2 Montgomery County firefighters charged for flooding baseball field

Two Montgomery County firefighters have been charged with malicious destruction of property and disorderly conduct after one of them admitted deliberately flooding a baseball field July 17.

Thousands of gallons of water from an engine at the station was deliberately sprayed onto the field, and a video showing a towering stream of water saturating the field went viral.

One of the firefighters told police he was frustrated with baseballs leaving the field and damaging property at the adjacent fire station.

According to a charging document filed in the case, Montgomery County Fire Captain Christopher Reilly told two players who went to the station to complain, “I wanted to get your attention.”..

https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/2-montgomery-county-firefighters-charged-for-flooding-baseball-field/3995118/

Blair High School: Hundreds of documents related to disability accommodations were available to all pupils, staff

MCPS investigating possible federal student privacy violations at Montgomery Blair High 

Documents detailing accommodations for hundreds of students with disabilities at Montgomery Blair High School were recently released on the Silver Spring school’s counseling web page, potentially giving all students and staff members access to the documents, according to screenshots of the incident provided to Bethesda Today on June 5. 

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) spokesperson Liliana López said in a Monday emailed statement to Bethesda Today that the district was aware of “a possible release of data” and was “proceeding in accordance with legal requirements.” 

“This includes conducting a comprehensive investigation, submitting required reports to the state’s Attorney General, and providing notification to those impacted and to the wider community,” López said...

 https://bethesdamagazine.com/2025/06/13/mcps-student-privacy-montgomery-blair/

Montgomery Blair High School students organize walkout to support deported classmate

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now) – Students at Montgomery Blair High School say they’re looking for justice for a classmate whom U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) took into custody. They walked out of class to send the message.

“It’s a huge shock to the whole Blair community,” Montgomery Blair High School student Alex Gomez-Ordonez said. “This is an outrage because why are you deporting students. The students have the right to stay. They’re trying their best for their future to have an education, and it’s very wrong for them to be deported.”

Students marched on the bus loop in front of the school for nearly an hour, chanting and holding signs...

https://www.dcnewsnow.com/news/local-news/maryland/montgomery-county/montgomery-blair-high-school-students-organize-walkout-to-support-deported-classmate/

School board appoints new Montgomery Blair, Quince Orchard High principals

...The Montgomery County school board approved Thursday several appointments for school principals, including for Quince Orchard and Montgomery Blair high schools.  

In a 6-2 vote, the school board appointed Irinia LaGrange to be the principal Quince Orchard High School in Gaithersburg. LaGrange currently serves as the director of college and career readiness and districtwide programs for Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS). Board members Rita Montoya and Grace Rivera-Oven voted against the appointment, but didn’t explain why during the board meeting. LaGrange formerly served as the principal of Tilden Middle School in Rockville. 

Beth Thomas, the former Quince Orchard principal, announced her retirement from the school principal role in October, according to the school’s student newspaper The Prowler.  

The school board unanimously voted to appoint Damon Monteleone, the current associate superintendent of the MCPS Office of Well-Being and Student Services, to serve as the principal of Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring. According to Monteleone’s LinkedIn profile, he served as the assistant principal of Paint Branch High in Burtonsville from 2010 to 2014 and from 2014 to 2021, he served as the principal of Richard Montgomery in Rockville. He then served as the MCPS assistant chief of schools and then as an associate superintendent. Monteleone was a finalist for The Washington Post principal of the year in 2020 when he served as principal of Richard Montgomery...

 https://bethesdamagazine.com/2025/05/22/school-board-appoints-montgomery-blair-quince-orchard/

Students Forced to Cope With Frequent Bomb Threats

As Montgomery County Police officers and their dogs searched yet another school for bombs – on Thursday it was Paint Branch High School – several students told MCM what it was like to live through these events.

Three emailed bomb threats to Montgomery Blair High School proved to be invalid, but not before police and school security spent time combing through the building and students lost class time sheltering in place or evacuating their school building.

Jack (MCM is not using the last names of any of the students) said he has difficulty getting out of bed to come to school in the morning.

When alerted to a recent possible bomb, Jack recalled, “I tensed up, and I froze. I texted my mom I love her.” While standing outside the McDonald’s on University Boulevard by his school Thursday, he added, “How cruel of him, out of nowhere to do it to us.”..

Students Forced to Cope With Frequent Bomb Threats - Montgomery Community Media (mymcmedia.org)

Blair Student Arrested, Charged with Underage Possession of a Firearm

Montgomery County Police arrested a 17-year-old Montgomery Blair High School student Tuesday and charged him with underage possession of a firearm.

Officers were called to the school in Silver Spring following a self-search by the student. As a result of the search, parts of a personally made firearm, or ghost gun, were located.

Around 12:45 p.m., the security staff had confiscated part of a ghost gun from the male student. The school staff then called police...

Blair Student Arrested, Charged with Underage Possession of a Firearm - Montgomery Community Media (mymcmedia.org)

A 16-year-old boy who was shot and killed in Langley Park, Maryland, was a sophomore at Montgomery Blair High School.

Boy, 16, killed in shooting at apartment complex in Langley Park

...Kevin Ruiz Campos was found dead in the parking lot of an apartment complex on Riggs Road Wednesday afternoon.

A man also was wounded and is in critical condition.

Police do not believe the shooting was random. They are looking for suspects.

Many of the residents at the apartment complex where it happened said they were upset but not surprised that something like this could happen because they’ve had issues with crime in the past.

A woman who wanted to remain anonymous said she’s very saddened and said they live in a dangerous area.

Kevin was from Silver Spring, police said, but residents of the apartment complex said they had seen him around before.

Boy, 16, killed in shooting at apartment complex in Langley Park (msn.com)

Embattled Baltimore County Superintendent Darryl Williams won’t seek 2nd term [Former @mcps Blair HS Principal]

Announcement came amid criticism of his leadership style and a looming board decision about whether to seek a new leader

Baltimore County Schools Superintendent Darryl Williams, who guided the suburban district through a pandemic but faced persistent questions about lagging academic performance and a brusque leadership style, announced Monday afternoon that he would not seek a second term.

“After much deliberation and conversation with my family, I have decided to not seek an additional four-year contract,” he wrote in a letter to parents. “It has been an honor to serve as superintendent of Baltimore County Public Schools, and I thank the Board of Education for the opportunity to lead this incredible system. I am very proud of the work we have done together to raise the bar, close gaps and prepare our students to thrive in their future, despite the many challenges our system has faced.”..

Embattled Baltimore County Superintendent Darryl Williams won’t seek 2nd term - The Baltimore Banner

MCPS’s budget is failing its students: The county continues to squander money in all the wrong places

How much money do you think Montgomery County Public Schools spends each year? $500 million? $1 billion? Wrong. MCPS Superintendent Dr. Monifa B. McKnight recently prepared a MCPS budget recommendation for $3.2 billion for the fiscal year 2024. To put that number into perspective, it places MCPS’s budget on par with the GDP of small countries like Andorra. 

With a budget larger than 30 UN-recognized countries, MCPS is more than capable of funding basic programs like free lunches for students. Instead, MCPS has decided to invest their funds on easy news-worthy wins, which at the end of the day, won’t help students learn. 

Wasteful Spending

Whether it’s spending $40 million for boxlight screens or $5.2 million for bus-tracking software that already exists, it's clear that MCPS pays no heed to the return on its multi-million dollar investments. 

For example, MCPS recently purchased new Lenovo Chromebooks for students, regardless of whether or not students actually needed a new Chromebook. Many students, like junior Alexander Groen, received replacements from the school districts despite having working Chromebooks. “Necessary? No.” said Groen when asked about the recent Chromebook replacements...

MCPS’s budget is failing its students | Silver Chips (mbhs.edu)

Breaking: ‘Unaware’ of Changed Deadlines, MCPS Did Not Hold Reviews of Violent Incidents in Time

After-action reviews of stabbings at Montgomery Blair and Clarksburg high schools during the recently-completed school year were not conducted within the required 45 days.

The Maryland Center for School Safety must be notified of any “critical, life-threatening incident” that takes place in a public school within 24 hours after the school learns of the incident. MCPS did notify the state in the proper time...

...Edward Clarke, Montgomery County Public School Chief Safety Officer, who was the former director of the Maryland Center for School Safety, was unaware the timeline reporting requirements..

https://www.mymcmedia.org/unaware-of-changed-deadlines-mcps-did-not-hold-reviews-of-violent-incidents-in-time/?fbclid=IwAR2sflOaith6eN8K_-WkwKsS5Ror3GSw9ECB2Y1_nTV2l7MrG4fGtAKZwcY

Mayra Ramos, a parent at Montgomery Blair HS, tells me she ran from work after hearing about the lockdown.

Mayra Ramos, a parent at Montgomery Blair HS, tells me she ran from work after hearing about the lockdown. She reunited with her daughter Meleny (10th grade) as we were speaking. pic.twitter.com/Zli7DNUx4s

— Michael Hernández (@MHernandezTV_) June 16, 2022

Blair High School Students to Participate in Student Walkout Jan. 21st

 

https://www.instagram.com/mcpsstudentwalkout2022/

Blair HS principal reported daily absentee avg. rate of 24% out of 3,220 students this month at PTSA meeting last night. 700-800 students absent a day?! Blair principal did not opt for virtual option.

— Parents' Coalition (@PCMC1) January 19, 2022

2 Montgomery Co. schools respond to school threats, safety concerns

Two Montgomery County, Maryland, high schools received threats Monday morning that caused some students and staff to shelter in place.

Montgomery County Public Schools confirmed to WTOP while there were no lockdowns in either school, threats caused a shelter-in-place at Northwest High School and police presence at Montgomery Blair High School...

https://wtop.com/montgomery-county/2021/11/2-montgomery-co-schools-respond-to-school-threats-safety-concerns/

RELATIVE OF STUDENT ARRESTED IN SCHOOL STABBING ALSO BROUGHT KNIFE TO SCHOOL

Following a stabbing at Montgomery Blair High School on Monday, a relative of the 16-year old suspect has also been arrested. The relative, also a juvenile, was taken into police custody after bringing a knife onto the Silver Spring school campus Tuesday.

In Monday’s assault, Maycol Coyoy, 16, is charged as an adult following the stabbing in the school parking lot, according to Montgomery County Police. He is charged with attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault and reckless endangerment.

According to Principal Renay Johnson, Coyoy’s relative brought a knife to school, which was discovered during a self-search. The student’s family was informed, and Montgomery County Police took the young man into custody.

The student who was stabbed, who is also a juvenile, was released from the hospital and is at home, according to Johnson’s letter to Blair families...

https://www.mymcmedia.org/relative-of-student-arrested-in-school-stabbing-also-brought-knife-to-school/

Blair goes into lockdown following stabbing of Blair student in Colesville-side parking lot

Suspect remains at-large after a 17 year-old Blair student was stabbed twice in the back and once in the head near the track/Colesville Rd. parking lot.

---

On Monday, Nov 8., at 10 a.m., Montgomery Blair High School went into lockdown after a fight between multiple people broke out in the school's Colesville-side parking lot.

According to the Moco PG News Twitter account, a 17 year-old juvenile male was "stabbed twice in the back and once in the head near the track/ Colesville Rd parking lot." The student's injuries were described as "serious but non life-threatening." Police detained and then released two individuals.

This story will be updated as more information comes in...

https://silverchips.mbhs.edu/content/blair-goes-into-lockdown-following-non-fatal-stabbing-of-blair-student-in-colesville-side-parking-lot-33741/

FIVE ARRESTED IN MURDER OF MONTGOMERY BLAIR STUDENT

Prince George’s County Police Department’s Homicide Unit charged five men with the murder of 15-year-old Nelson Ramos of Takoma Park. He was a 10th grader at Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring at the time of the April 7 murder.

William Rivera-Martinez, 20, of Reston, Va.; Jiecsin Marcel Portillo Cruz, 19, of Chillum; Edras Araeli Lopez-Lopez, 20, of Langley Park; Mario Alexander Clarios Arias, 21, of Chillum; Marlon Steven Miguel Ramirez, 18, of Hyattsville. They are all charged with first degree murder, assault and other related charges...

https://www.mymcmedia.org/five-arrested-in-murder-of-montgomery-blair-student/?fbclid=IwAR3sNTfWX_P5zefXrfuXa7ZM5niAyC3i7z3zqYdUcJ2e8rIRrQNw3xxr9Eo

Detectives Investigating Homicide in Langley Park

 The Prince George’s County Police Department’s Homicide Unit is investigating a fatal assault that occurred earlier this month in Langley Park. The victim is 15-year-old Nelson Ramos of Takoma Park...

http://pgpolice.blogspot.com/2021/04/detectives-investigating-homicide-in.html

Nelson Ramos, a 10th-grade student at Montgomery Blair High School, was found after officers were called to a wooded area of the Ruatan Northwest Branch Trail at around 3:15 a.m. on April 7.

...In a separate case, police announced Monday that they are investigating the slaying of a 15-year-old that occurred earlier this month in Langley Park.

Nelson Ramos, a 10th-grade student at Montgomery Blair High School, was found after officers were called to a wooded area of the Ruatan Northwest Branch Trail at around 3:15 a.m. on April 7.

Officers found the teen off the walking trail, unresponsive and suffering from trauma. Ramos, who lived in Takoma Park, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police are working to determine a motive in that case.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/12-year-old-charged-murder/2021/04/19/d1643910-a133-11eb-a7ee-949c574a09ac_story.html

COVID-19 Outbreaks: Blair HS, Good Counsel, Lady of Lourdes, Sherwood HS, The Heights, Heart Christian @mcps @mocoboe

Previous weekly reports at this link.

St. John the Evangelist School Anne Arundel County 6 04/07/21

Archbishop Curley High School Baltimore City 2 04/07/21

Boys' Latin School of Maryland Baltimore City 4 04/07/21

Bais Yaakov Eva Winer High School Baltimore County 9 04/07/21

Calvert Hall College High School Baltimore County 6 04/07/21

Catonsville High School Baltimore County 2 04/07/21

Concordia Preparatory School Baltimore County 3 04/07/21

Eastern Technical High School Baltimore County 2 04/07/21

Immaculate Conception School Baltimore County 9 04/07/21

Liberty Christian School Baltimore County 2 04/07/21

McDonogh School Baltimore County 3 04/07/21

Talmudical Academy Elementary School Baltimore County 6 04/07/21

North Caroline High School Caroline County 3 04/07/21

Century High School Carroll County 3 04/07/21

Bohemia Manor High School Cecil County 3 04/07/21

Cecil County School of Technology Cecil County 3 04/07/21

Gilpin Manor Elementary School Cecil County 2 04/07/21

Rising Sun High School Cecil County 2 04/07/21

North Dorchester Middle School Dorchester County 2 04/07/21

Governor Thomas Johnson High School Frederick County 5 04/07/21

Oakdale High School Frederick County 2 04/07/21

Orchard Grove Elementary School Frederick County 2 04/07/21

Tuscarora High School Frederick County 2 04/07/21

Walkersville High School Frederick County 6 04/07/21

Forest Lakes Elementary School Harford County 2 04/07/21

The John Carroll School Harford County 5 04/07/21

Howard High School Howard County 2 04/07/21

Our Lady of Perpetual Help School Howard County 2 04/07/21

Talbot Springs Elementary School Howard County 4 04/07/21

From the Heart Christian School Montgomery County 8 04/07/21

Montgomery Blair High School Montgomery County 2 04/07/21

Our Lady of Good Counsel High School Montgomery County 3 04/07/21

Our Lady of Lourdes School - 4th Grade Montgomery County 3 04/07/21

Sherwood High School Montgomery County 2 04/07/21

The Heights School Montgomery County 2 04/07/21

Holly Grove Christian School Somerset County 4 04/07/21

Great Mills High School St. Mary's County 2 04/07/21

Boonsboro High School Washington County 14 04/07/21

Laurel Hall Washington County 2 04/07/21

Pleasant Valley Elementary Washington County 3 04/07/21

Springfield Middle School Washington County 2 04/07/21

Williamsport High School Washington County 13 04/07/21

Snow Hill Middle School Worcester County 6 04/07/21

Stephen Decatur High School Worcester County 4 04/07/21

As a reminder, the Maryland Dashboard uses the following criteria for reporting COVID-19 cases.  Not all cases are reported, only those that satisfy the following criteria.

  Note: This dataset reflects public and non-public K-12 schools in Maryland that have COVID-19 outbreaks. Data are based on local health department reports to MDH, which may be revised if additional information becomes available. This list does not include child care facilities or institutes of higher education.

Schools listed meet 1 or more of the following criteria:

    1) At least two confirmed COVID-19 cases among students/teachers/staff within a 14-day period and who are epidemiologically linked, but not household contacts; or

    2) Three or more classrooms or cohorts with cases from separate households that meet the classroom/cohort outbreak definition that occurs within 14 days; or

    3) Five percent or more unrelated students/teachers/staff have confirmed COVID-19 within a 14 day period (minimum of 10 unrelated students/teachers/staff).

Cases reported reflect the current total number of cases. Schools are removed from the list when health officials determine 14 days have passed with no new cases and no tests pending. Archival data is available through the COVID-19 open data catalogue.

These data are updated weekly on Wednesdays during the 10 a.m. hour. MDH is continuously evaluating its data and reporting systems and will make updates as more data becomes available.

 https://coronavirus.maryland.gov/pages/school-resources

Blair HS COVID-19 Case Sports Related

BREAKING—Someone “participating in [Blair’s] athletics program” has tested positive for COVID-19, per a letter from @blairprincipal.

The infected individual was last present on campus this past Saturday.

In-person classes will continue as scheduled. Read the full letter below: pic.twitter.com/p6XBDolM4k

— Silver Chips (@Silver_Chips) March 23, 2021