By Adam Pagnucco.
This question is two-fold. First, I asked the incumbents to describe their achievements in office. Second, I asked the challengers to describe what they would do differently than the incumbents. Since I first asked this question during the primary, District 2 incumbent Rebecca Smondrowski lost her reelection bid, but I am still printing the answers of the surviving challengers.
Question for incumbents only: Please describe your achievements on the board.
Lynne Harris, At-Large (Incumbent): I analyze every consent agenda item, pulling all that don’t provide enough information for me to cast an informed vote. The ongoing result – change in MCPS practice to add information so the public can see how fiscal resources are being used to meet system needs.
As Chair of Fiscal Management I created a standing agenda item for Sustainability, highlighting MCPS work to become a Net Zero system, paving the way for our aggressive new Sustainability Policy, creation of the Student Climate Action Council, and partnership between MCPS and county agencies to meet MoCo’s Climate Action Plan goals.
Continuously support work creating inclusive, affirming classrooms, to ensure the anti-Racist action plan addresses bigotry of every type. I push MCPS to incorporate the lived experience of students, staff and community to improve the operations of MCPS from the user perspective.
I’m focused on reform and professionalization of the Office of Human Resources and Development and Department of Compliance and Investigation, including benchmarking to industry norms and evidence-based best practices, routine monitoring and tracking of investigations shared with the OIG and public, standardization of investigatory practices, expectations for efficiency and fidelity, and hiring qualified professionals in key areas of OHRD/CDCI work. That’s started.
Shebra Evans, District 4 (Incumbent): The National School Board Association (NSBA) awarded MCPS the 2020 Magna Award for innovation in education for the Equity Accountability Model. As president on the board, I was proud of the work being done to disaggregate the data and unmask the disparities that existed for Black/African American; Latino/Hispanic students impacted by poverty and all other students impacted by poverty having varying performance, depending on the school. Gaps in education come into sharper focus through the model. As chair of the Maryland Association for Boards of Education (MABE) Educational Equity committee, I led the committee in developing a governance workbook. It guides any school board in any state on how to lead their district with equity as a focus. Many policies but the one focused on food and nutrition services was important because it addressed child hunger by providing more meal options. Universal screening is allowing more students in elementary and middle school to access enriched and accelerated programming. Expanding prekindergarten is one of my priorities and since 2017 MCPS has been able to add hundreds of full day pre-K seats every year. Regional International Baccalaureate programs have been added at three high schools. Offering two-way immersion programs, no fees for college courses and AP and IB exams, dual enrollment, and more.
Question for non-incumbents only: Tell us something you would do differently than the incumbent against whom you are running.
Rita Montoya, At-Large (running against Lynne Harris): I will listen to students and educators when they tell me they are unsafe and I will take action. I will also hold myself and my colleagues accountable and treat problems with the level of seriousness they deserve.
Brenda Diaz, District 2 (running against defeated incumbent Rebecca Smondrowski): Ms. Rebecca Smondrowski’s actions on the Board don’t align with her platform. While advocating for collaboration, her decisions suggest otherwise. I pledge to reinvigorate the teacher-parent partnership by respecting parental input, attending PTA meetings, and adjusting BOE meeting times to accommodate parents. I’ll also extend public comment time to three minutes for better community engagement. Unlike Smondrowski, who supported virtual learning and sports cancellation through her vote, I’ll be courageous enough to prioritize children’s best interests. To decrease class sizes, I’ll redirect Central Office staff to schools, ensuring resource allocation aligns with student needs. My approach emphasizes real proactive leadership based on actual community engagement, accountability, and prioritizing student success.
Natalie Zimmerman, District 2 (running against defeated incumbent Rebecca Smondrowski): I would advocate for full funding of the budget that our kids need in order to be successful. I would not be afraid to go to the County Council and ask for the capital needed for educators and students. As a teacher in multiple Title I Community Schools, I have seen firsthand how our children are negatively affected by the lack of resources afforded to them. Our system cannot continually function at the expense of our children and their futures.
Laura Stewart, District 4 (running against Shebra Evans: I will be a champion of transparency and open data while on the board. After reading the Office of Inspector General reports, I decided to run for my district seat. I did not see the level of oversight from the incumbent that is needed over MCPS, an organization which is entrusted with spending over three billion in the operating budget and about two billion in the CIP. No other entity can effectively do that oversight. If there were rumors “swirling around” as described by an employee in MCPS, I would insist that those rumors be followed up upon to ensure that they are indeed only rumors. Any anonymous allegation sent to my inbox will be taken seriously, and treated as information to be followed up upon by a fair process.
I will also present resolutions if I do not see the Superintendent moving towards more transparency or the priorities set forth by the BOE. The Board must at times be willing to direct the Superintendent. I would have also taken the no-confidence votes by our union partners as important information and would have worked with them to settle the issues that caused such a vote.
Next: opt outs for parents.
Prior questions: boundary review, grading policy, electric bus contract, MCPS’s biggest problem, experience with budgets.