Don’t forget to set your clocks forward this weekend--many devices may need some extra help this year.

Spring forward...Fall back....

It's ingrained in our consciousness almost as much as the A_B_Cs or our spelling reminder of "i before e...." And it's a regular event, though perhaps a bit less regular than the swallows coming back to Capistrano. Yet in those four words is a whole collection of trivia, facts and common sense about Daylight Saving Time. In 2005 and 2006, Daylight Saving Time begins for most of the United States at 2 a.m. on the first Sunday of April. (See chart below.) Time reverts to standard time at 2 a.m. on the last Sunday of October. Beginning in 2007, Daylight Saving Time is extended one month and begins for most of the United States at:

2 a.m. on the Second Sunday in March to

2 a.m. on the First Sunday of November.

The new starts and stop dates were set in the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

Daylight Saving Time _ for the U.S. and its territories _ is NOT observed in Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and by most of Arizona (with the exception of the Navajo Indian Reservation in Arizona). Indiana, which used to be split with a portion of the state observing DST and the other half not, is now whole. In the past, counties in the Eastern Time Zone portion of the state did not observe DST. They were on standard time year round. A state law was passed in 2005 that has the entire state of Indiana observing DST beginning in April 2006. Indiana isn't the only state that wanted to change daylight saving time. California asked for federal "approval" to move to a "year_round" Daylight Saving Time in 2001_2002 because of its energy crisis. (See below.)

According to Mining Co. Guide to Geography, DST is also observed in about 70 countries: "Other parts of the world observe Daylight Saving Time as well. While European nations have been taking advantage of the time change for decades, in 1996 the European Union (EU) standardized a EU_wide "summertime period." The EU version of Daylight Saving Time runs from the last Sunday in March through the last Sunday in October. During the summer, Russia's clocks are two hours ahead of standard time. During the winter, all 11 of the Russian time zones are an hour ahead of standard time. During the summer months, Russian clocks are advanced another hour ahead. With their high latitude, the two hours of Daylight Saving Time really helps to save daylight. In the southern hemisphere where summer comes in December, Daylight Saving Time is observed from October to March. Equatorial and tropical countries (lower latitudes) don't observe Daylight Saving Time since the daylight hours are similar during every season, so there's no advantage to moving clocks forward during the summer."

http://www.energy.ca.gov/daylightsaving.html

 

The University of Maryland holds it's annual Shakespeare Fest this Saturday, March 10 in the Art/Sociology building on the College Park campus. Part of the "Shakespeare in Washington" celebration, this year's Shakespeare Fest includes acting/directing workshops, stage combat, choreography, music, and a performance of scenes from The Tempest, performed by the students of DuVal High School in Lanham. Shakespeare Fest runs from 8: a.m. until 5 p.m. Parking is free. There is a registration fee for attendees _ see website. For more information call 301_405_6830, email to: crbs@umd.edu or go online to: http://www.crbs. umd.edu/shakespe are/index. html

azette: Open forum at WMCCA meeting

Community residents have the floor at an open forum hosted by the West Montgomery County Citizens Association at 8 p.m. on March 14 at the Potomac Library, 10101 Glenolden Drive, Potomac. The association deals with issues of growth, development and the environment that impact the quality of life in the Potomac area.

 

wants to talk with you FREE AND OPEN TO ALL Come out and speak to Ike

about your concerns and ideas. THURSDAY, March 22, 2007 7:30 p.m. Ritchie Park Elementary School 1514 Dunster Road, Rockville, MD

The meeting will be videotaped by County Cable 6 for future airing on the channel.

 

MCPS: Finalists Selected for Student Board Member March 5, 2007

Two finalists for Student Member of the Board of Education were chosen on March 1.

Will Bucher, a junior at Montgomery Blair High School, and Ben Moskowitz, a junior at Walter Johnson High School, were selected by 411 representatives from middle and high schools who attended the Student Member of the Board nominating convention. The finalists were chosen from a field of three candidates at the convention, held at James Hubert Blake High School. On April 25, all Montgomery County Public Schools secondary students will have the opportunity to vote for one of the two candidates to serve as their 30th student representative on the Board. The current student Board member, Sarah Horvitz, is a senior at Springbrook High School. Her term expires June 30, 2007.

[Editor’s note: All secondary students will vote for one of the finalists on April 25]

For the second annual Greek Day celebration at Lakelands Park MS students dressed in Greek chitons and participated in Greek_themed activities such as an Olympic ceremony in their social studies classes. A highlight was a Greek catered lunch.

Family connections spark Md. debate, Dena Levitz, The Examiner, Mar 6, 2007

Montgomery County _ The director of the Montgomery County department charged with independently reviewing the public school system’s finances is the sister_in_law of the school district’s budget manager, according to inquiries by The Examiner. Karen Orlansky, director of the county’s Office of Legislative Oversight, is related through marriage to Marshall Spatz, Montgomery County Public Schools’ director of Management, Budget and Planning, officials confirmed Monday. It’s an ironic situation that County Council spokesman Neil Greenberger said is well_known to most members of local government.

But a number of community members and activists expressed outrage at what they say is a clear_cut conflict of interest. They said they had no idea the relationship existed. Their concerns come at a time when the OLO has released the start of what will be many financial audits of the school system. "As director of OLO, providing oversight to the council on a $2 billion school budget, Ms. Orlansky had an ethical duty to state for the record that Marshall Spatz is her brother_in_law [but she hasn’t]," Neighbors for a Better Montgomery Executive Director Drew Powell said. "Who oversees ‘Oversight?’ "

Greenberger, however, countered that the family ties between the two high_ranking county employees have been fully disclosed for years. "It’s something that’s never been a secret," he said, adding that it’s so accepted council members have joked about the link. In a written statement to The Examiner, Orlansky said, "I have worked for the Office of Legislative Oversight since 1986 and been director for more than a decade. I have been married to Marshall Spatz’s brother for almost 25 years. Our family connection is well known to the council and to those I work with at MCPS; we both respect the professional roles and responsibilities that come with our jobs."

How good of a job Orlansky has done in letting the public know about her personal connection to the head of an agency she’s supposed to scrutinize is much worse, according to special education advocates Bob and Lyda Astrove. "We’ve been following the school budget for a decade and never knew about this," Bob Astrove said. "Regardless of whether there’s an issue [with the county code] it takes nothing to make sure this is out there ... Largely, the OLO reports take what the school system has to say and regurgitates [it.] That concerns me."

Leggett wants to add new non_merit positions, Council meets Thursday this week so members can attend a conference in Washington, Janel Davis, Gazette, March 7, 2007

The County Council’s weekly legislative session will be held Thursday, two days later than its usual meeting, to allow council members to attend a National Association of Counties conference in Washington. Thursday’s shortened session, beginning at 1:30 p.m., will include an introduction of legislation allowing County Executive Isiah Leggett to change about 14 administrators from merit to non_merit positions. Non_merit employees are appointed and may be dismissed by the county executive, but must be confirmed by the County Council. In a Feb. 22 memo sent to council President Marilyn J. Praisner (D_Dist. 4) of Calverton, Leggett said the positions are necessary to allow for ‘‘uniformity and consistency" in county government. ‘‘I believe that the County Executive needs flexibility in filling senior level positions in the Executive Branch to create a cohesive and efficient management team," Leggett (D) said in the memo.

The positions include assistant chief administrative officers; director of Go! Montgomery in the Department of Public Works and Transportation; executive directors of the Commission for Women, Office of Human Rights and Office of Consumer Protection; five Regional Service Center directors; the chief technology officer in the Department of Technology Services; and the director of the Criminal Justice Coordinating Commission. A public hearing on the legislation is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. March 27. The council returns to its regular Tuesday sessions next week at 9:45 a.m.

Fire service difficulties

County Fire Chief Thomas W. Carr Jr. told the council’s Public Safety Committee that four more fire stations are needed in the upcounty. Carr’s assessment was part of the committee’s discussion on Monday of a legislative report that found that the Fire and Rescue Services was not meeting response times and almost doubled its spending on overtime last year. Many of the response problems and overtime expenses stem from stretched personnel: There are not enough volunteers to cover daytime shifts and not enough paramedics, Carr said. Paramedics are hard to retain, he said, because ‘‘they know they will be placed on the medic unit and not have an opportunity to get on a fire truck." To address some of the problems, the department is revising its data management system to track personnel needs and costs. Additional issues, such as more fire stations and additional resources, require County Council approval. ‘‘The sky is not falling, and the public is not at risk ... but things could get to the point where we are seeing problems meeting needs," Carr said. ‘‘The beginnings of that are being shown in the slower response times."

Environmental forum set

Councilman Roger Berliner (D_Dist. 1) of Potomac will host an environmental forum next week focusing on ‘‘The Response of the County Government to Global Warming."

The forum, scheduled for March 14 in the County Council Office in Rockville, will include four panel discussions on energy use in buildings, fuel use in transportation, land use and trees and the importance of a local response to global warming. The discussions will feature experts, county planners and environmentalists. ‘‘This forum will explore [environmental] possibilities and lay the foundation for future legislative action by the County Council that will ensure that Montgomery County maintains its rightful role as a leader on behalf of our environment," said Berliner, an environmental lawyer.

Last year the council passed stricter environmentally friendly building standards for new developments and began offering incentives to residents using wind energy. The forum will be broadcast live at 2:30 p.m. on County Cable Montgomery, cable channel 6. Call 240_777_7962.

Democrats rally

All nine of the County Council members attended Sunday’s Democratic Brunch at the county’s conference center in North Bethesda. Gov. Martin O’Malley (D), keynote speaker for the annual event, rattled off a self_described litany of initiatives proposed by his administration, including $400 million for public school construction, reforms in the correctional system and better government reporting systems. He also praised the county’s party leadership and organization, with special thanks for county Chairwoman Karen Britto. U.S. Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin (D) of Baltimore echoed the governor’s comments. ‘‘I would not be a senator without the voters of Montgomery County," he said. Then turning to Leggett, Cardin said, ‘‘Give me your [needs] list!" An unscientific presidential straw poll taken at the brunch gave U.S. Sen. Barack H. Obama (D_Ill.) the edge over U.S. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D_N.Y.). Rounding out the top four were former North Carolina senator John Edwards and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson.

Coming up

*Councilwoman Valerie Ervin (D_Dist. 5) of Silver Spring hosts a meet and greet at 7 tonight in Viers Mill Elementary School at 11711 Joseph Mill Road in Silver Spring. RSVP to 240_777_7822.

*The county Department of Health and Human Services will host a budget briefing for its recommended operating budget at 6 p.m. March 19 in the Children’s Resource Center at 332 West Edmonston Drive in Rockville. Call 240_777_1211.

No plans to change curriculum, Weast says, State superintendent Grasmick wants to extend deadline for certain students to take and pass HSAs, Marcus Moore, Gazette, March 7, 2007

The county school system will not adjust its curriculum, even though state schools Superintendent Nancy S. Grasmick wants to give special_education and limited_English students more time to pass the High School Assessment tests required for graduation.

Under her proposal, those students would have until 2011 to pass modified versions of four assessments tests in biology, algebra, English and government.

The state school board will vote on the proposal in August after it reviews scores from the round of HSAs to be given in April. Under the federal No Child Left Behind law, all students, beginning with the Class of 2009 — this year’s sophomores — have to pass all four tests to earn a high school diploma. The tests are based on regular classroom curriculum. Grasmick does not want to push back the deadline for all students in regular classrooms, but said that special_education and limited_English students have not had the same exposure to the curriculum. ‘‘We have to be realistic," Grasmick told the state school board during a meeting in Baltimore last week. ‘‘When we look at the exposure of these students to a regular curriculum, that exposure has been diminished over the years. Think about a slower phase_in opportunity for these students. That just makes sense." Students have as many as three chances a year to pass the tests. According to the state, 71.5 percent of students scheduled to graduate in 2009 had already passed the algebra test by the end of last school year. Seventy_nine percent had already the biology test, and 77.8 percent have passed the government test.

Superintendent Jerry D. Weast declined comment to comment on Grasmick’s recommendation, but during the county school board’s Feb. 26 meeting, Weast said he received a letter from Grasmick about the proposal. Montgomery County Public Schools would proceed with the current lessons and not ‘‘dumb down" the curriculum, Weast told the board. ‘‘We’re still proceeding ahead with our plan to help every student be prepared for [the HSAs]," said Weast spokesman Brian K. Edwards. ‘‘We’re not adjusting those plans at all based on Dr. Grasmick’s comments last week." The state may develop comparable assessments for students unable to pass the regular tests. The tests are still in the planning stages, according to the state Department of Education’s Web site.

 

Awareness week puts focus on eating disorders, Silver Spring author urges greater attention for children inside and outside area schools, by Kristina Gawrgy, Gazette Staff Writer, March 7, 2007

Education about eating disorders should not be limited to health classes, said a Silver Spring author who is concerned that younger children need early intervention to ensure healthy living. On the heels of National Eating Disorders Week, Merle Cantor Goldberg, a Silver Spring author, social worker and a specialist in eating disorders, said she has seen a growing problem in Montgomery County with eating disorders that affect between 5 million and 10 million Americans. ‘‘Our county is very affluent, very upward_mobile, very appearance_conscious, and eating disorders are going off the charts," she said. Goldberg has co_authored two books about eating disorders, including the most recent, ‘‘My Thin Excuse: Understanding, Recognizing, and Overcoming Eating Disorders."

The national awareness week, Feb. 25 to March 3, marked the 20th year of education, observance and focus on anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. People suffering from anorexia nervosa starve themselves and suffer from excessive weight loss, while those suffering from bulimia nervosa binge on food before purging, often using laxatives or over_exercise to get rid of food and calories more quickly. Goldberg said parents, educators, pediatricians and the media need to work together to combat the diseases. She said the influences on diet and ideas of self_perception start at home. ‘‘Kids grow up seeing their mother exercising and being very concerned with their appearance [become more] preoccupied with weight," Goldberg said. Susan Soulé, a health teacher at John F. Kennedy High School in Silver Spring, said that the most engaging conversation in the classroom relates to the topic of eating disorders. ‘‘With some classes you can get the conversation to where [the students are asking], ‘What is it about girls that feel that they have to be perfect?’ or ‘What are comments made in society among males?’" Soulé said. ‘‘The key thing about eating disorders is that we are very much aware that this is in the public eye now." Soulé said that students have even offered themselves as examples in classrooms of those who have suffered from the disease. That approach often helps others feel a connection to it.

Conversations involving the illnesses are slightly less specific and personal in middle school, but eating disorders are covered in grades 6 through 8. Julie Benner, a health teacher at Sligo Middle School in Silver Spring, said students in middle school learn the basics including the definitions, symptoms and health problems associated with eating disorders. ‘‘With our health curriculum, we have a very full plate and we’d love to give it more attention, but we’re tight with our time," Benner said. She said students were getting just the right amount of information and resources to get help for themselves or their friends. Despite time constraints, Goldberg said that she would like more time spent on the topic in schools. She said many of the National Eating Disorders Week events involved college campuses, when the discussion should begin at the end of elementary school. ‘‘Every school should have a program, not just in their health classes, because they have great health teachers, but that may not be their specialty area," she said.

However, Michelle Turner, a Wheaton parent of six children who have gone through the Montgomery County Public Schools system and taken the health classes, said the schools can only do so much. ‘‘School have so much that they are expected to do — trying to get kids to pass state tests, local tests, be ready to apply for college," Turner said. ‘‘How much more can schools be expected to do? There has got to be more coming from the home. The parent, who is seeing the daughter every day, ought to be noticing that their child is losing too much weight or getting too thin." Overall, she said she thought Montgomery County was doing all it could to address the topic in the classroom. ‘‘I know in the health classes that this has been covered and from what I’ve heard from my kids, it’s been a relatively good presentation," she said.

Pilot Sex Education Program Launched in Montgomery County , newchannel8.com

Wednesday March 07, 2007 9:34am

SILVER SPRING, Md. (AP) _ Montgomery County teachers have started including material on sexual orientation in middle school health classes. About 60 students at Argyle Middle School in Silver Spring are among the first students in the county to be introduced to material included in a pilot sex education program. Plans call for inclusion of the material in lesson plans being introduced this month at six schools in the county.

Students are attending the sessions with parental consent. The lesson plans look at issues including tolerance, stereotyping and harassment. Plans call for inclusion of the material in class discussions for eighth and tenth graders. Opponents of the curricula asked the State Board of Education to block field testing of the material. They contend county educators have sped up the tests to avoid legal challenges

MCPS: State Rules in Favor of MCPS in Health Ed Case March 7, 2007

State Superintendent Nancy Grasmick Rules in Favor of Montgomery County Public Schools in Challenge to Health Education Lessons

ROCKVILLE, MD – State Superintendent of Schools Nancy Grasmick ruled in favor of Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Wednesday in a challenge brought by opponents of the revised health education lessons in eighth and tenth grades. The ruling clears the way for field tests of the lessons to proceed at three middle schools and three high schools this month. Citizens for a Responsible Curriculum, Parents and Friends of Ex_Gays and Gays, and Family Leader Network asked Dr. Grasmick to halt the field tests of two eighth grade lessons and three tenth grade lessons last month in an appeal to the Maryland State Board of Education. "It is clear from Dr. Grasmick’s ruling that she believes there is significant educational value in proceeding with field tests of lessons that promote respect and tolerance for all people regardless of their sexual orientation," said Jerry D. Weast, superintendent of schools. "She was not persuaded by the opponents’ arguments that students would be harmed if MCPS proceeded with the field test by pointing out that participation in the lessons is entirely voluntary."

Dr. Grasmick wrote in her ruling, "I have concluded that, because participation in these classes is entirely voluntary, the harm to those students that the Appellants want to protect is virtually non_existent." In addition, Dr. Grasmick found that it was in the public interest to field test the lessons designed in part to reduce bullying and harassment based on sexual orientation. She noted that the Maryland General Assembly in 2005 directed school systems to report incidents of harassment, calling it a serious problem in our schools today. After an extensive and thorough preparation process and a detailed review by the Citizens Advisory Committee on Family Life and Human Development, the health education curriculum revisions were approved for field testing by the Montgomery County Board of Education January 9. The six schools participating in the field test are Bethesda_Chevy Chase High School, Sherwood High School, Watkins Mill High School, Argyle Middle School, Julius West Middle School and Westland Middle School.

For students to participate in the lessons, parents must provide informed written consent in advance. Students who do not have parental consent participate in alternative lessons on different health topics. Parents of all health students in the six field test schools were invited to parent meetings to review the lessons in advance. The eighth and tenth grade lessons comprises two 45_minute sessions in each grade on respecting differences in human sexuality. The purpose of the curriculum is to promote tolerance, empathy and respect for all people regardless of sexual orientation. The curriculum also defines terms related to sexual orientation. In addition, the tenth grade curriculum includes one 45_minute lesson and one video detailing the correct usage of a condom. The purpose of the condom demonstration lesson is to show proper application of a condom and to instill the importance of using a condom correctly and consistently to reduce the risk of unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS. The condom demonstration lesson emphasizes that abstinence is the only 100 percent effective method of preventing sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy. Once the field tests are complete, staff will review feedback from principals, teachers, students and parents and adjust the lessons if necessary. The Board will review any

Radio station up and running at RHS, by Melissa J. Brachfeld, Gazette Staff Writer, March 7, 2007

Dubbed WRAM radio — the school mascot is the Ram — the station was launched Monday morning and will be broadcast on the school’s in_house TV station, channel 36.

The station features a top_40 radio music format and includes on_air appearances from student and teacher disc jockeys.

Timothy Hibberd, who teaches yearbook and TV production, is co_teaching the school’s first radio course with media services technician Gregory Byrd, who also serves as WRAM’s station manager. Hibberd said the radio course is a part of the school’s Journalism Academy and is the pilot for Montgomery County Public Schools’ radio curriculum. ‘‘In the fall, it was more of a theory class," he said. ‘‘We piloted a radio curriculum for MCPS and then next year, we’ll pilot the Radio 2 curriculum." Hibberd explained that eventually there would be four radio courses that make up the curriculum. ‘‘We’re a formal pathway now for radio," he said. ‘‘So there are four courses kids can take and they leave with some distinction because they went through a formal program. Every school has certain pathways; we are now the radio pathway." Hibberd said the idea came about last year when he and fellow teacher Peter Daddone, who is the adviser for the student newspaper The Rampage, were trying to figure out how they could add to the school’s already successful journalism program. ‘‘Last year in the spring, we were talking about forming a Journalism Academy and said, ‘Well, where do you find news,’" he said. ‘‘And we have TV down the hall and we have The Rampage — Time Magazine voted it best [high school student] newspaper in the country a while ago — so we were like, ‘Well, that’s great. Let’s build on that success.’

‘Well, then we thought of radio because we have radio news, so why not a radio station? So then we just started knocking ideas around," he added. Hibberd said it was not until Byrd, who earned a college degree in radio and has worked at several area radio stations, got involved that the idea really took off.

The school’s first radio course, Hibberd said, is composed of 30 students. The class is divided into three sections, which include on_air talent, a promotions and sales team, and engineers. He said when students walked into his classroom Monday morning they did not realize that their radio station was playing on the TV. When he told them, Hibberd said they cheered and clapped. As far as on_air talent goes, Hibberd said he and Byrd have worked with the 10 or 11 student disc jockeys to prepare them for their broadcasts, which included how to put together a show as well as vocalization training.

Hibberd said he has also warned the students about how they should conduct themselves during their radio spots. He said he would like WRAM to eventually become an Internet radio station — where the site could feature additional content and downloadable podcasts of teachers’ lectures — but for that to occur they would have to receive MCPS approval. Right now, he said, the school system seems to have some reservations regarding that possibility, perhaps thinking a student will go on the air and slander someone or use profanity. ‘‘I don’t really anticipate that happening [because] we hammered it into their heads all year, you know, the first kid that says something that you can’t, [and] we could be shut down right away," Hibberd said. ‘‘I anticipate there will be a mistake made, again they’re 15, 16 and 17 year old kids, something could slip," he added. ‘‘I don’t anticipate that someone is plotting to say something at some point just to get away with it. Soon we’ll have the technology for the delay and then we’ll have a point where if some kid slips with something, you just won’t hear it — you’ll just hear nothing — and then the sound will come back in."

He said he also believes the school system is concerned about the station being broadcast on the Internet because it could pose a potential security hazard. After doing some research, he said he knows other high schools across the country already have Internet radio stations up and running. ‘‘That’s why I’m surprised," Hibberd said. ‘‘MCPS usually isn’t behind on anything; usually they’re ahead of the curve on anything education_related." He added that Northwood High School in Silver Spring already operates a radio station, which serves as an extracurricular activity. After communicating with faculty there, Hibberd said he learned that they are also awaiting MCPS approval to broadcast on the Internet. Rockville High School Principal Debra Munk said she understands some of the school system’s apprehension. ‘‘It’s virgin territory for MCPS," she said. Still, she added, she is proud of Hibberd, Byrd and the students. ‘‘It’s a very important component in our Journalism Academy and I think it will be a phenomenal experience for the kids and fairly unique ... there’s not a lot of places where they can do this," she said.

The Gazette attempted to reach MCPS officials for comment, but calls and e_mails were not returned by press time. In the meantime, Hibberd said he and Byrd will continue to work with students to perfect the station’s format. ‘‘I’m hoping that once this thing gets going, that pride kind of spills out of the radio classroom and into the school community, where we have the principal discussing certain issues, the booster club in here talking about events coming up — I think everyone will get a real kick out of it," Hibberd said. ‘‘People could use it in a thousand different ways and we’re hope that they come to us to get their message out." With Byrd’s numerous radio contacts, he said they are also hoping to provide students with radio internships or even have professionals from the industry come in and work with students. Byrd, who works with the station’s equipment and is in charge of the schedule, said he has been working with both the student engineers and the on_air talent. ‘‘I’m kind of like the real_world experience for them," he said Despite first_day jitters and a few small technical problems, he said, he felt they were off to a good start. ‘‘We’re still running through our test phase now, but the kids are picking up real quick, they’re really paying attention and staying with it," he added. ‘‘It’s been a good first day."

Officials: Arson Possible In Montgomery County Car Fires, Fire, Police Seek Public's Help, March 6, 2007, nbc4.com

ROCKVILLE, Md. __ Authorities said Tuesday that arson is likely the cause of a string of early_morning car fires in Montgomery County. Officials said that at about 1:45 a.m. units from the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service responded to intersection of Atlantic Avenue and Denfield Road in Rockville for the report of a car on fire.

Firefighters said they arrived to find the engine compartment of minivan on fire with some extension into the passenger area. A short time later, at about 2:30 a.m., fire and rescue units were called to the 15600 Indianola Drive, in the Rockville area, for a car fire. Authorities were then called to the 500 block of Victory Farm Road, in Gaithersburg at about 2:45 a.m. for a car on fire. Additional firefighters were called just before 4 a.m. to the 13600 block of Cherrydale Drive, in the Lakewood Estates neighborhood of North Potomac for a car fire.

Investigators said they believe all the incidents may be related because they occurred within a few miles of each other in a relatively short period of time. Authorities said the fires also share several similarities, including that most of the vehicles were parked curbside and near an intersection, and are suspicious in nature. The fires, officials said, involved the engine compartments and extended into the passenger areas of the vehicles involved. Total damage is estimated to be at least $40,000. The incidents remain under investigation.

Police, local group work to prevent prom drinking, Dena Levitz, The Examiner

Mar 5, 2007

Montgomery County _ With a month to go before the start of prom season, members of Montgomery County law enforcement are trying to get hotel owners and limousine companies on their side in curbing teen drinking. Starting today, officials will hold training sessions to teach the two sectors how to recognize intoxicated high schoolers, as well as try to persuade them to enact business practices discouraging underage alcohol consumption. In return, the participating companies get a certificate of completion and are added to a list of recommended businesses that’s then distributed through the school system. Meg Baker, program coordinator of the local group Drawing The Line On Under_21 Alcohol Use, said it will be the fourth year the limo companies are being targeted, while it’s the first year for hotels. "A few years ago some folks were asking if we had any kind of list of companies that maintained zero tolerance for teen drinking," she said, of the original idea. "From some comments like that we got to thinking, ‘Maybe we should reach out to this industry.’ "

During the two_hour training for limousine companies, county police and state’s attorney’s representatives teach chauffeurs what to do if their prom_going clients drink alcohol. Baker said the goal also is to try to spur the companies to devise service rules that make it much more difficult for high schoolers to engage in illegal behavior. For example, they’re encouraged to have chauffeurs keep the privacy window open at all times, book the reservation only with an adult they can contact if there’s a problem on the night of the event and to immediately drive the teenagers home if they begin consuming alcohol. Similarly, hotel owners’ training is geared toward encouraging the management staff to take action when they witness underage drinking. "Some people just close their eyes and ears to this problem," she said. "But [the training] empowers these companies. And it’s a great way for them to support each other."

Scholarships for private school target of tax credit, Teachers union calls bill ‘backdoor approach’ to vouchers, by Sean R. Sedam, Gazette Staff Writer, March 7, 2007

ANNAPOLIS — A bill that would give tax credits to organizations that provide scholarships for private school teachers or students has broad support, but backers concede it could have a tough time winning passage this session.

The state teachers union, which has remained relatively quiet this session, is opposing the bill as a ‘‘backdoor approach to providing vouchers" to private school students.

Vouchers are subsidies that families can apply to tuition at a school of their choice. Supports say they contribute to more choice and accountability in education; opponents say they take money away from public schools. ‘‘This is a thinly veiled voucher program designed to offer tax credits to large businesses who subsidize student tuition at private and religious schools," Amy Maloney, a union lobbyist, said on the union’s Web site. ‘‘This tax credit will rob public school students of funding they deserve and need." ‘‘It’s not a voucher program," said Senate Majority Whip James E. DeGrange Sr., lead sponsor of the Senate bill. ‘‘It’s a tax credit system."

The Building Opportunities for All Students and Teachers (BOAST) in Maryland Tax Credit bill would give a tax credit for 75 percent of the contribution a business or nonprofit makes to scholarships for private school teachers or students. Private school teachers could use the scholarships for certification programs or graduate studies. The credit would be available for contributions to ‘‘innovative educational programs" outside the regular academic program of a public school. ‘‘What we really got to look at is education," said DeGrange (D_Dist. 32) of Glen Burnie. ‘‘Maybe there’s some opportunity for scholarships to public school kids to go to a private school. It’s all about education." ‘‘It’s a reverse voucher plan," said Sen. Richard S. Madaleno Jr. (D_Dist. 18) of Kensington, who opposes the bill. ‘‘Do we have a responsibility as a state to provide assistance to private schools? ... That’s a conversation that has to take place."

The conversation should not be that the bill takes money away from public schools, Madaleno said. But it could raise a number of questions for state education funding.

‘‘What happens if we are starting to give public support to private schools?" he asked. ‘‘What rules do they have to follow? The public schools open their doors to everybody. ... If [private schools] get support, do they take on any more responsibility? What about a religious school whose teachings offend the sensibilities of the majority?" Catholic schools are some of the bill’s biggest proponents. ‘‘The greatest concern for us is to be able to continue to do what we’ve been doing for more than two centuries and that is to educate children from lower middle_class families," said Mary Ellen Russell, deputy director of the Maryland Catholic Conference. ‘‘So any way we can increase scholarships for those families is important to us." Sen. Patrick J. Hogan (D_Dist. 39) of Montgomery Village called the bill ‘‘a great program to get the business community financially involved in K_12 education."

Only private schools with tuition rates at or below the per_pupil spending rate of public schools would be eligible to receive contributions under the bill. ‘‘It’s not for the Georgetown Preps and Holton Arms and places like that where tuition far exceeds the per_pupil expenditure in public schools," Hogan said. ‘‘I believe this is the best thing for our children, wherever they go to school," said Del. James E. Proctor Jr. (D_Dist. 27A) of Brandywine, the bill’s lead sponsor in the House. Proctor, a retired middle school principal and teachers union member, said he is pushing the bill so that private schools can have quality teachers. Legislative analysts estimate that the bill could take $20.7 million from the general fund and $2.8 million annually from the transportation trust fund. Both sides say it will be difficult to get any tax bill with a large price tag passed.

 

For Council Panel, School Budget Is Now an Open Book, By Miranda S. Spivack,

Washington Post Staff Writer, Thursday, March 8, 2007; Page GZ03

There is life after Mike Subin on the Montgomery County Council's Education Committee. This week, the panel, now chaired by council member Michael Knapp (D_Upcounty), began steeping itself in the details of the school system budget, which is nearly $2 billion and accounts for about half of all county spending.

Critics of Subin, a Democratic at_large council member who was defeated in November after serving 20 years, said he often worked out the budget numbers out of public view and in concert with school officials, most recently Superintendent Jerry D. Weast and his team of budget experts. That left few opportunities for meaningful public scrutiny or input from fellow council members, the critics said. Subin's tenure spanned four superintendents. After Weast took over the school system in 1999, the two became close, often chatting several times a day and meeting late to work out the budget details. A few years ago, they vacationed together. They were also poker buddies.

Knapp, along with several other council members who joined the committee, spent about 90 minutes Monday afternoon going over budget details with Karen Orlansky, head of the council's Office of Legislative Oversight, and Elaine Bonner_Tompkins, a senior analyst. At the council's request, the legislative oversight office created a document that outlined "key indicators" the council might want to look at as members try to scrutinize the school system's budget proposal.

Council member Nancy Floreen (D_At Large) said that she thought Orlansky's shop had created a useful document, but that she was still worried about the council's ability to unravel the mysteries of the school system budget without further information. "Are we asking the right questions?" she wondered. Among the missing details, she said, were data showing "how much we spend on people who are instructors of children." Council President Marilyn Praisner (D_Eastern County) said she was curious about school system claims in recent years that officials had reduced administrative costs, and wondered if the money saved had been absorbed elsewhere in the system. Council newcomer Valerie Ervin (D_Silver Spring), a member of the committee, wondered how best to measure poverty and its impact on education. And she asked whether the council might be moving too close to the purview of the Board of Education. She was a member of the board until running for the council last fall. "How deep are we going?" she asked, pointing out that she had done a tour on the school board. The Education Committee, which also includes Phil Andrews (D_Gaithersburg_Rockville), got about halfway through the spending list and plans to reconvene next Thursday.