@PerrisFox5DC MAGRUDER HIGH SCHOOL SHOOTING: There are still more questions than answers after a 15-year-old student was shot Friday at Magruder High School in Montgomery County. Today school and law enforcement officials provided more insight into how they responded to the situation. (1/2)

Authorities have not said what led to the shooting or where it took place inside the school.

This clip is from our report Friday night. This student who says he knew the victim told us he heard there was some sort of fight before the shooting. pic.twitter.com/mQ0hgJA9wF

— Perris Jones (@PerrisFox5DC) January 23, 2022

School apps track students from the classroom to bathroom, and parents are struggling to keep up

...Some schools, like those in the Montgomery County public school district in Rockville, Md., are more receptive to parents policing their children’s technology. Ellen Zavian, a lawyer and professor at George Washington University Law School, has cleared her middle-school aged son to use Google’s education software, but not ClassDojo.

“At the beginning of every school year I send the principal what my son’s allowed to be on and what he’s not allowed to be on, and thus far my local schools have been incredibly supportive and have been willing to learn from me as I have been willing to learn from them,” Zavian said. “My goal is to give my child the smallest footprint possible, to give him the largest opportunity possible.”..

...Privacy attorney Brad Shear has two elementary-age kids in the Montgomery County schools. He has been vocal about parental privacy rights and successfully lobbied the district to adopt an annual “data deletion week.” Now, the school purges any unnecessary data about students from tools like Google’s education suite, keeping essential information such as grades.

However, if the district does decide to test e-Hallpass in more schools, Shear and other parents are ready to mobilize against it.

“I will not allow this app to be utilized in my kids’ schools, period. If the app ends up getting rolled out I will make sure that I get the PTA involved,” Shear said. “This is bathroom big brother.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2019/10/29/school-apps-track-students-classroom-bathroom-parents-are-struggling-keep-up/?arc404=true

MCPS OFFICIALS OFFER RECOMMENDATIONS ON SCHOOL SAFETY

...“I think parents are an important part of the solution and they’re sort of missing from the report,” Huebner said. “So, I’m interested to see if there are any ways we can work more closely with the school on these issues…Sometimes parents are aware of school safety issues that may not be known to the schools. The schools may be aware of school safety issues that the parents aren’t aware of. I think that communication between the two is really critical in making sure that children are protected and feel safe.”...

...Furthermore, MCPS should compile an inventory of and then assess all “school-sponsored prevention and early intervention programs” regarding harassment, bullying and intimidation at the high schools, and then develop “a systemwide approach to implement the most effective programs.”...

http://www.thesentinel.com/mont/news/local/item/5778-mcps-releases-interim-report-on-school-safety-and-security

Detectives Investigate Eleven Purse Thefts from Schools in County; Photographs of a Suspect Released

What is going on with MCPS security?  Why were all of these schools so easy to enter undetected?  What does this say about the state of security in our public schools? 

Detectives from the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) are investigating 11 thefts of female employees’ purses from nine area schools that occurred in May and June.  Two of these thefts occurred in Rockville City and MCPD detectives are working with the Rockville City Police Department regarding those incidents.  Investigators believe that multiple thefts were committed by the same suspect whose photograph is being released today in hopes that someone recognizes him.

Investigators have received reports from 11 female employees who work at nine different schools/child care centers located in the County whose purses/wallets were stolen from a school classroom or office by an unknown suspect(s).  (The thefts are outlined below).  The victims’ stolen credit cards were then used to purchase items at stores.

During each of these thefts the suspect located an unattended classroom/office, found the employee’s purse/bag, and stole the entire purse or wallet or removed the victim’s cash and credit cards and left the purse/wallet.  At three of the schools the suspect was approached by personnel who inquired about his purpose in the school.  The suspect provided a brief response like he was with the cleaning staff or was a member of camp staff and then would quickly leave the area.  The suspect would then go to stores in the County, to include Target, Safeway, Best Buy, and Giant, and use the victims’ credit cards to buy merchandise.

The total amount of fraudulent charges placed on these victims’ credit cards has exceeded $13,000 and is growing.  (Investigators have not received final amounts for some of these fraudulent purchases so this amount will increase).  The total amount of cash stolen from these eleven victims is approximately $500.

Surveillance photographs of a suspect who used four of the victims’ credit cards at stores (from incidents in Germantown, Bethesda, and Silver Spring) were obtained by detectives and are being released to the public.

These thefts remain under investigation.  Anyone with information about this suspect or these thefts is asked to contact 2nd District detectives at 240-773-6710. For those who wish to remain anonymous, Crime Solvers of Montgomery County is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for any information that leads to the arrest of the unknown suspect. Tipsters can call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).

Thefts of Purses/Wallets from Schools:

May 9 – Twinbrook Elementary School, 5911 Ridgway Avenue, Rockville, approximately 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm – Rockville City Police Department

May 19 – Little People Daycare, 12720 Royal Carriage Drive, Germantown, approximately 3:00 p.m.

June 1 – Georgetown Hill Early School, 850 Nelson Street, Rockville, approximately 9:00 am to 1:00 pm – Rockville City Police Department

June 8 – Rock Creek Forest Elementary School, 8330 Grubb Road, Silver Spring, between approximately 5:45 pm  – 6:00 pm

June 9 – Montgomery Child Care – Garrett Park, 4806 Oxford Street, Garrett Park, between approximately 11:00 am and 4:30 pm – Note: Two victims at this school

June 14 – Somerset Elementary School, 5811 Warwick Place, Chevy Chase, between approximately 1:40 pm and 3:00 pm

June 19 – Bethesda Elementary School, 7600 Arlington Road, Bethesda, between 10:30 am and 3:00 pm – NOTE: Two victims at this school

June 21 – Silver Spring International Middle School, 313 Wayne Avenue, Silver Spring, between 12:30 pm and 1:30 pm

June 29 – Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy, 13300 Arctic Avenue, Rockville

Video: Mont. Co. Police Statements on Rockville High School 911 Response, Investigation, Security Review @mcpnews

Driving high: MCPS students speak out

It’s 11:30 p.m. Students emerge from the darkness of the Whitman parking lot and head toward their car.  Less than an hour ago, everyone in the car, including the driver, took several hits from a bong. Despite their daze, the kids pile into the car, and the driver pulls out into the neighborhood.

This isn’t an uncommon tale for Whitman students. Many students admit to driving while high on marijuana—and a lot of them said they believe it poses almost no risk.

“I didn’t really notice much of a difference,” a senior said. “I was still able to concentrate, and I didn’t really notice it until I got home that I was that high.”...

http://theblackandwhite.net/54865/feature/driving-high-students-speak-out/

NPR: Investigation by member station KPCC, which obtained emails between Deasy and tech executives that bring into question whether the initial bidding process was fair. #JohnDeasy #Pearson #Apple #Ipads

"...Pearson software wasn't ready..." 

Deasy "not uncommon to meet with" vendors prior to competition...

NPR:  The LA School iPad Scandal: What You Need To Know

A massive expansion of classroom technology has come to a grinding halt in Los Angeles.
The L.A. Unified School District had planned to buy some 700,000 iPads for its students and teachers. The Apple tablets would include learning software built by publishing giant Pearson. But Superintendent John Deasy announced earlier this week he is cancelling the contract and restarting the bidding process.
The decision comes on the heels of an investigation by member station KPCC, which obtained emails between Deasy and tech executives that bring into question whether the initial bidding process was fair. First, some context...
The goal of the expansion was simple yet ambitious: to equip every student in the nation's second-largest school district with a tablet computer. The expected price tag for equipment, software and wi-fi upgrades to schools: $1.3 billion...

...Then came the emails.
"Looking forward to further work together for our youth in Los Angeles!" Deasy wrote to Marjorie Scardino, then Pearson's CEO, on Tuesday, May 22, 2012, after hearing an initial pitch over lunch.
"Dear John, It's I who should thank you," Scardino replied. "I really can't wait to work with you."
KPCC reports these notes were going back and forth long before the tech contract was ultimately opened for competitive bidding:
KPCC's investigation found Deasy and his deputies communicated with Pearson employees over pricing, teacher training and technical support — specifications that later resembled the district's request for proposals from vendors. Pearson and Apple emerged as the winning bidders and were awarded the now-abandoned contract in June 2013...

New Council Report Reveals Complaints about MCPS Procurement Process

On July 29, 2014, the Montgomery County Council released a report from their Office of Legislative Oversight entitled Procurement and Small, Minority, Female, Disabled and Locally-Owned Businesses.  The Council requested this project in order to examine the County’s procurement process, particularly for small and minority, female, disabled, or locally-owned businesses. Appendix F of this report contains comments from businesses. A number of the businesses commented on the MCPS procurement process even though this report is limited to Montgomery County procurement. 

The comments about MCPS are interesting coming on the heels of the MSI Soccer litigation against the Board of Education concerning the procurement process for selecting artificial turf field partners. 

Over the last 8 years the Parents' Coalition has documented a number of these same issues cited by these businesses.  

Will the Montgomery County Council pay any attention to the comments in this report?

• I have two complaints. Montgomery County based businesses should get priority. Perhaps a 5% advantage. The printing supply bid for MCPS schools should be put out every year and not be rolled over for three years.

• Montgomery County Schools, college and other agencies that procure institutional style educational furniture, primarily purchase everything from ONLY 1 or 2 vendors. Many local county vendors never get an opportunity to participate. Procurement policy discourages competition. Purchases are almost exclusively made through the state's BRCPC contract or agencies develop their own contracts. Once a contract has been established, it can be renewed for years. The opportunity to bring new vendors or products in is almost impossible. Once a vendor has been awarded a contract, an agency can "standardize" on that product and purchase only it for what ever price the "authorized dealer' selects. Montgomery County should bring back the bid process. It should be the function of procurement to seek out local qualified vendors. Procurement should provide equal access to contracts by not limiting the scope of the specification to favor 1 or 2 vendors. There is no reason to limit the period of time to a small window to place items on a contract. Procurement should go back to using bids and seek out local vendors. There should be either a limit or some oversight to the amount of procurement that can be given to the same vendor.

• A new bid was created for school pictures and the county didn't have good information for the basis of the process.

• I am a local MBE/DBE office furniture dealership, living in Montgomery County as well as owning a business located in Montgomery County. My children attended Mont Cty Public Schools. Yet, as both a business and residential taxpayer the majority of the furniture business is awarded to a vendor outside the County. It has been virtually impossible getting assistance that is meaningful.

• I never see any bids for commercial printing. I know the public schools send a tremendous amount to Virginia, but neglects to keep it in Maryland. I went to Montgomery county schools. A bit surprised Maryland businesses are not valued

  OLOReport2014-11ProcurementandSmallMinorityFemaleDisabledandLocallyOwnedBusinesses by Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland

MCPS High School Monitors Hallways With Mirrors After Students Caught Having Sex

http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Maryland-High-School-Monitors-Hallways-With-Mirrors-After-Students-Caught-Having-Sex-256442671.html

Does MCPS Separate Alleged Perpetrators from Victims in School Sex Assaults? Richard Montgomery HS Sex Assault Charges

The Parents' Coalition has obtained a copy of a Montgomery County District Court charging document that details the March 18, 2014, arrest of an 18 year old Richard Montgomery High School student for a 4th degree sexual offense that is alleged to have taken place at the school on February 27, 2014.  The victim is a 14 year old student at the school.  The incident is alleged to have taken place in the school at 10 AM while school was in session.

The charging document was forwarded to the Parents' Coalition by a source that wishes to remain anonymous. Our source tells us that when the family of the victim contacted the school they were told to not tell anyone about this incident.

At 1 PM today we contacted the Montgomery County State's Attorneys' office for a comment on this charge as it had, as yet, not been covered in the media.

By 4:34 PM this afternoon the Richard Montgomery High School principal sent out a notice to parents informing them of this incident.  The Gazette reported on the incident by 8:30 PM this evening.

Unfortunately, Montgomery County does not redact the names of minors in charging documents, so we will not be making the actual document public.  We have seen this in other Montgomery County sexual assault cases and it is very disturbing.  Other counties in Maryland do redact the names of minors.

We were told by our source that the alleged perpetrator is still a student at Richard Montgomery High School.  The victim is also still attending Richard Montgomery High School.

Is this how MCPS deals with students when a sexual assault has been alleged and an arrest has been made? 
The victim and alleged perpetrator are left in the same school? 
Is there any concern that the alleged victim would be bullied or harassed?

The letter sent to Richard Montgomery parents and guardians this afternoon is very vague.  We have reprinted it below.  The Gazette article says:

...Montgomery County Public Schools spokesman Dana Tofig said the school has taken steps to reduce the number of places that students can hide from security. The measures include using mirrors and additional surveillance, according to Tofig.

Now remember that MCPS installed 70-80 state of the art security cameras at each high school.  The cameras are everywhere.  Did MCPS security cameras record this sexual assault?  We know the security cameras are not monitored, but did anyone review the tapes from this alleged February 27th incident?

MCPS is now saying security cameras are not sufficient and "mirrors" must be installed?  How many "mirrors" will each school get?
Remember that the security cameras are better than hiring additional security staff. That's the MCPS motto!

So what happened in this incident at Richard Montgomery High School? From the District Court charging document: 

(victim) agreed to skip class with (alleged perpetrator) and to meet with him in the hallway by the vending machine beside the attendance office. 

[sexual activity described] (victim) informed (officer) that this sexual act continued for approximately 20 minutes

Here's what Richard Montgomery High School parents and guardians were told today:

-----------------------------------------------
From: Richard Montgomery High School
Date: Tue, Apr 22, 2014 at 4:34 PM
Subject: School Update 

A message from RICHARD MONTGOMERY HIGH SCHOOL

Dear Richard Montgomery High School Community, In late March, our school was contacted by the family of a female student about a possible sexual assault that occurred during the school day which involved a male student.  Given the seriousness of the allegations,  we immediately involved the police. The administration and security staff of Richard Montgomery High School worked closely with the City of Rockville Police Department and the Montgomery County Police Department as they investigated this incident. An arrest has been made in this case. As a result of this event, we are reexamining our security protocols and building supervision by the school administration, security, and staff.  As always, safety is our top priority at Richard Montgomery High School.   Together we will continue to provide a safe, secure environment for our students to learn and grow. If you have additional questions, please contact Mrs. Afie Mirshah.  Thank you for your continued support. *************************************** Nelson McLeod, PhD Principal, Richard Montgomery High School 250 Richard Montgomery Drive Rockville, Maryland  20852 301-610-8000

Breaking News: IG Confirms MCPS Can Spend Without Documentation, Without Bids, Without Competition

How to spend $20 MILLION+ of taxpayer dollars:

Step 1:  Take a trip to London and a trip to Florida and a trip to Texas and speak in Washington, D.C. for 1 vendor

Step 2:  Pick that vendor's product as the "technology standard" (no documentation required)

Step 3:  Write check to vendor for $20 MILLION+

Step 4:  Do not take any competitive bids, do not compare products, do not shop.

According to the Montgomery County Inspector General (IG) the above MCPS procedure for procurement is in compliance with Maryland law.

The IG does say:

..."However, we did notify MCPS that lack of documentation supporting a standard may be subject to challenges by stakeholders and competing vendors, and could even present appearances of improper financial relationships."...

  Mcps Promethean Acq Final Report 30 Nov 2013 by Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland

9,000+ MCPS Elementary Students in Trailers, Doctors Warn Frostbite Can Happen in Minutes.

...Doctors warn that frostbite can happen in minutes.
"A first-degree frostbite is redness to the tissue when it warms up, a second-degree is blistering, and a third-degree frostbite is actual death of tissue," said Dr. Donald Steiner, Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital.
Chicago Public Schools will be open for classes on Monday and Tuesday next week despite the cold temperatures.
CPS spokesperson Joel Hood said any students who can't make it to school will be given excused absences, but the schools will remain open to give students a warm, safe place to go.
Because of the dangerous cold weather, all schools in the state of Minnesota will be closed Monday. The governor of Wisconsin is considering the same action. The city of Milwaukee has already announced there will be no classes there...  More from ABC Chicago.

From The Weather Channel: A chart showing how long it takes for frostbite to occur at various temperatures.

http://www.weather.com/outlook/recreation/ski/tools/windchill/

MPCS students are going to be outside of main buildings during Tuesday, January 7th's record cold.  That means that just to go to lunch or to the bathroom these students will have to experience these record cold temperatures. The majority of the students in classroom trailers are in elementary school.

  CIP15AppendixD by Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland

MCPS COO Larry Bowers to Speak on Financial Transparency and MCPS

Montgomery County Taxpayers League Meeting

Thursday, December 12, 2013 - 7:00 - 9:00 pm

5th Floor Conference Room

Council Office Building100 Maryland Avenue,Rockville, MD 20854

Topic: "Financial Transparency and the 

Montgomery County Public Schools System" 

Speaker: Larry Bowers, Chief Operating Officer, 

Montgomery County Public Schools

Why is the Board of Education Removing Security Cameras in Schools?

7220.1 Security Camera Removal at Various School Locations

Awardee:  Geek Security and Wire Installation, Inc.* $ 30,000
-------------

Sorry, we can't answer the question. The Board of Education voted to do this on their Consent Agenda on September 23, 2013, without any discussion.

See for yourself:

http://mcpsmd.swagit.com/play/09232013-712

Councilmember Hans Riemer Drafting Facebook Law

As an elected official is it ethical for Councilmember Hans Riemer to attempt to use the power of his position to silence citizens? 


From Facebook September 11, 2013: 

Hans Riemer First I am drafting a bill that makes it a civil violation to lurk on someones facebook page and comment on every post that they make!

Gazette: Montgomery County schools to get more unmonitored security cameras

Montgomery County Public Schools will see new security measures including cameras added at its buildings after the County Council voted Tuesday to allocate both state and county funds toward the efforts that will cost about $9 million.
The vote Tuesday approved $1.67 million in new county funds to add to about $3.1 million already approved within the county’s capital improvements program.
The roughly $9 million in new security spending includes about $4 million from a state school security initiative — money the county had to match to receive, said James Song, director of the school system’s department of facilities management... 

...County Councilman George Leventhal (D-At large) of Takoma Park raised the concern he said he heard from a constituent that the cameras would not be continuously monitored. (then he voted for the funding)... 

...County Councilman Marc Elrich (D-At large) of Takoma Park said he was concerned that the cameras would only be used to look back for evidence of an incident that had occurred, rather than helping direct security to an ongoing situation. (then he voted for the funding)... 

...and, don't miss this statement from MCPS staff, it's all on the kids... 

Song said the system’s next steps regarding security will include developing programs and drill practices to ensure kids are prepared.

 http://www.gazette.net/article/20130716/NEWS/130719225/1124/montgomery-county-schools-to-get-more-security-cameras&template=gazette

Council to Approve Fake Security for Schools - $5.8 Million

On Tuesday, July 16th at 1:30 PM the Montgomery County Council will hold a public hearing and then immediately vote to approve the expenditure of $5,860,000 for what is being called "school security."

Will this expenditure actually do anything to keep students safe during the school day?  The vast majority of these funds will go to an outside vendor for interior school cameras that will NOT BE MONITORED.  So the answer is no, these cameras do nothing to keep students safe in real time. These cameras are only used as evidence of crimes after the fact and bear no relationship to the real time safety of students.

The Montgomery County Council's Education Committee already discussed this funding request and unanimously approved it.  Listen to the discussion for yourself and hear MCPS' Robert Hellmuth, Director of School Security, say

  "The cameras are really never monitored."

Remember, Mr. Hellmuth puts cameras in schools so there will be less security staff!  

Can law enforcement investigations be "shut down" for "partisan reasons" in Montgomery County?

That's the allegation from former Montgomery County Inspector General Thomas Dagley in today's WUSA9 story:

In  May, Montgomery County's former Inspector General Thomas Dagley wrote to Kanstoroom, alleging that law enforcement investigations into the matter had been "shut down" for "partisan reasons."  

If Mr. Dagley's allegation is true then that would explain a lot about why investigations in to MCPS procurement and spending never result in reports to the public.

Another no-bid procurement coming to Montgomery Co.?

Why not? This is how we buy Promethean Boards, artificial turf, visitor entry systems, security cameras in schools, and the first batch of exterior bus cameras that we don't want to use anymore. Why use a Request for Proposal (RFP) when you can just go shopping!

...Richard Harrison, program manager of MCPD's Automated Traffic Enforcement Unit, has said each camera will likely cost between $5,000 and $8,000, and the county can either put out a request for proposals or negotiate a deal with the vendors it currently uses for speed and red-light cameras...

Patch:  County Council Backs School Bus Cameras

Suddenly, Ethics rode into town.

When was the last time the Montgomery County Board of Education's Ethics Panel met to discuss a possible ethics violation?  How many years has it been? 


What has brought about this sudden change at MCPS? Could it be that there is a new sheriff in town? 


What about all of the other conflicts of interest that have existed for years on the ranch? Will the new sheriff push for a review of those issues as well, or was this just a one time ethics review just for show? 


In December of 2011, the MCPS Ethics Panel actually met, discussed an ethics issue, and issued an Opinion.  The Opinion is shown below with the names of the parties redacted.  

Redacted Montgomery County Board of Education Ethics Panel Advisory Opinion