MONTGOMERY CO. – The Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Board conducted a meeting on May 20, 2025.
Top issues discussed were training and retention for instructional employees and staff, use of budgetary funds, and the school division’s diversity, equity, and inclusion policies in connection with the federal Executive Action terminating any illegal DEI programs.
Public address, allowing community members the opportunity to openly speak on important topics for the board’s consideration, was opened by District A representative Board Chairman Linwood Hudson.
Kelly Brennan of Riner attended a MCPS joint meeting on the dialogue in the race education working group, he said. “I am pleased and proud that our school system has undertaken the work of addressing disproportionality in student outcomes, chronic absenteeism, and hate speech,” Brennan said. “This is a direct result of the work of Ms. Wood-Setzer and Ms. Wright in the Department of Equity, the leadership of Superintendent Bragen, and all of your hard work in crafting these policies.”
Moving forward, Brennan encouraged board members to consider training, data collection, and data management on these topics of hate speech and race education policies.
Other public addressees did not agree, sharing concerns of indoctrination in the classrooms and “reverse” discrimination.
Kimberly Williamson of Christiansburg said, “Racism and discrimination isn’t only one direction, and the idea that only certain people have ever suffered from discrimination is a false and myopic point of view…all are created equal with the same opportunities as anyone else.”
“In recent years, however, parents have witnessed schools indoctrinate their children in radical anti-American ideologies while deliberately blocking parental oversight,” Kim Bowman of Christiansburg said. “In many cases, innocent children are compelled to adopt identities as either victims or oppressors solely based on their skin color and other immutable characteristics.”
Bob Beard of Christiansburg suggested sending students to Virginia Tech University for a better “ROI” or return on investment for the comparable amount of money it will cost for each Montgomery County student to attend public schools in the region. Beard also asked the MCPS Board members if they will be requesting additional money from the County to replace the money the school system could lose from non-compliance with the DEI Executive Action.
“So, I’m guessing you guys are going to be asking the Board of Supervisors for another 5% tax increase next year to cover your $5.75 million that you guys are going to lose for all your DI shenanigans and so forth,” Beard said.
One item on the 2025-2026 MCPS Budget that created contention with some citizens was the proposed free meals for all students in the four strands of the school division, regardless of economic status or need. Dr. Edward Gitri recognized the New River Valley Biker Church, that “donated 500 to Auburn Elementary School to help offset the meal deficit for students. I think it is wonderful and would like to acknowledge that.”
In the Superintendent’s report, Superintendent Bernard Bragen recognized May as Mental Health Awareness month.
“Mental health is fundamental to student success and our counselors, social workers, teachers, and administrators play a vital role in ensuring students have the resources they need,” Bragen said.
Additionally, Bragen said, The National Association of Music Merchants Foundation named Montgomery County Public Schools as one of the best communities in 2025 in music and education.
Katie Siedeman, MCEA President, presented a report from the Montgomery County Education Association, in support of the proposed MCPS Budget. “Specifically, we are incredibly pleased to see that the proposed compressed salary scales as well as the 3% raise for all employees and minimum wage increases have been included in the proposed Budget,” Siedeman said. “It is a win-win for all MCPS employees.”
The MCPS 2021-2026 Strategic Plan was presented by Dr. Barbara Wickham, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, along with additional administrative personnel.
In the slideshow, the mission of MCPS is stated in part as “an innovative educational community. We value diversity, and we are committed to equity and inclusion. MCPS empowers learners to realize success in an every-changing global society through collaboration with communities, families, staff, and students.”
Over the past year, Dr. Amanda Widner led the plight to recruit instructional staff and create a more effective onboarding program for new employees. According to Widner, their department has worked with local universities to better understand needs and prepare students for a pathway to teaching licensure and instructional staff. Particularly a program for expedited licensure acquisition.
“On the retention side, our goal was really to try to build an employee retention plan. And so last year we collected data. We collected a lot of data that was done through work that two of our administrators did while they were working on their doctoral degree. So through surveys and stay interviews, we collected that data, we looked at it, and we kind of determined what our key things that need to be part of a retention plan,” Widner said. Benefits are an important element of job retention for employees, is one thing they discovered from this data collection, Widner said. A dental and improved health prescription plans are a couple of the things that Widner said MCPS and the Superintendent have worked on.
