MCPS vape sensors bombarded administrators with false alarms

 ...“To be blunt, the sensors are going off too often for them to be useful. Perhaps they are too sensitive? Today, a SINGLE normal school day, our sensors generated LITERALLY over 500 alerts by the final school bell,” wrote another...

https://www.thebanner.com/education/k-12-schools/mcps-vape-sensors-IEAWKYO67FCJZIR4DMSLNANWEU/

Help stop ZTA 25-11 and unlimited cell towers! [Montgomery County Loves to Put Cell Towers on School Playgrounds.]

SEE ACTION ITEM BELOW VIDEO.  

In 2022, the Parents' Coalition stopped Montgomery County from placing a cell tower in the home team bleachers at the new Woodward High School.  

At Wheaton High School, the new school building had to be built to accommodate the existing cell tower that used to be on the football field. 

Cell towers can be found on public school playgrounds all over the County despite the consistent opposition to these commercial compounds by parents and neighbors.  

Public school land is supposed to be land dedicated to the education of our children.  But unfortunately, in Montgomery County public school land is often handed over to commercial interests and children lose their outdoor spaces.  

Montgomery County Public Schools, Daly Elementary School in Germantown:

The Montgomery County Council is considering allowing wireless companies to effectively decide unilaterally when and where to put up cell towers – anywhere, anytime throughout the county, with no due process, and in many cases without even a building permit. We urgently need your help to stop this ill-conceived change. Click here to make your voice heard BEFORE the public hearing this Tuesday 9/16! ***************************************************************** The Montgomery County Council is considering Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 25-11, which would effectively allow wireless companies to unilaterally decide when and where to put up cell towers – anywhere, anytime throughout the county, with no due process and no minimum setbacks. And in many cases, without even a building permit. We urgently need your help to stop this misguided legislation. Click START WRITING on the right to email the Council Click here to read testimony from MC4T, which contains additional talking points. This Council is serving a four-year term, from 2022 until 2026. While the prior two councils (2014-2018 and 2018-2022) enacted bad cell tower zoning changes, fortunately this is the first time that this Council has tried to pass a cell tower zoning change. That also means that this Council has not heard from residents about this topic. The sponsor of ZTA 25-11 has not previously served on the Council and may not be aware of the level of widespread public opposition to cell towers in residential areas. This makes it all the more important for you to make your voice heard. Click START WRITING on the right to email the Council right now! Want to do more? SIGN-UP by Monday 9/15 at 2:00pm for the public hearing, to be held 9/16 at 1:30pm (you can testify by zoom) Submit written testimony in connection with the hearing, by 9/16 at 1:30pm Call your councilmembers and urge them to oppose ZTA 25-11 Forward this to your friends! Sponsored by Montgomery County Coalition to Protect Neighborhoods

Follow-Up Annual Meeting for Maryland Public Information Act Compliance Board

The Maryland Public Information Act (PIA) Compliance Board will hold a follow-up to its annual meeting by videoconference on Friday, September 19, 2025, at 3:00 p.m.  The meeting will be held virtually by Microsoft Teams. The public is invited to attend.  You can find the 

agenda here.

 

Join the meeting now

Meeting ID: 210 844 105 087 6

Passcode: jQ6Lf3uy

 

Dial in by phone

+1 443-529-0364,,599307034# United States, Baltimore

Find a local number

Phone conference ID: 599 307 034#

 

If you have any issues accessing the agenda, please email piaopengov@oag.state.md.us or call (410) 576-6560 to receive a copy.  For additional information about this open meeting of the Board, please contact Kentiara Moore or Teena Hallameyer, Administrative Officers, at piaopengov@oag.state.md.us, or call (410) 576-6560.

If you have trouble joining by video or audio on the day of the meeting, please call (410) 576-6560, or email piaopengov@oag.state.md.us.

Potomac Lice Lady Posts MCPS Schools with Current Cases of Lice

 

Follow the Potomac Lice Lady for a current listing of known MCPS schools with lice:

https://www.instagram.com/potomaclicelady/

Need to get your school bus camera ticket "fixed"? Contact Councilmember Natali Fani-Gonzalez

From a public Nextdoor post by "Barbara S." of Wheaton Park: 

Councilmember Fani-Gonzalez

I just sent a thank you e-mail to the office of Natalie Fani-Gonzales [sic] via one employee of hers named Hazel for helping us to have a $300.00 school bus camera fine dismissed, so you will know who to contact if something like this happens to you. She is our ward 8 representative. You would have to contact the representative in your ward. [Editor's note: Natali Fani-Gonzelez is actually a Montgomery Council Council member. There are no "wards" in Montgomery County.] Early in October 2024, my husband stopped behind a school bus without a stop sign out and the bus driver waved him on, but the stop sign popped out as soon as he passed and a week later we got a $300.00 ticket in the mail. I requested a court date, which was finally scheduled for this coming Wednesday at 1:00 P.M. I waited for the court date so I could try to find out who the bus driver was and subpoena him. I spent an hour and a half in several offices at the court house getting help navigating the automated phone system of the school bus camera company and getting different phone numbers to try to talk to someone. I then made dozens of phone calls over a period of these last 3 weeks to the school bus camera people, Montgomery County Schools and the police. The school headquarters told me to call their transportation dept. The transportation dept told me to call the police and the police would call them and give them permission to reveal who the bus driver was. The person at the transportation department had no idea how that process worked and neither did the person at the non-emergency number of the police. The man who answered the non-emergency # transferred me to the records dept and the records dept lady led me to file a request for the record on line. I finally, after several phone calls to a lady there who was trying to help me, received an answer saying they had no record and I had to call the school system. I went back and forth between the police dept and the school system's transportation department many times as people in both of those places were trying to help me, but could not. Since I had probably spent about 40 hours of my time being passed from one office to another, to no avail, I contacted Natalie Fani-Gonzales' office and she said she would contact the police and I should hear from them the next day. I had heard nothing after a week, so I contacted Ms Fani-Gonzales' office again and a lady named Hazel apologized that it was taking so long, but said they were having technical problems dismissing the case because a hearing was pending. I had resigned myself to having to go to court this Wednesday at 1:00 P.M.,but I found a letter in our mailbox this morning dismissing the case. What a relief after having this hanging over our heads for 11 months, because it took that long to get a court date. I had also alerted Hazel to the fact that my husband was in the middle lane and there was a car on each side of him that also passed the bus driver in the same incident because he waved them on, so they must also have received tickets. I don't know if they had contacted Ms Fani Gonazles' office or not, but maybe it was my telling her about them that got their tickets dismissed too. I doubt that most people would have known what to do or even had the time. It would have cost anyone who had to take time off work to do what I did more than the $300.00 fine, and they would have just paid it. I am thankful that my husband works and lets me stay home to manage the household and any problem like this that crops up. There are no lawyers who will accept school bus camera cases because once the bus camera has a picture of your car passing a school bus with it's camera out, you are presumed guilty.

________________________________________________

PCMC analysis

County Councilmembers are supposed to make laws, not decide who wins or loses in court. When a councilmember steps in to get a ticket dismissed, that’s more than bending the rules—it may be illegal.

Maryland’s Constitution (Article 8 of the Declaration of Rights) makes the separation of powers crystal clear: legislative, executive, and judicial powers “ought to be forever separate and distinct.” If a legislator interferes in a pending case, they’re crossing into judicial territory.

There’s also the issue of misconduct in office, which Maryland recognizes as a common-law misdemeanor. Courts define it as corrupt or improper behavior by a public officer while using their position. To prove misconduct, the State must show: 

1. the person is a public officer,

2. they acted in their official capacity, and

3. they acted corruptly or improperly.

If a councilmember uses their influence to pressure police or prosecutors into dismissing a case that’s already scheduled for court, that could fit the definition. Beyond the legal problem, it undermines fairness. Most people don’t have a politician to call to make their cases disappear. Justice should be based on law and evidence—not political favors.

Montgomery County Public Schools updated their Standard Response Protocol

2 students arrested following Maryland high school lockdown, handgun and BB gun recovered

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (7News) — A school in Montgomery County, Maryland, was on lockdown after reports of a gun on the campus. Two students were arrested, while a handgun and a BB gun were recovered around 12:55 p.m., according to county police.

Northwood High School on Old Georgetown Road was placed on a "secure" status at around 11 a.m. after reports of a person on campus with a gun. Police later determined the weapon was a toy.

Police then lifted the secure status, but placed the school on lockdown after learning of another student with a firearm at around 12:20 p.m...

https://wjla.com/news/local/2-two-students-arrested-maryland-high-school-lockdown-bb-gun-mcps-northwood-high-school-gun-on-campus-montgomery-county-department-of-police-school-shooting-school-violence-juvenile-crime-minor-campus-shooting

New Maryland law requires schools to notify parents when children wander away

TIMONIUM, Md. — Maryland schools are now required to notify parents the same day a child wanders or elopes at school, thanks to a new law named after a 3-year-old boy with autism who drowned after wandering from home.

In 2024, Brittany Bledsoe, a Gaithersburg resident, experienced an unspeakable tragedy when her son, Ace, wandered away and drowned in their Montgomery County apartment complex's pool.

The following year, she helped lobby Annapolis for a law named after her son.

Autism advocates commend law ahead of new school year

Photo by: WMAR

By: Jack Watson

Posted 4:52 PM, Aug 18, 2025

 

and last updated 10:02 AM, Aug 28, 2025

TIMONIUM, Md. — Maryland schools are now required to notify parents the same day a child wanders or elopes at school, thanks to a new law named after a 3-year-old boy with autism who drowned after wandering from home.

WATCH: New Maryland law requires schools to notify parents when children wander away

In 2024, Brittany Bledsoe, a Gaithersburg resident, experienced an unspeakable tragedy when her son, Ace, wandered away and drowned in their Montgomery County apartment complex's pool.

The following year, she helped lobby Annapolis for a law named after her son.

Ace's Law requires schools to tell a parent or guardian the same day a child wanders or elopes, leaving the classroom or campuswithout permission.

"If your kid is at school and wandering, you should know that," Bledsoe told WMAR-2 News on Monday.

"They might wander at school, and not at home," she noted.

Shelly McLaughlin, program director for Pathfinders for Autism, explained more about the law's effects...

https://www.wmar2news.com/local/new-maryland-law-requires-schools-to-notify-parents-when-children-wander-away

MCPS' "Stephanie Sheron said the new system developed by the district would serve as a “one-stop shop” that would improve accessibility, be easy to use and streamline workflows. "

‘Not been a smooth ride’: New MCPS payroll system issues may linger  

While pay issues may be resolved for Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) summer employees, Superintendent Thomas Taylor said Aug. 25 that the district may continue to face more problems while navigating a new human resources and payroll management system.  

“We’re on to discovering new payroll issues,” Taylor told Bethesda Today. “Unfortunately, I think that that’s going to be something that we have to deal with for the next several months … uncovering new payroll issues and responding to them. We are adjusting to a new financial system and a new HR system that are married together. It’s not been a smooth ride by any stretch.”  

MCPS rolled out the $33.4 million combined human resources and financial management system, called MCPS Hub+, in December 2024. At the time, then-MCPS Chief of Strategic Initiatives Stephanie Sheron said the new system developed by the district would serve as a “one-stop shop” that would improve accessibility, be easy to use and streamline workflows.   

The Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA), the union representing MCPS teachers, announced on July 28 that it filed a grievance against the district after employees experienced pay disruptions...

https://bethesdamagazine.com/2025/09/03/mcps-payroll-system-issues/

MCPS School Year Calendar 2026-2027 Survey #1

MCPS staff (I believe there is a calendar committee) has provided options for the calendar for the next school year. Please complete the survey.

Please limit to one response per person.  This initial survey will close on September 30, 2025.

Link to survey and survey information is here.  

Reminder: Montgomery County Offers Free ‘Back-to-School’ Vaccinations for School-Aged Children at Multiple Locations

Please make sure to get your children their childhood vaccinations to prevent measles, polio, rubella and other dangerous and sometimes fatal diseases that are easily avoided in our community. These vaccines are free. Protect your child and protect others in our community by getting your child vaccinated

From our DHHS website.

The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) offers free back-to-school vaccinations for school-aged children from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade at several locations across the County from now through the end of September.

These vaccinations are available at no cost to children who live in Montgomery County and are missing any required immunizations to attend school.

The “back-to-school” vaccine offerings include:

• Tdap
• Meningococcal (MCV4)
• Meningococcal B
• Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
• Varicella (chickenpox)

To schedule an appointment, parents or guardians must call one of the DHHS County clinics:

Dennis Avenue Health Center
2000 Dennis Ave., Silver Spring
240-777-1050

Germantown Health Center
12900 Middlebrook Road, Germantown
240-777-3380

Silver Spring Health Center
8630 Fenton St., 10th floor, Silver Spring
240-777-3160

School Health Services Immunization Center
4910 Macon Road, Rockville
240-740-4430

A parent or guardian must be present and bring an ID and immunization record if available.

Call one of the DHHS County clinics to speak with a staff member if a child needs vaccines other than those currently offered.

Visit the Immunization Program website for more information.

Maryland law requires students to be vaccinated against a variety of diseases. Visit the Maryland Department of Health’s website to learn more about the 2025-2026 school year vaccination requirements.

Ed Department Plans To Scale Back IDEA Data Collection

From Disability Scoop, by reporter Michelle Diament. Full story here. The comment period runs through October 21, 2025. This is docket number ED-2025-SCC-0481. The information has been published in the Federal Register here.

From the article:

The Trump administration is laying out plans to stop collecting certain information from states about students with disabilities.

The U.S. Department of Education wants to end data collection on what’s known as “significant disproportionality,” the agency said in a recent notice.

Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, states are required to identify school districts with high rates of students from particular racial or ethnic groups who have disabilities, are placed in restrictive settings or are subject to discipline. The law also outlines steps that states must take to address problems associated with this.

Traditionally, the Education Department has collected significant disproportionality data from states each year and posted it to the agency’s website, but now the Trump administration wants to end that practice.

“The department believes that removal of the data collection related to significant disproportionality will reduce the burden on respondents when completing the Annual State Application under Part B of IDEA,” the Education Department notice indicates.

The proposed change would not alter the mandate for states to track significant disproportionality, advocates say, but it would make it much harder to assess the picture nationally.

...

The Education Department proposal is up for public comment through Oct. 21.

To comment:

To access and review all the documents related to the information collection listed in this notice, please use http://www.regulations.gov by searching the Docket ID number ED-2025-SCC-0481. Comments submitted in response to this notice should be submitted electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov by selecting the Docket ID number or via postal mail, commercial delivery, or hand delivery. If the regulations.gov site is not available to the public for any reason, the Department will temporarily accept comments at ICDocketMgr@ed.gov. Please include the docket ID number and the title of the information collection request when requesting documents or submitting comments. Please note that comments submitted after the comment period will not be accepted. Written requests for information or comments submitted by postal mail or delivery should be addressed to the Office of Special Education Programs, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave SW, LBJ, Room 4A119, Washington, DC 20202-1200.

Gunman on the loose after shooting sends four school into lockdown on first day

 

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. - The search is on for a shooter in Montgomery County after two people were shot, sending four schools into lockdown on the first day back for Montgomery County students.

What we know:

Two people were shot Tuesday morning at the Hamptons Apartments near Seneca Valley High School. 

The call came in just after 11:00 a.m. Tuesday morning. Neighbors say they heard several shots fired. 

Montgomery County Police say two adult male victims went to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The gunman is still on the loose, according to officials. 

As a precaution, Montgomery County Public Schools went into lockdown at nearby Seneca Valley High, Martin Luther King Jr. Middle, Lake Seneca Elementary and Germantown Elementary for about an hour. It's the first day of school for MCPS...

https://www.fox5dc.com/news/gunman-loose-after-shooting-sends-four-school-lockdown-first-day

Thousands of new NYC teachers set to begin amid class size hiring push

Thousands of new teachers filed into Brooklyn’s Barclays Center for orientation Tuesday as part of what New York City officials hope will be a historically large hiring class.

In a typical year, the nation’s largest school district faces the daunting challenge of hiring between 4,000 and 5,000 new educators to replace the ones who left. This year, officials aim to hire 3,700 on top of that to satisfy the state’s class size reduction law. Some 750 schools received additional money from the city for the coming year to hire extra teachers to bring more classes under the state caps, which range from 20 to 25 students depending on age...

https://www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025/08/26/nyc-teacher-hiring-spree-for-class-size-law/

Maryland HS responds to video showing 'inappropriate intimate behavior on campus'

GERMANTOWN, MD. - On Wednesday, Northwest High School in Germantown, Md., issued a statement in response to a video that's been circulating online that shows students engaged in inappropriate behavior on campus. 

Dig deeper:

Principal Scott Smith said that his administration is working with Montgomery County Public Schools' Title IX office as well as police to investigate the situation...

https://www.fox5dc.com/news/maryland-hs-responds-video-inappropriate-intimate-behavior-campus