ABC7: MCPS leaders meet with concerned parents after bus driver's arrest

https://wjla.com/news/local/parents-answers-school-bus-driver-accused-sexually-abuse-special-needs-student

WDVM: MCPS hosted a meeting on issues concerning the bus driver charged with sexual assault

https://www.localdvm.com/news/i-270/mcps-hosted-a-meeting-on-issues-concerning-the-bus-driver-charged-with-sexual-assault/1389652775

Parents raise questions after Md. school bus driver accused of sex assault

...“There are still a lot of questions that are unanswered,” said Jessica Reynolds, of Rockville, in an interview following the community meeting. Her child was a passenger on Kabongo’s bus, and she  asked school officials when all surveillance video would be reviewed by investigators to learn of any other victims.

“My children have not even entered kindergarten yet, and there’s broken trust. I live in this community for one main reason — the school system,” Reynolds said...

https://wtop.com/montgomery-county/2018/08/parents-raise-questions-after-md-school-bus-driver-accused-of-sex-assault/

MCPS will be Responsible for Maintaining and Replacing Two Artificial Turf Fields at JWMS. MSI will be Out After Installation. $20K Annual Maintenance on Taxpayers.

At the City of Rockville Planning Commission meeting, MCPS staff revealed that once the two artificial turf fields are installed at Julius West Middle School the ongoing maintenance and eventual replacement of those fields will be the resonsibility of Montgomery County Public Schools. 

Remember that MCPS says the annual maintenance of an artificial turf field should cost $10,000.

That means that MCPS has found an extra $20,000 a year for each year going forward to spend on the Julius West Middle School fields. 

MCPS staff told the City of Rockville Planning Commission that they currently spend $0 on maintaining elementary and middle school fields. 

The MCPS-MSI Soccer deal has MCPS giving up 1,000 of field use per year and paying $20,000 a year to maintain the two fields at one middle school.

Who made this deal and why did the Board of Education approve it?

Gaithersburg Parent: "rolling out technology in our schools must be done with health and safety oversight" @DelegateKaiser @SenatorZucker @CherylKagan @JheanelleW @delsheilahixson @EricLuedtke

From: Lisa Cline
Date: Wed, Feb 15, 2017
Subject: HB866 is Overdue.
To: steven.arentz@house.state.md.us
Cc: anne.kaiser@house.state.md.us, frank.turner@house.state.md.us, kathy.afzali@house.state.md.us,
 bilal.ali@house.state.md.us, Darryl.Barnes@house.state.md.us, Jason.Buckel@house.state.md.us, 
 Eric.Ebersole@house.state.md.us, sheila.hixson@house.state.md.us, 
 Kevin.Hornberger@house.state.md.us, carolyn.howard@house.state.md.us,
 Bob.Long@house.state.md.us, eric.luedtke@house.state.md.us, 
 nick.mosby@house.state.md.us, Edith.Patterson@house.state.md.us, 
 Teresa.Reilly@house.state.md.us, April.Rose@house.state.md.us, 
 Haven.Shoemaker@house.state.md.us, Meagan.Simonaire@house.state.md.us, 
 Jimmy.Tarlau@house.state.md.us, jay.walker@house.state.md.us, 
 mary.washington@house.state.md.us, alonzo.washington@house.state.md.us, 
 jheanelle.wilkins@house.state.md.us


Dear Delegate Arentz,

Too many of us do not fully understand how legislation becomes law and what you do in Annapolis during each a session. I am no different, but I would hate for intimidation to get in the way of expressing my deep passion for passing HB866. 

As a parent and PTA president in Montgomery County and an active advocate for shielding children from a.) things they cannot see (like wifi radiation and blue light), and b.) things they should not have to understand at such a young age, HB866 will change everything for our children during the 6+ hours they "live" at school.

The beauty of HB866 is there is nothing objectionable in it. There is no downside. 

Computers are arguably very valuable 21st Century learning tools, particularly for those who need an extra push to engage in the learning process. But rolling out technology in our schools must be done with health and safety oversight. Montgomery County Public Schools, for one, lacks that overseeing body. 

I have met with Mr. Sherwin Collette, Chief Technology Officer at MCPS. I have spoken with Dr. Andy Zuckerman, Chief Operating Officer at MCPS. I have asked officials within County government.... "Who is making sure these computers aren't hurting the kids?" I have yet to find a person, or an admission, that our childrens' health is being protected from the ill effects of computer use. Meanwhile, radon is being measured and mitigated, and pesticide use is being fully disclosed and carefully deployed. 

The known dangers.

There are over 400 peer-reviewed studies that say RF radiation — the kind emitted from laptop computers and overhead routers — causes everything from nausea and headaches to DNA damage and cancer.

Our daughter died of cancer. After her death, I was asked to participate in a study out of the University of Minnesota that analyzed environmental factors surrounding pediatric leukemia cases. It was then that I realized just how many invisible pollutants swirl around our children and how much more vulnerable a population they are than adults. RF radiation is a definite culprit.

The effects of blue light on our childens' eye health is even more conclusive. Retinal damage is inevitable without proper protection. Blue light filters cost about $20. Why wouldn't we outfit all the Chromebooks with these safety mechanisms?

Digital addiction is an undeniable reality that is befalling the Computer Generation. Device use affects the brain much like cocaine. Any parent of teenagers will tell you how real this is. And the research is deep.

Now what?

I don't blame anyone for the severe lack of "tech health" being taught in our schools. It's all so new. But now is the time to complement the technology roll-out with safety measures to go with it. 

Please pass HB866 for the kids who are counting on us, and the parents who are counting on you.

Very kindly,

Lisa Cline

Gaithersburg, Maryland

WUSA9: New technology tracks child predators online in real time

Thorn, the Los Angeles consortium he co-founded to combat technology’s role in the trafficking and exploitation of children.

“I’ve been on FBI raids where I’ve seen things that no person should ever see. I’ve seen video content of a child that’s the same age of mine being raped by an American man that was a sex tourist in Cambodia,” he said, his voice shaking. “This child was so conditioned by her environment that she thought she was engaging in play.”

Kutcher’s appearance before the panel was meant to raise awareness and potential government funding.

“This is a bipartisan effort in a county that is riddled with bipartisan separation on so many things,” he said.

Kutcher talked at length about the technological advances that can help thwart the rise of Internet content that facilitates the distribution of child porn and that leads to physical abuse. His comments were apolitical, and he saluted members of the body including U.S. Sens. John McCain and Bob Corker for their support.

“It is an honor to be here,” Kutcher said. “As a young man raised and brought up in the public school system, I pledged my allegiance to that flag every single day. Maybe one of the greatest honors of my life today is to be here and leverage the work that I’ve done in testimony that may in some way benefit this nation that I love.” 

http://buzz.blog.ajc.com/2017/02/15/watch-ashton-kutchers-emotional-senate-testimony/

WUSA9: Looking for a diverse group of people from DC, MD and VA—willing to volunteer 2 hours and be part of an upcoming news story on software program that tracks child predators

WUSA9 is looking for a diverse group of people from DC, MD and VA—willing to volunteer two hours of their time and be part of an upcoming news story! We will be demonstrating the 

world’s only computer software program that tracks child predators in real time. Volunteers must be willing to be on camera. If you’re interested and able to come to the station in Northwest Washington, please email Andrea McCarren: amccarren@wusa9.com and we will confirm details with you. Thanks.  

WHEN: Wednesday, February 1st: 11am-1pm

Andrea McCarren
WUSA9 Investigative Reporter
amccarren@wusa9.com
202-246-2264

Lawmakers want to make it easier to punish educators who sexually abuse students

State lawmakers and advocates in every New England state are pursuing legislation to make it easier to punish educators who sexually abuse students — and harder for them to get new jobs elsewhere working with children.

Massachusetts Senator Joan B. Lovely, Democrat of Salem, said she plans to introduce a comprehensive bill next month that will include a long list of changes, including making it illegal for high school teachers to have sex with their students, strengthening requirements to report abuse, and eliminating the criminal statute of limitations for cases involving sexual violations of children...

...In Connecticut, two state lawmakers said they want to extend what some call the “passing the trash” law to cover private schools. The law, approved in June, bars public schools from signing confidentiality agreements that cover up allegations of sexual misconduct. It also requires schools to share information when teachers accused of misconduct apply for new jobs. But the provisions do not apply to private schools.

“I think private schools should live up to the same standard as public schools,” said Senator Cathy Osten, Democrat of Sprague. Representative William Tong, Democrat of Stamford, said he also supports changing the law to cover private schools....

http://www.bostonglobe.com/2016/12/22/lawmakers-advocates-push-changes-laws-covering-sex-abuse-educators/nFN2REzelhmf1VUAvluebK/story.html?event=event25

Breaking: RMHS Field DOES NOT MEET REQUIREMENTS FOR PLAY! Concussion Risk On County Football Fields Confirmed

The Montgomery County Civic Federation, Inc.

For Immediate Release

Concussion Risk On County Football Fields Confirmed

Newly uncovered documents show school system knew synthetic turf fields were dangerous.

---

A June, 2016 independent testing report obtained by the Civic Federation earlier this month under the Maryland Public Information Act shows the synthetic turf field at Richard Montgomery High School failed to meet the minimum safety requirements set by FieldTurf - a manufacturer with contracts for all of the County's artificial turf fields.  The LDD Sports, LLC report verified the field:

"to be out of compliance and does not meet the requirements for play based on the specifications as referenced in ASTM F1936-10 with locations above the maximum allowable limit of 200."

This report appears to directly contradict earlier statements by Montgomery County Public Schools officials with regard to the safety of their synthetic turf fields.  The report also reveals that in at least one case - Richard Montgomery - the school system knew the field was dangerous, but still let the manufacturer's warranty expire.

With a G-MAX score of 253, Richard Montgomery now becomes the most unsafe field among MCPS synthetic turf fields with Walter Johnson a close second.  To put that in perspective, according to the Sports Turf Managers Association, a G-MAX score of 200 is qualified by OSHA as "Will Cause Death." G-MAX testing measures shock absorption and is therefore critical to the health and safety of children and adults using the field – the lower the number, the safer the student athlete.  Some professional sport teams limit the G-MAX scores to 120, and the NFL has set the maximum at 166.  WJHS tested as high as 194.5 just months ago due to its defective plastic carpeting - a disconcerting fact uncovered by the Civic Federation over the summer that garnered national media attention by Forbes Magazine and USA Today, as well as local television stations:

Sept. 5th, 2016:  "Are Montgomery County synthetic turf fields safe for play?" ABC7

Sept. 12th, 2016:  "HS Principal Responds to Crumb Rubber Turf Field Concerns in Montgomery County" NBC4

Made from plastics and pulverized used tires known as tire crumb rubber, these fields are failing to absorb impacts like a natural grass surface would.  Synthetic turf fields not only cost much more than natural grass turf, the tire crumb infill can accumulate dangerous pathogens and is known to contain twelve known human carcinogens.  Both the crumb rubber and plastic grass contain lead, as the FieldTurf Mid-Atlantic Sales representative had to admit under pressure from the House Ways and Means Committee in Annapolis earlier this year.

Synthetic turf problems are prompting lawsuits and early replacements at schools and universities around the nation, but in Montgomery County, it looks like MCPS allowed the Richard Montgomery field warranty to expire without challenge this August - after a July independent test by a different company, Athletic Field Consultants, Inc. showed that areas of the RMHS field G-MAX tested as high as 198.84.

The continued trickle of documents uncovered by the Civic Federation shows the school system's sole synthetic turf provider FieldTurf is having a hard time maintaining what appears to be the lowest standards in this loosely regulated industry, putting children's safety into question while MCPS looks the other way.

Members of the Civic Federation's Environment and Education Committees are crafting a resolution asking MCPS to explore all opportunities to join other educational institutions around the nation in legal action against FieldTurf, with proceeds used to purchase and maintain top-of-the-line natural grass fields that are safe and healthy for our children.

The Montgomery County Civic Federation's 880^th general session will be held on November 14th, 7:45pm-9:45pm at the Lobby Level Auditorium of the Executive Office Building at 101 Monroe Street, Rockville, MD.

#   #   #

 General sessions are open to the public.

For more information, contact MCCF Recording Secretary Danila Sheveiko at   

dsheveiko AT hotmail.com.

The mission of the Montgomery County Civic Federation is to preserve and improve the quality of life for all current and future residents of Montgomery County, Maryland.  Since its founding in 1925, the volunteers of the MCCF have committed themselves to providing an effective citizen voice to government policy makers, both elected and appointed.  [Read more here.]

   Richard Montgomery High School G-Max Test Report 2016 by Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland on Scribd

Breaking: Ex-MCPS custodian impregnates teen he met online, police say

GAITHERSBURG, Md. (ABC7) — A former Montgomery County Public Schools custodian is accused of impregnating a 15-year-old girl he met online.
Police have charged Gary Anthony Stanback, 27, of Frederick, with one count of third-degree sex offense.
According to criminal charging documents, in November 2015, Stanback contacted the victim on Facebook under the account name, “Anthony Richboy.” Following three weeks of back-and-forth messages, Stanback and the young girl met in person. Two weeks later, they met again at Stewartown Local Park along Goshen Road in Gaithersburg...

http://wjla.com/news/local/ex-mcps-custodian-impregnates-teen-he-met-online-police-say