Structural Antisemitism at MCPS schools

The number of antisemitic acts continue to increase within MCPS schools. At the May 10, 2023 Board of Education meeting two students, Gila Kay, a sixth grader in middle school, and Anya Kleinman, a freshman at Richard Montgomery HS, provided testimony about their, and their Jewish classmates, experiences with almost daily harassment and antisemitic threats. Apart from 'community conversations' MCPS has done little to address this issue. In fact, MCPS staff were asked repeatedly to address antisemitism in their antiracism audit, and they refused. Repeatedly.

Gila Kay stated that "Somebody told me as a quote unquote joke that my Jewish friend and I should be put in a concentration camp." She said, "I've seen swastikas on multiple desks at my middle school."

Here is Gila Kay's testimony in full. Both testified and there was no response from any member of the Board of Education, or staff.

Intruder searching for girl enters Springbrook High School undetected, witnesses say..Witnesses and school officials estimate the man was in the building for at least 20 minutes.

Montgomery County Police cited a man living in a homeless shelter for criminal trespass after incident. He was not arrested

SILVER SPRING, Md. — Montgomery County police have cited a man with criminal trespassing after he entered Springbrook High School in the White Oak Section of Silver Spring Thursday without being detected by school authorities.

Witnesses say the man told students he was searching for a girl he had met at a nearby McDonald's. Concerned students made videos of the intruder wandering in hallways and alerted school officials.

Witnesses and school officials estimate the man was in the building for at least 20 minutes. The man left before administrators and security workers could react...

Man trespassing at Springbrook High School entered behind student | wusa9.com

Schools Will Honor Raises, Won’t Raise Class Size in ‘Difficult’ Budget...McKnight vowed. However, she added, “Out of necessity, some things must go.”.. [But not expense] accounts and unmonitored @mcps credit card use. Those stay.

Montgomery County Board of Education members discussed the “difficult choices” they face paying for programs after the Montgomery County Council’s adoption of Fiscal Year 2024 budget.

Montgomery County Public Schools will receive $74.3 million less than it requested.

While MCPS will receive the most money ever from the County Council, it needs additional funds due to increasing enrollment, inflation and salary increases.  MCPS’ FY 2025 budget looks even grimmer as one-time federal grants will expire by then as BOE members stressed at their Thursday business meeting.

“Next year’s fiscal cliff is looming on the horizon,” said Superintendent Monifa McKnight.

Regardless of any fiscal reductions, “We will honor our negotiated contracts, and we will not raise class size,” McKnight vowed. However, she added, “Out of necessity, some things must go.”..

Schools Will Honor Raises, Won't Raise Class Size in 'Difficult' Budget - Montgomery Community Media (mymcmedia.org)

County report reveals that highest paid MCPS employees tend to live outside of Montgomery County

For MCPS employees, there is a striking inverse correlation between earnings and the inclination to reside in Montgomery County. The statistics for FY2023 highlight this stark disparity, with a mere 58.6% of highly compensated administrators and principals choosing to make Montgomery County their home, in contrast to a significantly higher proportion of 81.6% among relatively low paid clerical workers, janitors, teachers' aides, and blue-collar employees.

These findings strongly suggest that principals and administrators are opting to establish their residences outside of Montgomery County not due to financial constraints, but rather because they perceive other counties as more conducive to their preferred way of life. Meanwhile, it is noteworthy that relatively modestly paid secretaries, janitors, and blue-collar workers continue to favor Montgomery County as their place of residence, despite the often-cited "lack of affordable housing" in the area.

The situation is equally discernible among teachers affiliated with the MCEA, as they, too, exhibit a higher tendency to reside outside of Montgomery County compared to their lower-paid counterparts, such as secretaries, janitors, and blue-collar workers represented by the SEIU. In fact, the data from FY2023 illustrates that only 63.8% of teachers chose to reside in Montgomery County, whereas a substantial majority of 81.6% of SEIU members elected to call Montgomery County their home.

 https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/council/Resources/Files/agenda/col/2023/20230512/20230512_3.pdf

Pages 43 to 44 (PDF 47 to 48):

MCAAP - Montgomery County Association of Administrators and Principals -- Typically paid $130,000 to $300,000.

MCBOA- Montgomery County Business and Operations Administrators -- Typically paid $80,000 to $130,000.

SEUI - Service Employees -- Typically paid $20,000 (part time) to $50,000.

MCEA - Teachers -- Typically paid $57,000 to $110,000.

Given the above data, it seems disingenuous for teachers to claim that they can't afford to live in Montgomery County when a significantly greater percentage of lower paid MCPS employees are able to afford to live in Montgomery County. 

Memorial Day

 Remembering and honoring all who lost their lives for our country.

Walter Johnson High School Charging Students $71 to Attend Free Public School Graduation. FYI: There are no fees to attend MCPS graduations.

The Maryland legislature and the Montgomery County Board of Education have not authorized the charging of any fees for attendance at MCPS graduations.  There are no legal senior dues or fees to attend Montgomery County Public Schools.  That fact becomes clear when a comparison of high schools shows that some MCPS high schools don't have any senior dues or graduation fees. 

As the Parents' Coalition has shown over the years, Kennedy High School students are charged the highest "senior dues." 

If any Montgomery County Board of Education members would like to explain why Kennedy High School students have been targeted for these illegal fees, we would be happy to post their explanation.

wj-senior-letter---class-of-2023.pdf (montgomeryschoolsmd.org)

The 16 yr old charged with killing another teen inside the Wheaton Metro station is a tenth grader at Magruder High School.

The 16 yr old charged with killing another teen inside the Wheaton Metro station is a tenth grader at Magruder High School. After listening to evidence in a bond review today the judge called the violence a “sad state of affairs”. Emmanuel Simmonds was ordered held without bond. pic.twitter.com/7TZaAWX0i3

— Paul Wagner (@paulcwagner) May 25, 2023

Former MCPS transportation official pleads guilty to felony theft scheme

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (7News) — A former Montgomery County Public Schools Department of Transportation official pleaded guilty to theft on May 18...

...Recently obtained documents allege Ewald charged more than $460,000 on his MCPS-issued credit card between 2016 and 2022.

Those purchases include gift cards, furniture and items that were allegedly shipped to his home --- not to MCPS.

Other records show Ewald appeared to have paid off a loan for a $64,000 Lincoln Navigator with off-the-books reimbursements...

Former MCPS transportation official pleads guilty to felony theft scheme | WJLA

Opinion U.S. surgeon general: I am concerned about social media and youth mental health

 

Vivek H. Murthy is the surgeon general of the United States.

“It’s a different kind of love, the love you have for your children,” my father would often say when I was growing up. When I became a parent and found myself hovering over my children’s cribs late at night to make sure they were okay, I understood. Nothing is more important than keeping our kids safe and giving them every chance to grow and thrive. As they reach adolescence, this means paying attention to how social media can affect their health and well-being.

When I travel around the country talking with parents, the No. 1 question they ask me has to do with social media: “Is it safe for my kids?” Nearly 70 percent of parents say their job is harder now than it was for parents 20 years ago, mainly because of technology and social media...

Opinion | U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy warns of social media for kids - The Washington Post

Tonight 5/22/23: Is Montgomery County Cutting Corners When Trying to Close the Digital Divide?

 Monday, May 22, 2023, 7PM EDT, Webinar

PRESENTERS:
THEODORA SCARATO — Executive Director, Environmental Health Trust

MITSUKO HERRERA — Program Director, Montgomery Connects, Montgomery County Office of Broadband Programs

SABINE NESCHKE — Policy Analyst (business and technology issues), Bipartisan Policy Center

 

Public infrastructure is more than roads and bridges. Bridging the "digital divide" is important for improving educational, economic, health, and political equity. Montgomery County is increasing broadband service locally by expanding infrastructure for 5G mobile technology. But what questions are county officials asking in the process, and how can residents understand the impacts of this effort?

 

FREE. PUBLIC ALWAYS WELCOME.
Register here for the Zoom with opportunity for Q&A.
Watch Live on Facebook here!

Washington Post Buries MCPS Embezzlement Story and Leaves out Details: Ex-Montgomery Co. schools transportation employee pleads guilty to theft scheme

...The report from the Montgomery County inspector general found that some employees in the school system’s transportation department frequently misused county-issued purchasing cards, including more than $133,000 in prohibited purchases made by Ewald. It did not name Ewald directly in the report, but noted he had been placed on leave. A separate state audit found further evidence of ongoing theft, thousands of dollars in questionable credit card purchases and an “off the books” vendor account used by department employees...

Ex-Montgomery Co. schools transportation employee pleads guilty to theft scheme - The Washington Post

2 people injured after 'serious collision' involving Montgomery County school bus

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (7News) — Two people were rushed to the hospital after a "serious collision" involving a Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) school bus, officials said.

Just before 7:45 a.m., crews with the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS) responded to the area of Plum Creek Drive and East Village Avenue in Gaithersburg for a crash involving a school bus.

Police said their preliminary investigation revealed that the school bus was turning left from Plum Creek Road onto East Village Avenue when it was struck by a BMW traveling on East Village Avenue...

2 people injured after 'serious collision' involving Montgomery County school bus | WJLA

Update: @mcps Seth Adams Blames Parents for MCPS Poor Planning. Einstein HS will lose Tennis Courts. @mcps Seth Adams to Punish Students for His Poor Planning.

Portable Classrooms Placed at Einstein High School Tennis Court

Albert Einstein High School in Kensington is losing one of its tennis courts to make way for portable classrooms, and athletes there are not happy.

The portable trailers are needed due to over enrollment at the school, explained Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) spokesperson Jessica Baxter...

Portable Classrooms Placed at Einstein High School Tennis Court - Montgomery Community Media (mymcmedia.org)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Let's remember who is behind all of these decisions. The Board of Education delegated all of their authority so they can hide and deny knowledge of decisions like these.  

From MCPS Staff Directory:

***FYI*** Carbon Dioxide: The Invisible Indoor Air Pollutant in California's Classrooms

Poor ventilation and air quality in California's schools could be impacting students' health and academic performance

Carbon Dioxide: The Invisible Indoor Air Pollutant in California’s Classrooms – NBC Bay Area

***Breaking*** Atty Gen of MD Letter of Advice: County Council Violates State Law when it appoints, swears-in, and seats its appointees to the MNCPPC before the County Executive’s 30-day veto period expires. [Which is what they did in October of 2022.]

Exclusive:

Ag Lett of Advice Mncppc by Parents' Coalition of Montg...

@mcps Seth Adams putting classroom trailers on Einstein High School Tennis Courts. This is a consequence of a Board of Education that has checked out.

UPDATE: Petition to Save the Einstein Tennis Courts!

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

In April, the Board of Education voted to delegate land use authority to MCPS Department of Facilities Management Director Seth Adams.  The Parents' Coalition highlighted that decision because that decision will have consequences to schools across the county.  

Today we see an example of a consequence of the Board of Education delegating their authority.  

According to a Tweet from the Albert Einstein High School football team, Seth Adams has made a decision to place classroom trailers on the Einstein High School tennis courts.  

If true, obviously that decision wipes out the tennis team or any tennis instruction.  

That's of no concern to Seth Adams. He's not an elected official and he's not accountable to anyone.  His $172,885 salary is set. 

The Board of Education can claim they don't know anything about this decision and ignore complaints from students. 

 

Day 1: Hey @MCPS why are you taking away facilities from our school and community for more portables? Putting portables on tennis courts? Please provide and explanation and cite your evidence as to how this is equitable to our students

— AEHS Football (@AEHSfootball) May 17, 2023

MCPS Giving Parking Spaces at Gaithersburg Middle School Over to Public Use. Board of Ed. Approved this on their Consent Agenda. Board Did Not Discuss Security Issue.

 

MCPS is Piloting Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

...Additional pilot charging stations will be installed at Gaithersburg Middle School and are expected to be operational in July. These stations are available to be used by MCPS staff, students and the general public. Both locations will have Level 2 chargers that can charge a vehicle’s electric battery from empty in 4-10 hours, or a plug-in hybrid battery from empty in 1-2 hours. The cost per kWh is $0.18. There are three ways to pay:..

MCPS is Piloting Electric Vehicle Charging Stations - The MoCo Show

*****

Watch the Montgomery County Board of Education agree to give away school parking spaces to the public without discussion of security issues or discussion of any compensation for use of school land. 

Vandalism, Police Training Take Over Abandoned MOCO School. Board of Education Allows School to be Vandalized... #RollingwoodElementarySchool

Chevy Chase residents are concerned about vandalism at the old Rollingwood Elementary School after a French international school moved out.

...Neighbors were caught off guard in early February when the Montgomery County Police Department used the vacant school grounds for SWAT training. One resident who was out for a jog saw a police officer point an assault rifle at her during the training session.

Other residents have seen teenagers climbing in and out of broken windows at the old Rollingwood Elementary School, which is owned by Montgomery County Public Schools. Neighbors are worried teens are using the vacant building at 3200 Woodbine Street —adjacent to scenic Beach Drive and parks along Rock Creek — as a gathering place to take drugs and engage in other dangerous activities...

...Another Rollingwood resident, who asked not to be identified, told Patch that "it’s fair to say I am less-than-impressed with MCPS's efforts in communicating with the residents of the nearby blocks about the school overall — security, planned events, future plans, or otherwise."..

..."When walking around the building, it was obvious that all doors are open and unlocked, many windows are now broken, and the inside of the building is trashed," he told his neighbors. "Some windows are even intentionally blacked out with trash bags, suggesting they want to conceal their activities further."..

Vandalism, Police Training Take Over Abandoned MOCO School | Bethesda, MD Patch

Silver Chips: The rise of truancy and chronic absenteeism

The room was slowly filling up as the first-period bell rang. People trickled in, and some pulled out phones while others chatted away about plans for the weekend. There was just one slight problem; the room wasn’t a classroom, portable or band room, but rather one of Blair’s many bathrooms.

If you go to Blair, that probably comes as no surprise. It seems every week or so that the administration tries something new to get students to go to and stay in class. After taking a closer look, this new wave of absenteeism seems to be impacting Blair in unprecedented ways...

The rise of truancy and chronic absenteeism | Silver Chips Online (mbhs.edu)

Damascus High ‘brooming’ sex assault lawsuit can go to trial, judge rules. [...school officials knew of at least three, earlier sexual assaults inside Montgomery County high school locker rooms...]

The federal litigation stemmed from locker-room sex assaults by junior varsity football players in Maryland

...“Plaintiffs have put forward evidence that a reasonable jury could conclude that reckless or callous indifference occurred here,” U.S. District Judge Peter Messitte said from the bench.

Attorneys for the families say that school officials knew of at least three, earlier sexual assaults inside Montgomery County high school locker rooms, including an alleged 2017 incident among Damascus football players involving a broomstick that has emerged as perhaps the most critical and contentious part of the litigation. The families also say school officials, partly motivated to protect the powerhouse football program, allowed a player to remain on the JV squad despite his history of violence and sexual harassment, and that they left the JV locker room unchecked for an hour every day between the end of classes and the start of practice...

 https://wapo.st/3o1DMCT

Happy Mother's Day

 Wishing all our mothers a wonderful Mother's Day.

Baltimore: 11 News learns of 4 finalists for superintendent of Baltimore County schools

...BCPS received 24 applications from 15 states for the superintendent's job. The list has since been whittled down to four people. Sources told 11 News that those being considered include:

• Myriam Yarbrough, a BCPS deputy superintendent who is the only in-house candidate who made the cut.
• Robert Taylor, a former candidate to become Mississippi's state school superintendent and a former high-ranking educator in North Carolina.
• Kenny Rodrequez, superintendent of schools in Grandview, Missouri, since 2016.
• Kentucky Education Commissioner Jason Glass, who has held his role since 2020...

Exclusive: There are 4 finalists for BCPS superintendent (wbaltv.com)

Investigative Reporting: Two more alleged Catholic Church abusers revealed: ‘It still haunts me’

...Authorities redacted names from the report of some alleged abusers and church officials under an order from the courts. That’s frustrated survivors and their advocates, who have been working with reporters to identify the individuals.

The Banner used court and property records along with details from the survivor’s interview to identify the alleged abuser as Michael V. Scriber. Two additional people said they were either abused by or suspected Scriber of abuse, according to the report. The attorney general’s office declined to comment for this article.

In addition, The Banner used church directories that list priests’ job assignments to identify the Rev. Joseph G. Fiorentino as redacted priest No. 148 from the report. Fiorentino served for more than a decade at Our Lady of Pompei in Highlandtown in the 1960s and ’70s. His whereabouts today are unknown to the archdiocese and the attorney general’s office. The Banner was also unable to locate him...

Council Supports School Contracts But Not Entire Funding Request

Montgomery County Councilmembers Friday voiced support for fully funding Montgomery County Public Schools’ employee contracts but appeared unlikely to fully fund the school district’s entire budget request.

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich requested a 10-cent property tax increase in his proposed $6.8 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2024. That includes a $3.2 billion allocation for MCPS, which is a $288.5 million increase from the previous year.

During an often-times emotional and testy discussion, councilmembers discussed keeping many of the district’s financial requests as high priority but moving two others to a lower category...

Council Supports School Contracts But Not Entire Funding Request - Montgomery Community Media (mymcmedia.org)

***Breaking*** Board of Education Cited for Violating 4 Sections of MD Open Meetings Act: Board of Ed Hid in Closed Session and Did Not Disclose Discussions on Multiple Topics. @mocoboe @mcps

The Maryland Open Meetings Compliance Board has cited the Montgomery County Board of Education for violating the Maryland Open Meetings Act by failing to disclose what they were discussing in a Closed Session.

Violating the Maryland Open Meetings Act is not a sign of an open and transparent public body. It's not the first time they have been cited and it won't be the last as the Board of Education has consistently shown they have no intention of abiding by the Maryland Open Meetings Act. 

From the Opinion:

...The Complainants assert that the resolution “contains only uninformative boilerplate language” and therefore violates the Act. We agree that the required disclosures are missing necessary details...

 

...Here, the Board of Education invoked four exceptions under § 3-305(b) that required disclosures: the personnel matters exception of § 3-305(b)(1), the collective bargaining exception of § 3-305(b)(9), and the legal advice and litigation exceptions of §3- 305(b)(7) and (8).3 Each disclosure is lacking in some respect...

 ...Merely restating the language of the exception itself was insufficient and a violation of the Act...

The following Maryland Open Meetings Act Opinion was issued in response to a Complaint filed by Janis Zink Sartucci on behalf of the Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, MD. 

  

16OMCB224 Montgomery County... by Parents' Coalition of Montg...

16OMCB224.pdf (marylandattorneygeneral.gov)

**Breaking: 5/11/23 Board of Education to Unanimously Support Using Dedicated School Land in Gaithersburg for Cell Towers Instead of School***

At the May 11, 2023, Montgomery County Board of Education meeting the Board of Education will unanimously vote to give away more school land to a private, for-profit corporation.

Why not? Schools aren't needed, correct?  Public school land should be just given away for free to private for-profit corporations, correct?  Meanwhile Montgomery County residents should have to pay more in taxes to support the public schools.  

Here's the Board of Education resolution that is on the Board's Consent (no discussion) Agenda for Thursday, May 11, 2023. 

The Board of Education will be giving away 36 square feet of dedicated, public school land for free. 

This will add to the already large cell tower compound at this school site. Click here for the Google Earth view of the cell tower compound that the Board of Education wants instead of a school. 

The cell tower compound at this school site is so large at this site that the land can no longer be used for a public school. 

The Resolution says: 

On November 5, 2021, DISH Wireless LLC received site development approval from the City of Gaithersburg to place antenna and ground equipment at the existing telecommunications site at the Woodwards Road future school site...

But no such approval exists in the City of Gaithersburg permitting records.  Why not just make up approval?  Who cares? 

Here's a corrected version of the Board of Education Resolution:

Council Votes to Raise Recordation Tax to Add Funding for @mcps Construction [And MCPS Personnel Because those Costs are Also Hidden in the Capital Budget]

The County Council yesterday voted to raise a tax rate in order to provide additional funding for Montgomery County Schools construction and capital projects, as well as increase funding for rental assistance.

“The recordation tax premium will increase from its current rate ($2.30 per $500) as follows: recordations between $600,000 and $750,000 will be charged $5.75 per $500; those more than $750,000 to $1 million will be charged $6.33 per $500; and those valued at more than $1 million will be charged $6.90 per $500,” the release continues...

Montgomery County council looks to reduce MCPS funding to lower 10% tax hike (fox5dc.com)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here's what's hidden in the MCPS Capital Budget, more personnel!  

fy2023_appendix-e_non-operatingbudgetpositions.pdf (montgomeryschoolsmd.org)

Middle School Student Critically Injured While Crossing Street in Germantown

A middle school student was critically injured while attempting to cross the street Tuesday night near Seneca Valley High School.

According to police and Councilmember Will Jawando, at 8:53 p.m. a 15-year-old male was crossing Wisteria Drive after Great Seneca Highway, when for reasons still under investigation he was struck by a high school student, who was driving an Acura.

The student suffered life-threatening injuries and was transported to the hospital. The driver remained on the scene.

The student remains in critical condition at Children’s Hospital, according to Jawando...

Middle School Student Critically Injured While Crossing Street in Germantown - Montgomery Community Media (mymcmedia.org)

Montgomery County council looks to reduce MCPS funding to lower 10% tax hike

Lawmakers in Montgomery County are trying to trim back a controversial budget increase by Montgomery County Public Schools that would trigger a 10% property tax hike. 

After public reaction and public forums, the Montgomery County Council’s education committee is recommending reducing MCPS’ fund balance by $22.3 million, which would slightly lower the proposed tax hike.  Councilmember Will Jawando – who just announced a run for U.S. Senate – is the committee chair. He told FOX 5 that MCPS should tap into its unused funds. 

"We voted 3-0 to recommend to reduce by $22.3 million which is equivalent to 1% of the tax increase because of the fund balance. The school system's been carrying a pretty large fund balance of $25 to $35 million," said Jawando...

Montgomery County council looks to reduce MCPS funding to lower 10% tax hike (fox5dc.com)

'Waste of time': Community college transfers derail students

America's high school graduates are often encouraged to start at a community college before getting a bachelor's degree, but the money-saving move rarely works as planned

First came the good news. After taking classes at a community college, Ricki Korba was admitted to California State University, Bakersfield, as a transfer student. But when she logged on to her student account, she got a gut punch: Most of her previous classes wouldn’t count.

The university rejected most of her science classes, she was told, because they were deemed less rigorous than those at Bakersfield — even though some used the same textbooks. Several other courses were rejected because Korba exceeded a cap on how many credits can be transferred.

Now Korba, a chemistry and music major, is retaking classes she already passed once. It will add a year to her studies, plus at least $20,000 in tuition and fees.

“It just feels like a waste of time,” said Korba, 23, of Sonora, California. “I thought I was supposed to be going to a CSU and starting hard classes and doing a bunch of cool labs.”..

'Waste of time': Community college transfers derail students - ABC News (go.com)

A spokeswoman for Montgomery County Public Schools declined to answer questions... ...The case took a year to put together...

 

Prosecutor alleges Md. parents watched teen daughter ‘slowly die’

The 911 call was bad enough: an unresponsive teenager inside a Maryland townhouse. It was only when police arrived that they understood the full horror of what was happening.

A 17-year-old victim, who weighed 79 pounds and for months couldn’t move on her own, had been living on a makeshift bed in the living room, the windows of the home covered in blankets, officials said Thursday. Inside were the girl’s parents and six other minor children as young as four years old, according to court records...

...Maryland law stipulates that parents or guardians who opt to home-school their kids have to annually verify their home-school program with the local school system or another institution that provides oversight.

The parents are required to submit reviews to the local school system. and school officials can ask for material that proves the student is receiving regular instruction. But the reviews can only be conducted at a time and place mutually agreed on by both the parents and the school system.

Montgomery County Public Schools requires reviews in December or January and May or June of each year, said schools spokeswoman Jessica Baxter, but there is no state requirement that students have to be present for their reviews — only their academic work does. Baxter declined to provide information about whether annual reviews were conducted for the Moore family in the 2020-21 and 2021-22 school years, again citing privacy laws...

Prosecutor alleges Md. parents watched teen daughter ‘slowly die’ - The Washington Post

MCPS pilots vape detectors in six high schools’ bathrooms

Through a new pilot program, MCPS will be installing vape detectors in the bathrooms of six high schools: RM, John F. Kennedy, Northwood, Paint Branch, Quince Orchard and Walt Whitman. Installations begin this week and they will remain until the end of the school year. 

There are three separate detection systems, designed to alert staff via text or email when they identify smoke or vape fumes...

MCPS pilots vape detectors in six high schools’ bathrooms, including RM – The Tide (thermtide.com)