‘Worst part of day is recess': Elementary school awaits new playground

Several parents say Montgomery County Public Schools removed unsafe playground equipment from an elementary school but have been slow to replace it, leaving students with little to do during recess.

Parents are often looking for ways to keep their kids active. One said that’s been a challenge for her third grader at East Silver Spring Elementary School this schoolyear.

She said the school hasn’t had a playground since April.

“That leads to maybe more behavioral challenges in the classroom when they can’t get their wiggles out,” she said.

“My son comes back and says the worst part of the day is recess, which is pretty sad for a third grader,” Liz Osborn said.

Parents like Osborn even came out of pocket donating almost $200 worth of play equipment to the school. She said it shouldn’t have reached this point...

https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/worst-part-of-day-is-recess-elementary-school-awaits-new-playground/3728170/

2022-- CBS Report on Handcuffs in Hallways: Mother of handcuffed 5-year-old speaks as WJZ looks at child arrests in Maryland schools. [$275,000 Settlement]

The Montgomery County case recently settled and dates to January 2020. 

The release of body-camera video led to nationwide outrage. 

That video begins with officers encountering the child hiding by a car after teachers said he had a tantrum in the classroom and ran out of his elementary school in Silver Spring.

They placed him in the police cruiser and brought him back.

The video, more than 50 minutes long, shows an officer screaming at the crying child and another officer grabbing him and calling him names.

One officer said to "crate him" and he was acting "like a little beast."

Another officer said, "We need to have a conversation with his mom. This is like a little Chucky doll."..

..."We counted 19 times where one or both police officers threatened a beatIng in some manner of the child or suggested that he should be beaten. 19 times in front of him during the entire 51-minute video," Papirmeister said...

...You can access Maryland's student arrest data here...

"The Office of the County Attorney for Montgomery County, Maryland has announced the settlement of the lawsuit involving the Jan. 14, 2020 incident at East Silver Spring Elementary School. The parties settled all claims arising from the incident. The family received a total of $275,000 from the County's Self-Insurance Fund. Of that total, $220,000 was paid on behalf of Officers Dionne Holiday and Kevin Christmon and $55,000 was paid on behalf of the Board of Education for Montgomery County.  Pursuant to the "Release and Settlement of Claim" agreement, the parties released each other from all claims with no admission of liability with the lawsuit to be dismissed with prejudice.

Handcuffs in Hallways: Mother of handcuffed 5-year-old speaks as WJZ looks at child arrests in Maryland schools - CBS Baltimore (cbsnews.com)

‘From the jump, an attack.’ Child trauma experts weigh in on police video @mcps #EastSilverSpringElementary

 

The encounter began calmly enough.

“Come here, buddy,” police officer Kevin Christmon asked a 5-year-old boy who had just run off from his school in Montgomery County, Md.

But his tone quickly turned stern and commanding. He grabbed the boy’s arm to pull him to his squad car. And what followed, experts say, was an extended encounter that didn’t just terrify the child, it ran counter to how police officers — when well-trained and acting properly — can be ideally suited for such situations...

...Adults in the room

Two educators were inside the assistant principal’s office for much of the time that Holliday and Christmon berated the child. Holliday likened the child to a “little beast” and said someone should “crate him.” She called him a “shepherd for the devil,” and asked the educators how the boy could be expelled and moved to a different school. “He got to go somewhere else,” she said.

Hanson, the South Carolina professor, said the educators should never have let the police officers stay in the office: “It seems like it would have been very easy for them to say, ‘Thank you for bringing him back. We’ll take it from here.’ ”

Even after the officers remained there, the educators still could have acted to blunt any emotional damage to the child.

“A kid can go through a pretty stressful or traumatic experience and not result in a trauma reaction or trauma symptoms — if you have the presence of a supportive caregiver,” Griffin said. “So had a school administrator stepped in or somebody said, ‘Hey, this is not okay, you are safe. We’re going to make sure that you’re safe,’ if somebody would have served as a buffer for him, it could have helped him to regulate.”..

Yelling cops missed the chance to comfort a scared 5-year-old, experts say - The Washington Post

$55,000 Settlement on behalf of Board of Education reached over police encounter with 5-year-old who left elementary school in Silver Spring

...The settlement money will be paid out from county’s Self-Insurance Fund. Of the $275,000, $220,000 is being paid on behalf of the officers involved in the incident, Officers Dionne Holiday and Kevin Christmon, while the other $55,000 is being paid on behalf of the Board of Education...

Settlement reached over police encounter with 5-year-old who left elementary school in Silver Spring (fox5dc.com)

After being placed on leave and switching schools, administrator moving again

A Montgomery County Public Schools administrator is switching assignments for the second time in two months after her connection to an episode in which police officers berated and harassed a 5-year-old boy.

Justine Pfeiffer was present, as an assistant principal at East Silver Spring Elementary School, in 2020 as two Montgomery County police were aggressive in their treatment of a 5-year-old boy who walked away from school...

https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/schools/after-being-placed-on-leave-and-switching-schools-administrator-moving-again/

Parents at Thurgood Marshall ES were not told that the new ass't. principal was moved from East Silver Spring ES

When MCPS staff told parents at Thurgood Marshall Elementary School they were getting a new assistant principal, MCPS staff did not mention that the person was the same assistant principal implicated in the abuse of the kindergartner at East Silver Spring Elementary School. Dr. Hasson tweeted and wrote the letter below.

Dear Members of the Board of Education:

I am writing to you with concerns about the recent placement of Justine Pfeiffer as the new assistant principal at Thurgood Marshall Elementary School (TMES). As you are likely aware, Ms. Pfeiffer was the assistant principal at East Silver Spring Elementary School in January 2020, when a kindergarten student was berated and handcuffed by police after leaving school grounds. She, among others, have been named in a lawsuit brought by the child’s mother that has garnered international attention (see https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9185349/Mom-sues-cops-handcuffed-verbally-assaulted-son-5-wandered-class.html). According to allegations, neither Ms. Pfeiffer nor any of the other MCPS staff present intervened as the child experienced nearly an hour of verbal and emotional abuse by the officers involved. Ms. Pfeiffer was reportedly present throughout this ordeal. 

Per the Bethesda Beat, Ms. Pfeiffer was placed on administrative leave in April 2021, after the video of the incident surfaced (see: https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/schools/mcps-employee-on-leave-after-watching-police-berate-handcuff-5-year-old/ ). It is unclear if she returned to work at East Silver Spring Elementary School or simply was reassigned to TMES. 

Of note, TMES parents were informed via email on June 30, 2021 that a new assistant principal had been assigned. In the initial email, Ms. Pfeiffer’s name was misspelled and a second email, correcting the misspelling, was sent a few days later. Neither email mentioned her previous school placement, only noting that she has served as an assistant principal for two years and was previously an elementary educator. I have enclosed a screenshot of both of the messages at the end of this letter. In fact, had it not been for Caitlynn Peetz’s reporting, parents at TMES would not have been informed of Ms. Pfeffer’s involvement in the East Silver Spring incident (see https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/schools/administrator-switches-schools-amid-controversy-over-police-treatment-of-boy/ ). This lack of communication with the parents is concerning and certainly does not foster a relationship of trust between staff and parents.  

In addition to concerns regarding her involvement in the incident at East Silver Spring Elementary School in January 2020, I have the following questions/concerns:

1- Does the time on leave count towards her probationary period as a new administrator?

2- What trainings has she participated in in the interim to ensure she understands mandated reporting laws and how to deescalate these situations? Will parents be informed of these trainings? Moreover, is she currently being supervised/mentored to mitigate against a similar event occurring?  

3- Why were TMES parents not informed of Ms. Pfeiffer’s prior placement and her history? 

4- Why is she continuing to work in an administrative capacity when there is an active lawsuit with serious allegations against her and others? 

MCPS is working to reframe the year using a PROSPER 100 model. With PROSPER 100, the first goal is to put students first. Is placing an administrator who is currently named in a civil lawsuit due to an incident that occurred under her watch truly putting students first? Another goal of PROSPER 100 is to reestablish a culture of respect. How does not informing parents of an administrator’s history establish a culture of respect?

As a parent, I request that MCPS reconsider its placement of an administrator, who is currently cited in a civil lawsuit due to actions that occurred in/around an MCPS building, at another school. Moreover, MCPS needs to be more transparent with its communication with parents. One of the reasons I love TMES is that it is an accepting community. I am sure had this transition been handled differently, such as with the community being informed of Ms. Pfeiffer’s placement, given a chance to ask questions and express concerns, and told of the trainings she has participated in to mitigate the risk of a similar incident happening again, we would have been at least open to the placement. However, this placement was done in secrecy and without informing parents and other stakeholders. We found out about Ms. Pfeiffer’s history via some investigative reporting by Ms. Peetz rather than being told upfront. Frankly, this is unacceptable and merely serves to support the narrative that MCPS is secretive and no longer making the students a priority.

Do better, MCPS. Be better. It’s time to step up and really put the students first.

Please feel free to contact me at any time if you would like to discuss this matter further.

East Silver Spring ES Ass't. Principal Justine Pfeiffer now appointed Asst. Principal at Thurgood Marshall ES amid controversy over police treatment of boy

Justine Pfeiffer, who was the assistant principal at East Silver Spring Elementary School, was involved in an incident with a kindergarten child at the school. The child was screamed at, threatened, and handcuffed. The incident caught national attention.  Now Ms. Pfeiffer is being moved to Thurgood Marshall Elementary School, where she will hold the position of Assistant Principal.

Former East Silver Spring assistant principal now at Thurgood Marshall Elementary. Story by reporter Caitlynn Peetz. Full story here.

A former administrator at East Silver Spring Elementary School who was investigated for her role in an incident in which a 5-year-old was berated and handcuffed by police has begun a new job at Thurgood Marshall Elementary School in Gaithersburg.

In April, Assistant Principal Justine Pfeiffer was put on administrative leave as the school district investigated its staff members’ involvement in the incident, which was caught on police body camera footage and sparked widespread outrage.

Board of Education: The school board also argued that there is no law establishing a duty for school staff members to intervene to protect students from alleged police misconduct.

...In a separate court filing, the Montgomery County Board of Education asked that allegations that school staff members were negligent and violated the boy’s rights be dismissed.

The board argues that, although the child exited the school, he was in the presence of the assistant principal and was supervised.

The lawsuit alleges that Pfeiffer, the assistant principal, was within feet of the boy when police arrived...

https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/courts/in-lawsuit-response-police-officers-deny-mistreating-5-year-old-boy/

East Silver Spring Elementary School Assistant Principal is on leave #MCPS

SILVER SPRING, Md. — A Montgomery County Public School administrator accused of doing nothing to protect the 5-year-old boy placed in handcuffs by police inside an elementary school has been placed on leave, according to two Montgomery County councilmembers...

https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/maryland/assistant-principal-accused-of-doing-nothing-to-help-5-year-old-handcuffed-boy-placed-on-leave/65-e8a64914-7e9b-45ac-9acd-d526e1078b71

Police officers involved in 5-year-old student viral body cam disciplined

 https://wjla.com/features/i-team/police-officers-involved-in-5-year-old-student-viral-body-cam-disciplined?fbclid=IwAR1usWor-oe2J-pulp9m78noaUKz6mNNIBKhVUQbIqydTJXSerEBHGxjU0A

"Every adult in the room really did a disservice" to the little boy says Katz, including school officials when the child was brought back.

WTOP:  Kate Ryan

Now @MoCoCouncilMD holds briefing on a Jan 2020 incident in which a 5 year old boy was taken back to his school by Montgomery County Police. The incident, caught on video shows police yelling at the child, handcuffing him, and urging his mother to beat her child.

President of @MoCoCouncilMD Tom Hucker noted that the case is now in litigation, but said the briefing was needed, but "too much time has already gone by" since the incident more than one year ago. 

Montgomery County Police @mcpdChief opens with a statement. Says as Chief, a father, and a 35 year vet of the force "was deeply troubled by the actions of my police officers" in the case. 

Says the law regarding public employees bars him from discussing disciplinary measures and limits his ability to certain questions. 

Asked why it took so long for the internal investigation, @mcpdChief says a DOJ recommendation of getting those done in 90 days precedes the use of body-worn cameras, and says the investigation took place in the middle of a pandemic. 

"When we do these reviews," Jones says, it must be done in a "fair and just system". Jones says he's been around since 1985 when there were 75 officers in dept. 

Jones said since then, there's been a push to make sure all officers are treated fairly. So in looking at this case, he wanted to be sure that the dept would not be accused of "discriminatory practices". 

Sitting in on the hearing, Montgomery County CAO Richard Madaleno. He points out County Executive's budget includes 2 new internal affairs positions. 

Council President @CmHucker asked what is fireable offense? "An officer committing a felony" said @mcpdChief or lying or "being dishonest" said Jones. 

Hucker asks "Isn't it difficult for an officer" to know exactly what is a fireable offense. Jones says no. 

Hucker asks could the officers in the case--who are both still on the force---could be called out on a case like the one involving the 5 year old boy. "They could" said Jones. Heavy sigh from Hucker. 

CM @MC_Council_Katz opens questions saying "I know you all" and says he appreciates @mcpdChief coming before council, but says a case like this can "Never" happen again "especially to a child." 

Discussion of body-worn camera program, Chief Jones says he has 1 person to do all the redactions on all footage. 

"Video is great" but says "it is not the all to the end-all" says @mcpdChief 

For anyone following, @mcpdChief is the handle for Chief Marcus Jones. (Don't want to confuse anyone.) 

CM @MC_Council_Katz Chair of Public Safety Committee asks how often a child leaves a school and when police might be called. @MCPS Supt Smith says "It is quite a rare" situation when a child (elementary for example) would leave and police would be called. 

Katz said he was asked why police were called. He asks if SRO assigned to school cluster was notified. Chief says he believes the SRO was not notified. 

Katz says he's watched every minute of video, and asks why "wasn't the school in charge of the child at that point" when the boy was brought back to school building and under school supervision. Why did police stay? 

Jones doesn't answer directly, indicating he can't say. 

"Every adult in the room really did a disservice" to the little boy says Katz, including school officials when the child was brought back. 

At this point, CAO Madaleno interjects, noting General Assembly legislation on police powers (wide-ranging bills) being acted on now could have impact in the county. 

CM @RicePolitics asks, what is the policy when a child leaves schools? (Directed to @MCPS Supt Smith) 

CM @RicePolitics asks why the SRO assigned to school wasn't called? @MCPS Super Smith says he can't answer. (there is a current debate on council and state level on SRO's in schools) 

Rice who has been a supporter of SRO's asks, citing the fact that they are trained directly in working with students. 

If an admin feels they witnessed abuse: are they required to report that? @MCPS Super Smith says school personnel are required to report abuse. Rice: did they report this? Smith says can't answer due to litigation. 

Rice asks @MCPS Super Smith what would he have done in a case like that? (Involving the little boy) 

Smith speaks generally on discipline, restorative practices, etc. 

"If you had a definition of school to prison pipeline, you could slot in this video" says @willjawando "Imagine how long it was for this little boy" who was yelled at and "failed" by every adult involved. 

CM @willjawando says people have cited how long the 51 minute video is..."Imagine" he says how long it felt for the 5 year old boy involved. 

Jawando prefaced Q&A asking for answers, knowing that litigation could keep @mcpdChief from answering. One question the Chief does answer...no one should scream at inches from the face of a young child. 

Jawando asks if Chief would support repeal of #LEOBR @mcpdChief said he would not support wholesale repeal, but some elements of that. 

CM @willjawando says anyone who did what he saw on the video "they do not deserve" to serve as a police officer---Jawando says that's his feeling on the matter. 

Jawando asks precisely when @mcpdChief saw the Jan 2020 video--the Chief said he saw it in December---nearly a year later. 

"To say the obvious--this is a very unsatisfying conversation" says @hansriemer says laws barring access to more info on this incident need to be changed. 

"Everyone's hiding behind this lawsuit--what happened happened" says Reimer. 

"We're just potentially perpetuating the problem" said @hansriemer by not conversing more freely about the incident. "Catastrophically flawed" system of discipline in policing, says Riemer. 

"We need to design a matrix for things that happen at schools and then clearly delineate" who should respond "and why it should not be police officers" says @hansriemer Does say that police can offer mentorships that benefit kids, but the system needs a change. 

CM asks when complaint was filed that triggered the investigation into the incident. @mcpdChief says late Jan 2020 complaint filed. 

CM @nancy_navarro says she won't belabor the issue, but says as budget is considered, SRO alternative model should get another look. 

"I still am pretty speechless" said @nancy_navarro Can't imagine-as a mother--"this is a very extreme incident." 

In describing the video, @nancy_navarro struggles for words. "We have some work to do. There aren't a lot of answers today because there's litigation." But she says current legislation addresses some of the issues raised. 

CM @EvanMGlass says training not the issue in this case. Police, he said, were dealing with a crying child. This wasn't a case of lack of "de-escalation" training. Asks about protocols for placing a child in a patrol vehicle. @mcpdChief says no formal protocols 

CM @EvanMGlass asks how a school employee could have witnessed what police did in the video--but @MCPS Super Smith says "I can't describe--specifically this event" says he has "a lot of thoughts and emotions" about the situation. 

Council members @nancy_navarro and @EvanMGlass say that perhaps, a closed meeting is required so that they can get more info, but adds there's a need for public info and understanding. 

CM @Andrew_Friedson says the incident was a failure by everyone involved. Friedson agrees closed session needed to get at questions that can't be answered in public setting. Notification to council was "inadequate" 

CM @albornoz_gabe the last speaker says "This was before the pandemic" and says now with kids who've been through a challenging year with the social and emotional impacts, a need for care. 

"Totally and utterly indefensible" says @albornoz_gabe Notes as the former Director of Recreation, saw law enforcement engage positively with young people. "What I saw on that video...made my stomach turn." 

CM @albornoz_gabe recalls when he was a 5 year old boy and was separated from a group, and how a police officer helped him and treated him with love and care. Says that's still a vivid memory...

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1379503909711061004.html