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Tuesday, January 31, 2023

Today is @mcps Superintendent Gives out Swag to Administrator's Day. It happens once a month at administrators' meeting. Do teachers still need supplies?

Thread by @MCPS on Thread Reader App – Thread Reader App

Congratulations to Dr. Kara Trenkamp, Director of Digital Innovation on her Superintendent recognition at today’s Administrator and Supervisory Meeting. @ktrenkamp2 #MCPSStaffSpotlight

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Congratulations to Tracey Oliver-Gary - Supervisor of Pre-K-12 Social Studies

For exemplifying outstanding leadership and her work on Remembrance and Reconciliation Month, and most recently International Holocaust Remembrance Day and much more #MCPSStaffSpotlightImage
Congratulations to Dr. Shawaan Robinson - Principal at Briggs Chaney Middle School

Recognized for unpacking the antiracist audit with student focus groups, capturing student voices, forming a principal advisory groups #MCPSStaffSpotlightImage
Last but not least, Congratulations @Goshen_Grizzly for the WIN program she led while at Goshen ES. ICYMI here is what the program is all about —>  #MCPSStaffSpotlightImage

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3 students charged with robbery after alleged assault at Montgomery Co. high school

Police in Rockville, Maryland, have charged three students, ages 14 and 15, with robbery after an assault inside a bathroom at Richard Montgomery High School earlier this month involving students from another school.

Police said they responded to Richard Montgomery on Jan. 13 for a report of an assault that happened inside the school. A student also later reported seeing a gun outside the school, which led to the school being placed on lockdown...

3 students charged with robbery after alleged assault at Montgomery Co. high school - WTOP News

Elementary school students have reported being followed home by strangers in Chevy Chase, Maryland


CHEVY CHASE, Md. — Students at Chevy Chase Elementary have reported two incidents in which they have been followed by men as they walk home, according to a letter sent out by the school's principal.

Jody L. Smith informed parents that last week, three boys told their parents that a man wearing a ski mask and driving a silver pickup truck followed them home from their bus stop. Smith says the stranger did this multiple times and that the suspicious activity was reported to police...


Chevy Chase students report being followed by strangers | wusa9.com

Silver Spring Int. Middle School PTSA Presidents Put Out Call for Immediate Advocacy

From the PTSA Presidents to the community:


Sent: Saturday, January 21, 2023, 12:12:12 PM EST
Subject: [SSIMSptsa] IMMEDIATE ADVOCACY ACTION FOR SCHOOL SAFETY


Greetings SSIMS Community:

There is an immediate opportunity to advocate for the improved safety and security of our school with the upcoming Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, January 24 which addresses the MCPS Operating Budget for next year. Many of us in the SSIMS community have expressed concerns and our advocacy team has been working hard to capture those concerns to share with the Board of Education, MCPS Central Office administration, and our county councilmembers. Today, we ask that you take a moment to write a letter to the BOE and to Associate Superintendent Dr. Moran, sharing your concerns for the safety of our school and advocating for more resources. We are specifically asking for 1) additional security staff to monitor the field house and track; 2) additional staff to monitor hallways, particularly Stairwell 7; 3) security cameras to cover the 14-acre campus; and 4) shifting the Social Worker position from a part-time position to a full-time position at SSIMS so that the increased population of at-risk students needs can be addressed more effectively and restorative justice practices implemented to the fullest capacity.

The SSIMS building and campus present considerable security challenges that are making it far more difficult for teachers and administration to address the safety issues. Specifically:

Security cameras do not cover the whole building, nor do they provide sufficient coverage of the school’s 14-acre campus.


Doors are not sufficiently monitored with only two security guards to monitor three external doors, the field house and the track. This means that there are unmonitored locations where the public can enter the building and students can and do leave school grounds without permission while school is in session.


The field house does not have designated security and the track and field are open to the public during school hours. It falls to the teachers to maintain safety and security in the field house.


The track and field are adjacent to county parkland and remains open to the public during school hours.


Stairwell 7 is a serious daily safety concern - and outsized legal liability for the school – due to constricted and insufficient space relative to the volume of students. During a recent unplanned evacuation (due to a malfunctioning alarm), it took ten agonizing minutes to exit the building through stairwell 7 --- students and staff could have perished had there actually been a fire or other emergency.


ADA Non-compliance: SSIMS campus has hundreds of ADA violations, causing hardship for children with disabilities.


The current building layout with multiple crowded hallways presents challenges that will continue to exist with the current remodel plan. These challenges require additional staff to monitor hallways.


Documented incidents at the school include numerous fights and violent incidents have taken place this school year alone, plus repeated stink bombs and fires in the bathrooms. Additionally, this year, we had two separate BB gun incidents, as well as a knife brought to school. One could make a compelling case that the physical environment itself and its demoralizing condition contributes to discord and friction among students.


As a community, we have all expressed our concerns and growing awareness of the safety needs within the building. Our administration, teachers and students deserve to work in a space that has the staffing resources and the supportive technology to keep our grounds safe. SSIMS presents unique challenges due to the size of the campus, the multiple building layout, antiquated building facility, plus its proximity to public spaces and a major construction site. We have an opportunity to address these issues right now. Please take a moment to email the Board of Education with a request for more staff and funding for cameras.

Attached is a working list of advocacy concerns created by the Advocacy Team, which is being used to gather information not only for MCPS but also for our county executives. Also attached is a sample letter to the BOE that you may use to write your letter. Below is the list of email addressed for the Board Members. You may also use the BOE@mcpsmd.org which will send it to all members. If you wish to join the Advocacy Team, please email Vanessa Serrao Hiemenz at vanessa.hiemenz@gmail.com.

Thank you for your time, consideration, and your voice.

SSIMS Co-Presidents,

Monday, January 30, 2023

Tuesday, January 31st: Montgomery County Council to Amend Rules of Procedure


COUNCIL DECISION POINTS & COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION 

Final action to adopt a Resolution to Amend the Council Rules of Procedure 

DESCRIPTION/ISSUE 

 The prior Council amended the Council Rules of Procedure on November 15, 2022. The amendments took effect on December 5, 2022. On January 24, 2023, the Council introduced a resolution to amend the Rules, and the Council held a worksession on the resolution. During the worksession, the Council took non-binding “straw votes” on various amendments to the resolution.

20230131_7.pdf (montgomerycountymd.gov)

Tuesday January 31st: County Council to Interview Republican Candidates for Planning Board

The Montgomery County Council is interviewing just two candidates for the Republican seat on the Planning Board.  The interviews will take place on Tuesday, January 31, 2023.  

The two candidates are:

Shawn Bartley
David Winstead

Breaking: Out of 86 electric school buses in @mcps, on average only 60 are in use each day.

The Montgomery Board of Education Fiscal Management Committee met today.

On the Agenda for this committee meeting was a discussion of the MCPS electric school bus purchase.  

The entire discussion lasted 3 minutes.  There was no explanation for the bizarre agenda item from January 11, 2023, that was removed from the meeting agenda without explanation.

In today's 3 minute discussion the public learned that out of 86 electric school buses that have been received by MCPS, on average only about 60 are in use each day.

Why? 
Board members didn't ask any questions. 

Why don't Board of Education members care that on average 30% of the electric school buses at the MCPS bus depots aren't in use each day? 

Is this purchase sustainable for the future?  What are the long-term implications of procuring school buses that aren't in use each school day?

 

Friday, January 27, 2023

Breaking: Senator Ben Kramer produces link to FY2022 School Bus Monitoring System and Stop Safety Review report (Mont. Co. was unable to produce report they wrote.)


At 12:07 PM today, the Parents' Coalition e-mailed the members of the Montgomery County Delegation seeking access to the FY2022 School Bus Monitoring System and Stop Safety Review report that was to be publicly available under a new Maryland law.

The Parents' Coalition had e-mailed the Montgomery County Government Public Information Officer on January 21, 2023, with the same request.  Montgomery County Government was responsible for creating the report.  The Montgomery County Government Public Information Officer never responded to our request.  

However, within 30 minutes of our request to members of the Montgomery County Delegation, Senator Ben Kramer's office responded and provided the link to the report.  

Thank you to Senator Ben Kramer and his staff for excellent constituent services and immediately providing the public with information that they were entitled to under Maryland law.  

Here is the link to the FY 2022 School Bus Monitoring System and Stop Safety Review.

This is the first report under MD Code, Transportation, § 8-664 and 2022 HB0813 / CH0216 enacted during the 2022 Regular Session of the Maryland General Assembly to publicly provide information on the County’s school bus monitoring camera program and steps Montgomery County has taken to reduce violations of passing a stopped school bus through bus stop reviews and driver outreach.


 

*******************************************************

From: Parents Coalition
Sent: Friday, January 27, 2023 12:07 PM
Subject: Where is public access to the School Bus Camera Annual Report mandated by the legislature?

In recent meetings the Montgomery County Delegation has referenced the first School Bus Monitoring System (stop arm cameras) annual report that was to be created and made publicly available by law.

Maryland Article – Transportation Section 8–663 as passed by the Maryland legislature.  
The report exists and has been discussed. Where is it available to the public?  Montgomery County Government has been unable to produce a link or PDF of the report.  
Please provide a link or PDF to this report.  If the report has not been made public, the Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, MD will be happy to assist by creating a public link to the report. 
Janis Zink Sartucci
Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, MD

*************************************************************

From: MGA Library
Sent: Friday, January 27, 2023 12:33 PM
To: Kramer, Ben Senator Ben.Kramer@senate.state.md.us
Subject: RE: Request for Document FW: Where is public access to the School Bus Camera Annual Report mandated by the legislature?

 

Good afternoon,

 

The following is a link to the PDF of that report:

https://dlslibrary.state.md.us/publications/counties/Montgomery/TR8-663(b)(1)_2022.pdf

 

The catalog record also has a link for a data download.  When you click on it, it downloads a spreadsheet with years and where the violations occurred:

https://dlslibrary.state.md.us/publications/counties/Montgomery/TR8-663(b)(1)_2022.zip

 

Tammy Shay

Legislative Director for

Senator Ben Kramer

District 19

Miller Senate Office Building

11 Bladen Street, Room 401

Annapolis, MD 21401

410-841-3151 ph

410-841-3740 fax


*****************************************************************


From: Parents Coalition
Sent: Saturday, January 21, 2023 10:00 PM
To: Hudson, Barry <Barry.Hudson@montgomerycountymd.gov>
Subject: MPIA for Bus Camera Report
 
This is a request under the Maryland Public Information Act for the annual Report that has been issued as required under Maryland Article – Transportation Section 8–663 as passed by the Maryland legislature.  

Maryland law now requires Montgomery County to annually submit a certain report; requiring Montgomery County, in coordination with the Maryland Department of Transportation, to examine data relating to school bus stop violations and to make that report publicly available.  

This report is to be publicly available, by law. Please provide the link to the report if already posted or provide the PDF by return e-mail.  

Thank you for your immediate response to this request. 

Janis Zink Sartucci
Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, MD

Thursday, January 26, 2023

Police: 3 juveniles arrested after group of Gaithersburg students were led into a school bathroom and robbed


ROCKVILLE, Md. — Three juvenile boys have been arrested and charged with robbery after an assault at Richard Montgomery High School. On Jan. 13, Rockville City Police responded to Richard Montgomery High School (RMHS) for the report of an assault which occurred inside the school and an allegation that a gun had been brandished off school grounds forcing the school to enter a brief lockdown...

Wednesday, January 25, 2023

Wheaton High School: Car over retaining wall ended upside down on field

Tuesday, January 24, 2023

1/24/23: Former Richard Montgomery High School Student Arrested with Possession of Handgun on School Property

The Rockville City Police Department has charged a 15-year-old juvenile with firearms related offenses.

On January 24, 2023, at approximately 2:45 p.m., Richard Montgomery High School Security personnel notified the school’s Community Engagement Officer that a former student was on school property and was possibly in possession of a handgun. The student was apprehended by Rockville City Police approximately one block away from the high school, who was in possession of a firearm. The juvenile was arrested without incident and will be charged accordingly.
The preliminary investigation has determined today’s incident is unrelated to the lockdown which occurred at Richard Montgomery High School on January 13, 2023. Rockville City Police continues to work closely with Richard Montgomery High School and Montgomery County Public Schools to ensure the safety and security of students and staff remains the highest priority for our community.
The investigation into this matter is ongoing. Anyone who has information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Rockville City Police Criminal Investigation’s Unit at 240-314-8938.

Children – even healthy teens and the very young – can have long Covid, several studies have found, and it can follow an infection that’s severe or mild.

Monday, January 23, 2023

Students Rushed to Hospital After Being Discovered Unconscious in a B-CC Bathroom


Two B-CC students were found unconscious, allegedly due to alcohol abuse in the B2 bathroom, midway through first period today. A witness who wishes to remain anonymous was using the bathroom when they realized there were two students lying on the ground: “I saw two [students] on the floor clearly drunk, slurring their words.”


Another student who happened to be present shared that they were scared that their peers’ intoxication would cause a medical emergency and immediately started shouting for help. Passing security heard the students and rushed to their aid. An ambulance was immediately called, and after attending to the students, Dr. Mooney blocked off the hallways via an announcement. The students were transported to the hospital via an ambulance...

A majority of the overdose incidents that police have responded to have been at residences, Jones said, but there have been some at schools.


Montgomery County youth overdoses increased 77% in 2022

A 15-year-old Montgomery County Public Schools student is the latest young person to die of an overdose, county officials said this week, prompting warnings to students and families about the dangers of opioid use, particularly fentanyl.

Youth overdoses — which include those by people under the age of 21 — spiked in the D.C. suburb in 2022, rising 77 percent. There were 48 youth overdoses last year, 11 of which were fatal, according to data from the Montgomery County Police Department.


In 2021, there were 27 reported youth overdoses; five were fatal...


Montgomery County officials warn of opioid use as youth overdoses increase - The Washington Post

NTSB head warns of risks posed by heavy electric vehicles colliding with lighter cars

DETROIT — The head of the National Transportation Safety Board expressed concern Wednesday about the safety risks that heavy electric vehicles pose if they collide with lighter vehicles.

The official, Jennifer Homendy, raised the issue in a speech in Washington to the Transportation Research Board. She noted, by way of example, that an electric GMC Hummer weighs about 9,000 pounds (4,000 kilograms), with a battery pack that alone is 2,900 pounds (1,300 kilograms) — roughly the entire weight of a typical Honda Civic.

"I'm concerned about the increased risk of severe injury and death for all road users from heavier curb weights and increasing size, power, and performance of vehicles on our roads, including electric vehicles," Homendy said in remarks prepared for the group.

The extra weight that EVs typically carry stems from the outsize mass of their batteries. To achieve 300 or more miles (480 or more kilometers) of range per charge from an EV, batteries have to weigh thousands of pounds...

NTSB head warns of risks posed by heavy electric vehicles : NPR

Friday, January 20, 2023

BREAKING: Footage obtained by The B&W shows police taking an Albert Einstein High School student into custody this afternoon after the school entered lockdown due to reports of a weapon on campus. The lockdown has since been lifted, per police.

Lawmakers press college savings plan leaders for answers as Speaker Jones watches emotional hearing


Maryland House Speaker Adrienne Jones (D-Baltimore County) kept watch Thursday as delegates from two standing committees grilled the leaders of the state’s college savings program, which has struggled to make payments to some families since fall because of an interest rate calculation error.

For months, parents have complained that they have been unable to tap interest they have earned in Maryland’s Prepaid College Trust. Plan leaders say they froze the interest portion of many families’ accounts because of an accounting glitch that surfaced when they switched from one outside vendor to another.

Although they can access their principal, many parents have complained of being unable to make tuition payments as bills arrive. Frustrated families have banded together through an online forum and have threatened to sue the plan...


...The agency says at least 419 of 480 accounts that were flagged for concern have been reviewed. However, the agency says that only some account holders were directly notified about the interest rate calculation error by email, and the accounts slated for review were self-referred.

Lawmakers expressed concern that, as long-term government-backed savings plans, some account holders may not check in regularly and could remain unaware of the issue.

Savia said Thursday that the number of semester credits families have accumulated in the trust plan are unaffected. But that leaves families trying cash out those credits for out-of-state or private schools in the lurch. And the purported value of those credits listed on an annual report in 2021 has now changed.

Some families scrambled and made other financial arrangements to cover their contributions for fall tuition. Now, they’re facing the same scramble for another semester.

Thursday’s hearing was also unusual in that it was punctuated by applause as families suffering financial harm from the glitch testified...

...Brian Savoie, a Montgomery County resident who tried to access a prepaid trust plan for his son’s tuition at Purdue, said the interest miscalculation led to a $28,000 decrease in the value listed for his account.

During Thursday’s hearing, lawmakers expressed particular concern that families who invested in the plans should be “made whole” and wanted to understand how much money that might mean.

Board Chair Peter Tsirigotis and Savia said the board has been working to correct the calculation errors both to ensure that families receive what’s fully due to them and that no one receives more than they should. A universal total is not known.

At one point, Barnes pressed an issue raised by Del. Kirill Reznik (D-Montgomery) – that the board needs to establish clear rules for how and when families will be reimbursed for additional costs they’ve incurred.

“Can you give these families a timeline as to when you are going to do that? Or are you just telling me there’s no timeline at all?” Barnes asked. “…We would like it if you can get us a timeline. Sooner rather than later.”

When Tsirigotis responded that it was an issue the board would likely discuss at its next meeting, scheduled for the end of February, Barnes appeared indignant.

“Are you unable to meet before next month?” Barnes said. “…Maybe we should get back to the board that maybe you should have a board meeting in the interim.”

Tsirigotis agreed.

Barnes told the Maryland 529 leaders he wanted answers to the series of questions posed by the committee by next week...

Lawmakers press college savings plan leaders for answers as Speaker Jones watches emotional hearing - Maryland Matters

FCPS argues challenged book committee is not subject to Open Meetings Act [Bases position on @mcps COVID committee opinion]

...The Frederick News-Post last month filed a complaint with the state's Open Meetings Compliance Board, arguing that the review committee meetings should be open for public observation.

In a response to the News-Post's complaint dated Jan. 12, lawyers for the district wrote that the review committee does not meet the OMA's definition of a "public body" and is not required to allow the public to observe its work.

The response differentiates between the Frederick County Board of Education and FCPS, and emphasizes that the review committee is under the direction of FCPS employees rather than board members.

FCPS' attorneys cited a recent ruling from the compliance board in which the complainant [Janis Zink Sartucci] argued that a COVID-19 advisory task force formed by Montgomery County Public Schools had violated the OMA.

MCPS created the task force in the fall of 2021, appointing parents, employees, union officials, medical professionals and members of local parent advocacy groups. It was unrelated to the Montgomery County Board of Education, and no board members served on it.

The compliance board ruled that no violation of the OMA had occurred because the group was not a public body.