Michael Durso’s long history with MCPS draws pointed reactions to his new role

Former board member, principal with more than 44 years of education experience named acting chief of staff

Montgomery County Public Schools has hired former Board of Education member Michael Durso to serve as the acting chief of staff after the departure of Brian Stockton...

...Cram declined to disclose Durso’s pay to MoCo360, writing that a Maryland Public Information Act (MPIA) must be filed. Durso told MoCo360 that his pay will likely hover around a $230,000 yearly salary, although his pay has not yet been finalized and papers still need to be signed.

The chief of staff has one of the highest paid positions in MCPS. In February 2023, MoCo360 reported that as chief of staff for MCPS, Stockton made a yearly salary of $226,244...

...Janis Sartucci, a member of the Parents’ Coalition, a watchdog parent advocacy group, told MoCo360 that the group believes Durso is the wrong person to bring to the school system as it is in “recovery mode.”

Sartucci also stated that while Durso was a member and president of the school board, he had the opportunity to update the MCPS Code of Conduct in a way that could have prevented the long-term abuses of principal Joel Beidleman.

The watchdog group is left wondering: Why MCPS is “recycling” former school board members?

https://moco360.media/2024/01/10/michael-dursos-long-history-with-mcps-draws-pointed-reactions-to-his-new-role/

Report: MCPS Should Strengthen Romantic Relationship Disclosure Requirements

A report by the Montgomery County Inspector General’s office declared allegations of misconduct by senior Montgomery County Public School officials “unsubstantiated.”

However, the report that was released Wednesday did note that there were “opportunities for improvement regarding the disclosure of romantic or sexual relationships between staff, as well as requirements that MCPS staff cooperate with investigations.”..

https://www.mymcmedia.org/report-mcps-should-strengthen-romantic-relationship-disclosure-requirements/

Montgomery County high school teacher charged with DWI in fatal North Carolina crash

MCPS Superintendent Smith Leaves Loopholes in Employee Code of Conduct

MCPS Superintendent Jack R. Smith has issued the Employee Code of Conduct for the 2018-2019 school year.  However, Superintendent Smith has left two major loopholes in the Code of Conduct.  Superintendent Smith and the Board of Education were notified that these loopholes existed in March of this year.  Yet, these two major loopholes are still present in the 2018-2019 Employee Code of Conduct.   

As noted in Jennifer Alvaro's Critical Changes Needed to Correct MCPS’ Flawed Response to Prevent & Interrupt Abuse of MCPS Students (shown below) the following two loopholes are still in the MCPS Employee Code of Conduct.  

o Current loopholes which must be changed: 

o MCPS is not documenting all violations.

MCPS has written a loophole into this section. Note the word, “may”. “In some circumstances, a supervisor or manager may determine that an employee’s conduct does not warrant formal disciplinary action but does warrant a clarification as to expectations regarding future conduct. In such cases, the supervisor or manager may provide written guidance”   

o Recommendation: delete the word may. Insert must.

o Change the “nice guys get a pass and jerks get disciplined” loophole.

 Currently: “In making a determination as to the appropriate level of disciplinary action in each case, consideration of mitigating factors (such as an employee’s long history of good service with a clean record or an indication of less culpability on the part of the employee) or aggravating factors (such as placing others at risk of serious injury, demonstrating intentional wrongdoing, or indifference to the effect of an action or the outcome on others) may be considered.” 

1. As a Certified Sex Offender Treatment Provider (VA) I can assure you, offenders who are “nice” and have a clean record of good service are inevitably the ones who have a far higher number of victims then the guys who are jerks. This section demonstrates whoever wrote this has no understanding of how offenders groom other adults prior to grooming children for abuse. It is exactly this type of sentiment, “he’s so nice, he was teacher of the year, etc” that allowed so many MCPS offenders to operate for so long. See Vigna & Blair magnet math teacher. 

   Montgomery County Public Schools Employee Code of Conduct by Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland on Scribd

   Urgent Changes Needed regarding Montgomery County Public Schools and Child Abuse by Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland on Scribd

Open Letter to Superintendent: MCPS has yet to correct the flaws, loopholes and shoddy implementation of the policy and regulations regarding child abuse and neglect.

From: jennifer alvaro 
Date: Thu, Oct 19, 2017 at 10:32 AM
Subject: Child Sexual abuse in MCPS
To: "Smith, Jack" , MCPS of Education
Cc: "Harris, Darlene M" , "Napoli, Sandra L" , "Gray, Martha M" , "Turner, Derek G" , Donna Hollingshead ,

Dr. Smith and County School Board Members,  

Please be aware over the past year,  despite numerous contacts with MCPS (in the form of  personal conversations with Dr. Smith, emails to Dr. Smith and email exchanges with MCPS staff, radio appearances with MCPS staff) MCPS has yet to correct the flaws, loopholes and shoddy implementation of the policy and regulations regarding child abuse and neglect. 

Two recent examples are presented here.   First, the Personal Body Safety Lessons are still not being implemented correctly in schools. One example is last week at Cloverly elementary school the counselor ran a parent meeting to discuss the PBSL.   The counselor  stated numerous times she only had to teach one lesson to each grade.  When a parent read the information below (supplied by your staff),  the counselor continued to assert she had the discretion to change the lessons as she sees fit.

It should be obvious to those who stay informed on this issue, if there is any school in the entire county who should be embracing teaching this program correctly, it should be Cloverly.   John Vigna was only caught due to a brave child reporting her abuse after taking this program.   As you know, MCPS did an internal investigation of his abusive behaviors in 2008, another internal investigation in 2013 and must have reviewed all the information again in 2015 after Dr. Starr's December memo to review all files for suspicious / abusive behaviors.  Yet, despite all that, Vigna was left in the classroom.   

In a school where victim blaming and shaming was rampant in meetings and court, it becomes even more critical for the PBSL and parent meetings to be run with compassion and with fidelity.  

I have asked you before, and I will ask you again, will you please immediately issue a directive to all school staff with specific instructions this program must be taught at all grade levels, every year?    The program itself has serious flaws (for example: at some levels it is a "one and done" which is not best practice, and it is not taught every year to every student as you state) but never the less, you do have clear proof it is keeping children safe.

A second glaring example of the way MCPS is handling abuse is this month alone, two MCPS staff members have been arrested for sexually abusing students.   One of them worked at Carderock Springs elementary school for over a year.   A letter went home to Carderock parents stating parents should share information they have with police.   No such letter went home to parents at Pyle Middle school where former Carderock Springs students are enrolled.  Don't parents of former students deserve to have this information so they may act? 

I have been asking since 2012 for these issues to be addressed appropriately and thoroughly.   I will continue advocating for the flaws, error, loopholes and mismanagement of this to be corrected.   Children are currently being left at risk and will suffer as a result of both your action & inaction.   

I welcome the opportunity to speak to you all further about these concerns. 

Sincerely, 

Jennifer Alvaro 

------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: "Hollingshead, Donna"

To: jennifer alvaro 

Cc: "Napoli, Sandra L" ; "Harris, Darlene M" ; "Gray, Martha M" ; "Turner, Derek G"

Sent: Wednesday, June 28, 2017 5:17 PM

Subject: RE: Follow-up to your Message to Dr. Smith

 

Good Evening Ms. Alvaro:

 

This message is in response to your email to Dr. Smith, in which you requested clarification regarding our personal body safety lessons (PBSL) at Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS).   As you are aware, in our effort to play an active role in preventing child abuse and neglect, MCPS staff members, in conjunction with partners, developed PBSLs to complement the Comprehensive Health Education curriculum.

 

As noted in the May 31, 2017 response letter to your Maryland Public Information Act request, counselors work under the direction of principals and in coordination with the Office of Student and Family Support and Engagement. They are provided with lessons that they are expected to use in their schools. However, as the December 8 memorandum titled “Action: Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Personal Body Safety Lessons for Students” indicates, counselors in Grades 6-10 have the option of where to implement the lesson.  These options include during Health classes, other classes or in small groups.  I have spoken to Mr. Turner and he regrets if he misspoke during the phone conversation with the students.

 

Additionally, I would like to take this opportunity to provide a clarification to your reference of “the full 3 session curriculum.”  Included for your reference below is a chart of the PBSL lessons requirements by grade for the 2016-2017 school year.

Police said the counselor, Colin S. Black, 33, who has worked at Albert Einstein High School in Kensington, had consensual sex with the women and then forced them to perform sex acts they did not want to do.

Counselor at Md. high school arrested on sex offense charges with women he met on Tinder

A counselor at a Maryland high school was arrested Thursday on sex offense and assault charges after allegedly forcing himself on adult women during two incidents, each involving acquaintances he met on the social media app Tinder.

Police said the counselor, Colin S. Black, 33, who has worked at Albert Einstein High School in Kensington, had consensual sex with the women and then forced them to perform sex acts they did not want to do.

School Principal James G. Fernandez sent a letter to school families Thursday, informing them of the arrest and noting that the charges did not involve students or minors, or happen on school property. He said student safety remains a top priority.

“These charges are deeply troubling,” he wrote. “This type of behavior does not reflect the principles of MCPS or our community, and it will not be tolerated,” a reference to Montgomery County Public Schools.

In court papers, detectives alleged that one woman went to Black’s Rockville apartment March 24 and that the two had intercourse. Afterward, Black allegedly ignored the woman’s pleas as she repeatedly told him to stop other sex acts, according to documents filed in court.

Police said other allegations also have come to light about an alleged assault from December 2016...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/counselor-at-md-high-school-arrested-for-sex-offenses-with-women-he-met-on-tinder/2017/10/19/3d723422-b4f2-11e7-be94-fabb0f1e9ffb_story.html?utm_term=.5b29e9e6119f#comments

Police Left Counselor in Einstein HS for 6 Months After First Complaint

MCPS UNAWARE OF INVESTIGATION PRIOR TO HS COUNSELOR’S ARREST FOR SEX CRIMES 

Officials from Montgomery County Public Schools said they were unaware police had been conducting an investigation of a local high school guidance counselor for sexual assault allegations until the man was arrested this week. The investigation began nearly seven months ago, according to Montgomery County Police Department spokesperson Sgt. Rebecca Innocenti.

"We just learned of the investigation and arrest yesterday," Montgomery County Public Schools spokesperson Gboyinde Onijala said.

Colin S. Black, 33, a guidance counselor at Albert Einstein High School, was arrested Thursday morning on charges of second-degree sexual offense and second-degree assault, according to an Oct. 19 MCPD press release...

http://www.thesentinel.com/mont/news/local/item/5954-mcps-unaware-of-investigation-prior-to-hs-counselor-s-arrest-for-sex-crimes

Tuesday 1/24 - Sentencing of BCC High Teacher Todd Scriber #sexabuse

 Court Scheduling Information
(Schedule is subject to change)

Event Date:	01/24/2017 Event Time: 08:30 AM Judge: GREENBERG, ROBERT A
Location:	50 Maryland Avenue North Tower Courtroom 9a Courtroom: 9A
Description:	SENTENCING

Former B-CC High School Teacher Convicted of Two Counts of Child Sex Abuse: Teacher took surreptitious photos of his students

MCPS Parent on Minnesota Rock the Schools: Child Sexual Abuse in Schools #PassingtheTrash #grooming #mcps #CodeofConduct

About Rock The Schools with Citizen Stewart
Hosted by: Chris Stewart
Executive Producer: Monique Linder
Stewart’s mission with “Rock The Schools” is to “create a greater educational opportunity for black communities by grounding the school reform debate in black history and transformative black thought.” Stewart believes “this is done by challenging the dominant trope of anti-school reform activism, and illustrating connections between the liberationist principles of yesterday’s black struggles, and today’s education proposals (e.g. “privatization,” school choice, and charter schools).” Stewart’s tag “Public education for an educated public” begs the question of accountability.


About MCPS parent Jennifer Alvaro

Open Letter to Superintendent Smith: Due to secrecy, obfuscation and an unwillingness to follow the law, the public is once again left to guess at what MCPS is, or in many cases is not, doing to protect our children.

 

"Derek G. Turner" , "jack_smith@mcpsmd.org" , MCPS Board of Education , Craig Rice , "councilmember.elrich@montgomerycountymd.gov" , Councilmember Navarro's Office , "roland_ikheloa@mcpsmd.org"

 

Good Morning Dr Smith, 

Regarding the sexual abuse of students by staff,  I have, for over the past four  years,  been demanding  MCPS follow the  law, update policy and procedures and as importantly, I have been trying to get MCPS to act in a transparent manner regarding this issue.    MCPS formed a work group due to my advocacy; a  work group which has now been disbanded with no notice.

While some very good work has been started on this issue, there remains a great deal to be done.    Due to secrecy, obfuscation and an unwillingness to follow the law, the public is once again left to guess at what MCPS is, or in many cases is not, doing to protect our children.   Based on my twenty two years of work in this field I can assure you, when people and systems have to guess what is being done, children will continue to be abused. 

Please be advised Dr. Smith, concerned parents have not been deterred by MCPS  refusal to meet with us and share information.    

  

Most recently, after making formal, repeated requests via email and in person (since August of 2015) and  a MPIA request in October of 2016, we learn MCPS still has no policy regarding social media guidelines for staff and volunteers.     This is  disappointing to say the least,  as among the dozens of employee sex offenders MCPS has had on staff over the past years, many of them have used technology to groom and abuse children.    

Parents continue to be concerned our children are being held to a higher standard than your employees.   First when our children had a code of conduct for their behaviors but the adults did not. There is now a code of conduct for employees but, not surprisingly after advocating for a year for a link to the adult code to be posted on your child abuse page and finally getting the link put up, it was quietly and quickly removed.     Presently, our children have clear standards for their electronic media use and in fact a new curriculum (announced last week) is being rolled out to reinforce those concepts.  While I fully support this initiative, I find myself again asking why my children are held to a higher standard than the adults tasked with their care.   

Narrowly focusing in on the social media issue, I ask you Dr. Smith, 

• Will you direct your employees to swiftly finish the work they have told me was almost done in August of 2015?    

• Will you investigate why (despite a recent arrest of staff who used social media to groom and assault a teen girl) your staff has still not prioritized much less completed  the employee social media guidelines?     

More specifically, I also ask you Dr. Smith:

• Will you direct your staff to complete the work necessary to fully implement the new policy and procedures put in place last year regarding abuse and neglect?   
• Will you have your staff close the loopholes and correct the errors in the policy and regulations which were implemented last year?  
• Will you direct your staff to issue one, comprehensive report detailing all aspects of the implementation of the new policy and regulations; or, is it acceptable to you to have quarterly reports (each focusing on small parts of but never the whole) spread out so there is no complete annual report on what has actually been done over the past year? 
• Will you direct your staff to comply with MPIA laws and release documents regarding the sexual harassment policy and it's implementation?    
• Will you require your staff to comply with multiple MPIA requests to provide an accurate list of MCPS employees who are tasked with implementing and monitoring this complex task?    
• Will you  tell parents how it is acceptable for your staff  (representing you at the policy management committee meeting with BOE members on 9/20/16), when asked to discuss the child abuse policy,  to state "we are not here to talk about the policy"? 

I have  and will continue to  work with the hope and conviction these things will be done in order to protect our children and prevent the inevitable harm which will occur if these actions are not taken.  Please be advised due to the work group being disbanded and a refusal on the part of MCPS to share information, I will continue to file MPIA requests to get your answers to the questions I am asking.

I emailed you in August 9, 2016 requesting a meeting to discuss this and other critically important issues surrounding the protection of our students.  I never received a response.  So,  I am again asking you if you will find time to prioritize this issue and meet.  

I hope to hear from you, 

Jennifer Alvaro

MCPS parent and advocate

What MCPS Does Not Have: Code of Ethics for Educators - Here is Model Code from NASDTEC

MCPS administrators and Board of Education (BOE) members love going to conferences. Apparently, this is one organization that doesn't have a conference that MCPS or the BOE attend.  

Montgomery County Public Schools does not have a Code of Ethics for staff. 

Here is a Model Code of Ethics for Educators that is put out by the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification.  


Read it and then send the Board of Education a copy.  
They have never seen anything like this before. 

Principle I:  Responsibility to the Profession

Principle II:  Responsibility for Professional Competence

Principle III: Responsibility to Students

Principle IV:  Responsibility to the School Community

Principle V:  Responsible and Ethical Use of Technology

Glossary

Rationale for Development of MCEE

Provide a Brief Comment on the MCEE

Provide a full review of the MCEE

Principle III: Responsibility to Students

The professional educator has a primary obligation to treat students with dignity and respect.  The professional educator promotes the health, safety and well being of students by establishing and maintaining appropriate verbal, physical, emotional and social boundaries. 

A. The professional educator respects the rights and dignity of students by:

1. Respecting students by taking into account their age, gender, culture, setting and socioeconomic context;
   
2. Interacting with students with transparency and in appropriate settings;
   
3. Communicating with students in a clear, respectful, and culturally sensitive manner;
   
4. Taking into account how appearance and dress can affect one’s interactions and relationships with students;
   
5. Considering the implication of accepting gifts from or giving gifts to students;
   
6. Engaging in physical contact with students only when there is a clearly defined purpose that benefits the student and continually keeps the safety and well-being of the student in mind;
   
7. Avoiding multiple relationship with students which might impair objectivity and increase the risk of harm to student learning or well-being or decrease educator effectiveness;
   
8. Acknowledging that there are no circumstances that allow for educators to engage in romantic or sexual relationships with students; and
   
9. 
   Considering the ramifications of entering into an adult relationship of any kind with a former student, including but not limited to, any potential harm to the former student, public perception, and the possible impact on the educator’s career. The professional  educator ensures that the adult relationship was not started while the former student was in school.
   

B. The professional educator demonstrates an ethic of care through:

1. Seeking to understand students’ educational, academic, personal and social needs as well as students’ values, beliefs, and cultural background;
   
   
2. Respecting the dignity, worth, and uniqueness of each individual student including, but not limited to, actual and perceived gender, gender expression, gender identity, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, race, ethnicity, socio-economic status, and culture; and
   
3. 
   Establishing and maintaining an environment that promotes the emotional, intellectual, physical, and sexual safety of all students. 
   

C.  The professional educator maintains student trust and confidentiality when interacting with students in a developmentally appropriate manner and within appropriate limits by:

1. Respecting the privacy of students and the need to hold in confidence certain forms of student communication, documents, or information obtained in the course of professional practice;
   
   
   
   
2. Upholding parents’/guardians’ legal rights, as well as any legal requirements to reveal information related to legitimate concerns for the well-being of a student; and
   
3. 
   
   
   Protecting the confidentiality of student records and releasing personal data in accordance with prescribed state and federal laws and local policies.

ABC7 Counselor Crackdown: Preventing summer camp sex abuse