. Leana Wen, Baltimore's health commissioner, in an interview with The Daily Record.
Thursday, June 9, 2016
Development Could Soon Be Tied to Park Payments, Extra Affordable Housing (Not School Capacity)
Downtown Bethesda Development Could Soon Be Tied to Park Payments, Extra Affordable Housing: Latest Planning Board proposal provides new method for developers to grab bonus density
BOE 2 Hour Closed Session Friday to Discuss Collective Bargaining Negotiations
The Board of Education of Montgomery County will conduct a closed session on June 10, 2016, in Room 120 of the Carver Educational Services Center, 850 Hungerford Drive, Rockville, Maryland, from 3:00 p.m. to approximately 5:00 p.m
The Board of Education will receive a briefing by staff and discuss ongoing collective bargaining negotiations and matters that relate to the negotiations.
http://montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/boe/meetings/agenda/2016/160610%20Resolution%20for%20Closed%20Session.pdf
The Board of Education will receive a briefing by staff and discuss ongoing collective bargaining negotiations and matters that relate to the negotiations.
http://montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/boe/meetings/agenda/2016/160610%20Resolution%20for%20Closed%20Session.pdf
Wednesday, June 8, 2016
Police Press Release on Arrest of BCC High School Teacher
High School Teacher Arrested for Sexual Abuse of Minors; Took Photographs of Juvenile Girls During Class
Todd Scriber, age 38, of Gaithersburg, has been arrested and
charged by Montgomery County Police – Special Victims Investigations
Division detectives with three counts of sexual abuse of a minor. At
the time of the offenses, Todd Scriber was a Montgomery County Public
School Teacher at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School (B-CC), located at
4301 East West Highway. The three female victims were Scriber’s
students. During the incidents related to these charges, Scriber took
photographs of fully-clothed female students while they were in his
classroom. Some of the photographs emphasized various areas of the
female anatomy. The photographs were taken without the victims’
permission or knowledge.
On October 5, 2015, a 14-year-old female reported to police that she was a student of Scriber’s. She stated that on October 2, she was completing an exam in his classroom after school. When the student approached Scriber to ask a question about the exam, she noticed that he was holding a cellular phone and appeared to be taking photographs underneath her skirt. She jumped back and created distance between Scriber and herself. She completed the exam and went home and told her family what had occurred. This student’s report launched an investigation.
On October 6, a detective spoke with Scriber about the incident with the 14-year-old student. Scriber agreed to allow the detective to view photographs on his cellular phone. While looking at the photographs on the phone, the investigator observed photographs of juvenile females who appeared to be in a classroom; the subject of the photographs was specific areas of the females’ bodies. Once Scriber realized that the detective was viewing those photographs, he attempted to grab the cellular phone. At that time, the detective seized the phone and obtained a search warrant to search the phone for evidence.
Montgomery County Schools cooperated fully with Montgomery County Police during the investigation. After this initial police interview with Scriber, Montgomery County Public Schools placed Scriber on leave and he is no longer employed with the school system.
Through investigation, detectives were able to identify three female students in the photos: two 17-year-olds and one 16-year-old.
Detectives obtained a warrant for Scriber’s arrest, charging him with three counts of child sexual abuse and earlier today, he turned himself in.
Anyone who believes she may have been victimized by Scriber in a similar way should call the Special Victims Investigations Division at 240-773-5400.
http://www.mymcpnews.com/2016/06/08/high-school-teacher-arrested-for-sexual-abuse-of-minors-took-photographs-of-juvenile-girls-during-class/
On October 5, 2015, a 14-year-old female reported to police that she was a student of Scriber’s. She stated that on October 2, she was completing an exam in his classroom after school. When the student approached Scriber to ask a question about the exam, she noticed that he was holding a cellular phone and appeared to be taking photographs underneath her skirt. She jumped back and created distance between Scriber and herself. She completed the exam and went home and told her family what had occurred. This student’s report launched an investigation.
On October 6, a detective spoke with Scriber about the incident with the 14-year-old student. Scriber agreed to allow the detective to view photographs on his cellular phone. While looking at the photographs on the phone, the investigator observed photographs of juvenile females who appeared to be in a classroom; the subject of the photographs was specific areas of the females’ bodies. Once Scriber realized that the detective was viewing those photographs, he attempted to grab the cellular phone. At that time, the detective seized the phone and obtained a search warrant to search the phone for evidence.
Montgomery County Schools cooperated fully with Montgomery County Police during the investigation. After this initial police interview with Scriber, Montgomery County Public Schools placed Scriber on leave and he is no longer employed with the school system.
Through investigation, detectives were able to identify three female students in the photos: two 17-year-olds and one 16-year-old.
Detectives obtained a warrant for Scriber’s arrest, charging him with three counts of child sexual abuse and earlier today, he turned himself in.
Anyone who believes she may have been victimized by Scriber in a similar way should call the Special Victims Investigations Division at 240-773-5400.
http://www.mymcpnews.com/2016/06/08/high-school-teacher-arrested-for-sexual-abuse-of-minors-took-photographs-of-juvenile-girls-during-class/
Breaking: Planning Board Staff Recommends Disapproval of 1000 Westmore Ave. as Bus Depot
On May 9, 2016, the Parents' Coalition broke the news that County Executive Ike Leggett wanted to purchase property in Rockville for use as a bus depot. Leggett wanted the review of this land acquisition by the Montgomery County Planning department to be purely administrative.
However, the full Planning Board will be taking up Leggett's plan in a public hearing on June 16, 2016, at 8:05 PM.
The Planning Board staff has just released their recommendation for Leggett's plan and their recommendation is that the Planning Board not approve the placement of a MCPS bus depot on Westmore Avenue in Rockville.
The Planning Board staff notes that Leggett's plan for this site has no specifics with regard to the number of buses that would be transferred to this site, nor did Leggett supply the Planning Board any site selection study or analysis.
However, the full Planning Board will be taking up Leggett's plan in a public hearing on June 16, 2016, at 8:05 PM.
The Planning Board staff has just released their recommendation for Leggett's plan and their recommendation is that the Planning Board not approve the placement of a MCPS bus depot on Westmore Avenue in Rockville.
The Planning Board staff notes that Leggett's plan for this site has no specifics with regard to the number of buses that would be transferred to this site, nor did Leggett supply the Planning Board any site selection study or analysis.
untold number of [MCPS] buses would head to 1000 Westmore Avenue [Rockville]
"I'd be happy to talk to anybody with private property that's available to consider as part of this process," said Ossont. “They all involve the potential for property acquisition... We've vetted many, many sites over the years. Some are public lands. Some are private.”...
http://www.thesentinel.com/mont/newsx/local/item/3615-rockville-weighs-options-on-bus-depot-relocation
Tuesday, June 7, 2016
Should developers get tax cuts as County faces "perfect storm" of development, school overcrowding?
Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row: Should developers get tax cuts as County faces "pe...: The first public discussion of two proposed massive tax cuts for developers took place before the Montgomery County Planning Board last n...
MCPS forecaster says new ES needed for Rock Spring, White Flint 2 school capacity
Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row: MCPS forecaster says new ES needed for Rock Spring...: Bruce Crispell, Director of the Division of Long Range Planning for Montgomery County Public Schools, gave his forecast last night for ho...
Principal Alan Goodwin has taken a tough stance on underage drinking, and one teenager who broke the rules will be sitting out. #graduation #mcps #mocoboe #doublestandard
“The message is out there that there will be consequences,” Goodwin said. “If they drink at prom or post-prom, they don’t walk at graduation.”
Such hard-line approaches at Montgomery County’s public schools have prompted heated debate this graduation season following the superintendent’s decision to overrule another principal who took a similar position.
Donna Redmond Jones, principal at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High, had told students for months that if they drank or used drugs on prom night they would lose their chance to participate in commencement. Jones disciplined six seniors who drank on the school’s prom night, May 6.
But as the school’s June 1 graduation day approached, interim superintendent Larry A. Bowers overturned Jones’s decision to bar them from graduation ceremonies...
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/when-should-high-school-students-be-banned-from-graduation-as-punishment/2016/06/04/c513068e-29a9-11e6-a3c4-0724e8e24f3f_story.html
Monday, June 6, 2016
Current Councilmembers Who Gave Away an Entire MCPS High School for Free: Floreen, Leventhal, Berliner, Navarro, Elrich #educationfirst #MaybeNot
 |
| Peary High School, Rockville, Maryland |
State Delegate Ben Kramer and State Senator Roger Manno were instrumental in shepherding this sweetheart deal through the Maryland Board of Public Works.
And let's not forget the person behind this deal, County Executive Ike Leggett who made sure that public school children were robbed of classrooms at a time when MCPS was using over 400 classroom trailers. The deal that County Executive Ike Leggett sealed called for the buyer to only pay for the land and get the entire public high school building (a building that was bought and paid for with your property taxes) for free.
#EducationFirst
#FooledYou
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2010
Montgomery County government will sell the former Robert E. Peary High School to the Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy despite protests from the county's Board of Education...County Council approves sale of Peary High School
Andrews opposes deal, but many in Aspen Hill say decision was appropriate
...The County Council voted 8-1 on Tuesday to allow the sale, which is expected to become official in the next several weeks.
Councilman Philip M. Andrews (D-Dist. 3) of Gaithersburg voted against the sale, saying the site in Aspen Hill could be needed for a public school in the future.
The council's decision ratifies a deal proposed by County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) to sell the 19.5-acre site in Aspen Hill for $1.9 million. It includes a provision making it possible for the county to repurchase and occupy the site five years after a judge decides the county needs it for a school.
The state's Board of Public Works, which is composed of Maryland's governor, comptroller and treasurer, must sign off on the deal...
However, Leggett's plan has drawn criticism from those who say the price is too low and from the county school board, which says the move is ill-advised given public school enrollment is growing, and large tracts of land are scarce in the downcounty area.
Those claims were disputed Tuesday by some council members who said the school system has 51 unused school buildings and no immediate need for the Hebrew Academy site.
"The school system is accustomed to having it all," said Councilman George L. Leventhal (D-At large) of Takoma Park. "The school system wants everything. It wants its cake and to eat it, too."
Council Vice President Valerie Ervin (D-Dist. 5) of Silver Spring said Monday the school system was not persuasive in making its case for the school. Ervin is expected to be sworn in as council president next week...
http://www.gazette.net/stories/12012010/rocknew220733_32534.php
...Leventhal said it was not convincing to hear school officials say they don't need the site now, but might at some unspecified date...
Sunday, June 5, 2016
Police investigate threat posted online against Paint Branch High School
Montgomery County police are investigating a threatening Tweet toward students at Paint Branch High School that was posted on social media Wednesday, police officials said.
Police received multiple 911 calls, messages on their social media sites and from Paint Branch principal Myriam Yarbrough, after the posting on Twitter about 6:39 p.m. about a threat of a violence at the school Thursday, said Capt. Paul Starks, a police spokesman. The school is in the Burtonsville area.
Police and school staff continued to investigate late Wednesday night, Starks said.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/police-investigate-threat-posted-online-against-high-school/2016/05/19/3156497e-1d74-11e6-b6e0-c53b7ef63b45_story.html
Friday, June 3, 2016
Bethesda-Chevy Chase PTSA Asks Why Other Principals Were Allowed to Exclude Students from Graduation
Bethesda-Chevy Chase PTSA Asks Why Other Principals Were Allowed to Exclude Students from Graduation: Group voted Thursday night to send letter to superintendent and school board
Mississippi Gets MCPS Brand Administrators: Carey Wright, John Q. Porter and Elton Stokes
State Board of Education trims salary of double-dipping CIO
Ten years ago, John Q. Porter told District Administration, a publication aimed at school district administrators, that he liked fine things, expensive clothes, expensive cars and that he collected Rolex watches.Thanks to a salary ($195,000 per year) as interim chief information officer for the Mississippi Department of Education that is higher than Gov. Phil Bryant’s ($122,160 per year), and several lucrative, single-source contracts totaling more than $293,000 before he was hired by the state, Porter can afford to indulge his hobbies on the taxpayers’ tab.
http://watchdog.org/266149/mississippi-education-administrator/
Thursday, June 2, 2016
2011 - Remember When: Two Montgomery council members owe back taxes
Two Montgomery County Council members owe thousands in unpaid taxes, according to Montgomery County Circuit Court records.
The records show that council President Valerie Ervin (D-Dist. 5) of Silver Spring owes $4,746.21 to Maryland in unpaid taxes, interest and fees between 2007 and 2009. The state issued a lien for the taxes May 2.
The unpaid taxes total $3,545.42, and $988 has accrued in interest. The state also has assessed a $212.35 penalty.
Records also show that Councilman Craig L. Rice (D-Dist. 2) of Germantown owes $5,717.99 to Maryland in unpaid taxes, interest and fees from 2007. A lien was issued for the full amount Oct. 6, records show...
http://www.gazette.net/stories/05252011/montnew190000_32540.php
The records show that council President Valerie Ervin (D-Dist. 5) of Silver Spring owes $4,746.21 to Maryland in unpaid taxes, interest and fees between 2007 and 2009. The state issued a lien for the taxes May 2.
The unpaid taxes total $3,545.42, and $988 has accrued in interest. The state also has assessed a $212.35 penalty.
Records also show that Councilman Craig L. Rice (D-Dist. 2) of Germantown owes $5,717.99 to Maryland in unpaid taxes, interest and fees from 2007. A lien was issued for the full amount Oct. 6, records show...
http://www.gazette.net/stories/05252011/montnew190000_32540.php
Wednesday, June 1, 2016
About 40 staff members who disagree with Bowers’ ruling held a meeting during lunch Friday to discuss the situation and potential next steps. One source said the group doesn’t have much hope Bowers will rethink the decision with graduation just a day away. On Tuesday, staff showed members their support for Jones by sending flowers to the school’s main office.
Controversy Erupts at B-CC Over Punishment of Students Who Were Allegedly Drunk at Prom: Teachers, parents unhappy after Interim Superintendent Larry Bowers overruled principal on decision to ban students from graduation ceremony
About 40 staff members who disagree with Bowers’ ruling held a meeting during lunch Friday to discuss the situation and potential next steps. One source said the group doesn’t have much hope Bowers will rethink the decision with graduation just a day away. On Tuesday, staff showed members their support for Jones by sending flowers to the school’s main office.
About 40 staff members who disagree with Bowers’ ruling held a meeting during lunch Friday to discuss the situation and potential next steps. One source said the group doesn’t have much hope Bowers will rethink the decision with graduation just a day away. On Tuesday, staff showed members their support for Jones by sending flowers to the school’s main office.
Leader of Purple Line Construction Team Makes First Public Appearance in Silver Spring
Leader of Purple Line Construction Team Makes First Public Appearance in Silver Spring:
The community meeting also served as an opportunity for state transit officials to review the plan for the station planned to be built at Wayne Avenue and Dale Drive, which would be located in front of the Silver Spring International Middle School.
The community meeting also served as an opportunity for state transit officials to review the plan for the station planned to be built at Wayne Avenue and Dale Drive, which would be located in front of the Silver Spring International Middle School.
Federal Judge Dismisses Self-storage Complaint Against Rockville Mayor and Council Zoning Rule
http://www.rockvilleview.com/federal-judge-dismisses-self-storage-complaint-against-rockville-mayor-and-council-zoning-rule/
Tuesday, May 31, 2016
MCPS Minority Students Get Opportunity To Be Inventors Through Partnership With KID Museum
Minority Students Get Opportunity To Be Inventors Through Partnership With KID Museum: 25 black and Hispanic students from Bethesda school got a hands-on STEAM education
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)