Julie Giordano For Wicomico County Executive Press Release: Giordano Calls For Transparency in Wicomico County Public Schools Talks About Her Plan For Education

  

  

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Giordano Calls for Transparency in Wicomico County Public Schools Talks About Her Plan for Education   

 

01/03/22

 

 

 

Salisbury, MD:  Since 2020, when the pandemic started, we have seen challenges in our way of life. The way our children have been educated is one of those challenges. For over sixteen years, I have been on the front lines teaching in Wicomico County Public Schools, in addition to being a parent myself. I understand these issues firsthand including the challenges of virtual learning, the concerns of forcing children to wear masks, the concerns of forcing children to be vaccinated, and the concerns of Critical Race Theory being taught in our schools.  

  

This past year we saw democrat politicians like Terry McAuliffe in Virginia say, “I don’t think parents should be telling schools what they should teach."  In addition to the Biden Administration coordinating and colluding with the American Federation of Teachers on reopening schools in the country, emails have now come to light showing politics were being put first over our children's education, mental health, and well-being.

 

We have seen our country’s Attorney General, Merrick Garland, in a DOJ memo accusing concerned parents around the country, who have attended school board meetings to make their voices heard about their child's education, being labeled as “Domestic Terrorists”. We are just now seeing in Arlington, Virginia, a far-left proposal by their school board to completely water down their curriculum, even going as far to get rid of grading of homework assignments and unlimited “redos” and “retakes” on tests. All of this being proposed in the name of “equity”.  

 

Here in the state of Maryland, we saw the impact of virtual learning during the pandemic. In Montgomery County, our state’s largest county, we saw an increase of students failing and falling behind in Math and English by 30% compared to the prior year. In addition, Baltimore City now has 41% of all high school students earning below a 1.0 grade point average.  Solutions coming out of Annapolis for our state's education challenges, including the implementation of the Kirwan Blueprint, are concerned with questions such as How will it be implemented? How much will it cost?  How will we pay for it? and most importantly Will it improve results? 

 

 

I do applaud Governor Hogan for creating the position of an Education Inspector General in Annapolis to “root out corruption, wrongdoing, and the mismanagement of state tax dollars by local school systems.” We are seeing the results of that now from what just happened in Frederick County, where the U.S. Department of Justice found Frederick County Public Schools employees illegally secluded and restrained students with special needs. According to the DOJ investigation, between the fall of 2017 and the spring of 2020, FCPS performed 7,253 seclusions and restraints on 125 students, and the county’s superintendent has resigned over this. 

 

Here in Wicomico County, we are seeing a School Board, Superintendent, and County Executive ignore the concerns and voices of parents over the issues of forced masking of students, forced vaccinations, and CRT being taught to our students. Recently, during a school board meeting, parents who wanted to testify on these concerns were silenced. Shortly after that meeting, the Superintendent announced her retirement from the school system. County Councilwoman Nicole Acle sponsored legislation to bring more transparency on the spending and allocating of funding in Wicomico County Public Schools to the County Council based on requests and concerns from several citizens.  When the vote took place, Councilman John Cannon sided with two democrats against the bill.  Acting County Executive Psota once again had no written comment, but supposedly verbally expressed being against the bill to Councilman Cannon.    

 

This is my promise to every parent in Wicomico County: your voice will matter when it comes to your children's education. My administration will listen and take action. I am a pro teacher, pro student, and yes pro parent. I echo these words from Governor Elect Youngkin in Virginia, who fought for the voices of concerned parents in the Commonwealth.   

 

I will not support the closing down of our schools as our children belong in the classroom. I am for choice on masking and vaccines, not mandates. I do not support the implementation of CRT and radical leftist curriculum's for Wicomico County and will fight to keep that out of our schools.  In addition, there will be transparency between the county council and our school system. It is very disappointing that the Acting County Executive does not support this, but I do, and this will be a top priority of mine.

 

For over sixteen years, I have been an educator in the public schools educating our children and getting them ready for the workforce to achieve a better life and prosperity. It is something I have lived, seen and am passionate about. My plan and vision for education in our county is that I will be an advocate and voice for education policy and legislation that makes sense and works here in Wicomico County.  The Superintendent and School Board will be hearing from me, that I guarantee, especially when our parents and concerned citizens are not being heard. This year is going to be a big year for our state and county, and we're just getting started.  As your next County Executive, I will fight for your children's education each and every day.  This is my promise to you! 

 

For interview requests, please contact Dan McHugh, danielj.mchugh0828@gmail.com, (301) 787-2021