Former First Grade Teacher Indicted on Felony Drug Charges

Sarah Katherine Magid, a former first-grade teacher at Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), was indicted Thursday on felony drug charges and ordered held without bond.

Magid, 34, of Burtonsville, was arrested in August following the March 23 death of a Washington, D.C. man from fentanyl toxicity. She is not charged in the man’s death.

She is charged with distribution of a controlled dangerous substance, which is a felony, as well as five other drug charges. A scheduling hearing is set for Oct. 18.

Magid was taken into custody without incident following a search of her home by Montgomery County Police and special agents from the U.S. Drug Enforcement (DEA).

According to a previous police report, Montgomery County police detectives and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration specialists learned that the victim was in Montgomery County “in the days leading up to their death” and that a person identified as Sarah had been in contact with him.

Magid remains on leave from the school district, according to a spokesperson. She is listed in the staff director as unassigned in human resources and development...

Former First Grade Teacher Indicted on Felony Drug Charges - Montgomery Community Media

Natali Fani-González on WAMU: "We need more transparency from MCPS."

 WAMU link Go to minute 46 of the broadcast for Councilmember Natali Fani-Gonzalez's response

to a question about the announcement that MCPS was owed $1.5 million dollars from Highland Electric Fleets

and/or HET MCPS, LLC their electric school bus vendor.

Latest revelation over electric bus contract at Montgomery Co. schools provides a jolt at hearing

Montgomery County, Maryland, school officials were already in the hot seat over the school system’s management of a $160 million contract for a fleet of 326 electric school buses when they shocked members of a county audit committee at a hearing this week.

A July Montgomery County Inspector General’s report found that the school district failed to assess $372,000 in performance fees it could have assessed to its vendor, Highland Electric Fleets, for failures to live up to terms of its contract. Issues cited included the late delivery of buses and periods when buses were inoperable due to charging or other issues.

On Monday, Dana Edwards, chief of district operations for Montgomery County Public Schools, told the members of the county council audit committee that MCPS had “invoiced the contractor” to the tune of $1.5 million.

Montgomery County Inspector General Megan Limarzi didn’t hide her surprise: “I’m only hearing today that the number that has been invoiced is $1.5 million,” and she said an “enormous concern” for her office would be to learn more about the details of the terms. Making sure that the contract is enforced mattered, explained Limarzi, “because the vendor is supposed to make sure MCPS has the buses they need to get the children to school.”..

Latest revelation over electric bus contract at Montgomery Co. schools provides a jolt at hearing - WTOP News

New Maryland education policy aims to address literacy scores, could hold back third-grade students

MARYLAND (DC News Now) — This week, a new Maryland education policy was passed that allows third graders performing poorly in reading to be held back or get additional help.

This policy comes after Maryland went from ranking No. 4 to No. 41 in the country regarding fourth-grade literacy scores in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reading assessment.

“It’s important, it’s extremely important that we help build a society where we help our students become quality [students] and ready to perform in the 21st century.”..

New Maryland education policy aims to address literacy scores, could hold back third-grade students | DC News Now