Fw: Another choice study meeting

[Shuhong Li]

The following message is from Vivian Lam, a previous Travilah parent. Today is the primary election day. The information might be helpful when you vote for BOE (Board of Education).

Happy voting!

Shuhong Li

On Tuesday, April 26, 2016 8:36 AM, Tony Lam <tony...@verizon.net> wrote:

Dear All,

There is another meeting about the Choice study. Please see below. Please note that Phil Kauffman is the only candidate in the BOE who opposes the Choice Study. Please vote for him ONLY, and spread the word. Thanks!

 

Best,

Vivian

 

“Do you have an opinion about the Choice Study that you'd like MCPS and the Board of Education to hear?  

Did you go to a community meeting and find that the "facilitated questions" didn't address your concerns?  

Would you like to talk to other parents and advocates who share your concerns?  

 

Many parents have strong feelings about the findings and recommendations in the Metis Associates report on MCPS's Choice and Special Programs, and have been unhappy with the format and content of the MCPS community feedback meetings.  In response to these concerns, I have scheduled a parents-only meeting to hear parent concerns about the findings and recommendations, and discuss strategies for advocacy around those concerns.  MCPS administrators will not participate, it'll be just us.  

 

When:  Monday, May 2, 7-9 pm

Where:  Carver Auditorium, 850 Hungerford Drive.

 

The goal of this meeting is make sure that MCPS and the BOE hears the full spectrum of parent and stakeholder ideas and opinions, not just those being "facilitated" at the community dialogue meetings.  Past experience has taught us that a chorus of voices is more likely to be heard than a handful of soloists -- so come make your voice heard.  

 

MCPS will hold its final community dialogue meeting on May 5, 7-8:30, at Walter Johnson High School.  Parents and stakeholders can also give written feedback on the MCPS Choice Study website:

http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/info/choice/report.aspx

 

I know this is short notice, but the issues are important and many of you have contacted me with thoughts and ideas that need a wider audience.  I think GTA needs to take a leading role in this conversation, because a lot of the key conversations within MCPS and with the new superintendent will take place over the summer when the PTA is dormant.  

 

I look forward to seeing as many of you as can come.

 

thank you,

Michelle”

 

 

 

From: Tony Lam [mailto:tony...@verizon.net]
Sent: Friday, April 22, 2016 11:09 AM
Subject: FW from Clemente H G Center listserv

 

Hi All,

 

Some of you have asked this question here and discussed anout BOE candidate options. I have had the chance to listen to Phil Kauffman and believed he was for GT education. I just discussed the candidates (to validate my thoughts) with two very vocal GT parent advocates (long standing leaders in the forefront of Montgomery County GT education) and they both believe Phil is the candidate who has supported GT education. 

 

In addition one of them believes Johns Sebastian likes the Metis recommendation to start using "non-cognitive" criteria to boost minority participation in the GT magnet programs. That is consistent with the position taken by Chris Barclay, who is probably the most hostile-to-GT BOE member. While I do not know much about Sebastian, know Chris Barclay's view well (have personally spoken with him) and agree that he is pretty much against any GT/magnet education. 

 

So, in case you are weighing the options just wanted to let you know.

 

Thanks,

Rajashree