Answer: April L. Key.
When former Montgomery County Police Chief Marcus G. Jones was announced as the MCPS Chief of Security and Compliance on June 25, 2024, it was a surprise as Chief Jones had just retired from the Montgomery County Police Department.
Police Chief Marcus G. Jones was announced as the MCPS Chief of Security and Compliance at the June 25, 2024, Board of Education meeting right after the appointment of Thomas W. Taylor as the new MCPS Superintendent. The announcement was made by Acting Interim Superintendent Dr. Henry Johnson. Interim Superintendent Monique Felder was not present at the June 25, 2024, Board of Education meeting.
After Acting Interim Superintendent Dr. Henry Johnson announced the recommended appointment of Marcus G. Jones as MCPS Chief of Security and Compliance, a Board member announced "move approval" and the student member seconded the motion. The Board President then announced "all in favor raise your hand" and a vote was taken. The Board President then said, "that's unanimous, congratulations." The MCPS Press Release on the position repeated the Board vote.
But the exchange by the Board of Education was just a cover for whoever actually hired Mr. Jones. Mr. Jones had already been hired for this new position by April L. Key on June 20, 2024, almost a week before the Board meeting.
It turns out the rumor posted on a local blog was true.
The Parents' Coalition has obtained Mr. Jones' offer letter from MCPS via a Maryland Public Information Act request. The letter offers Mr. Jones the position without any contingency on Board of Education approval. The letter ends with "Welcome to the MCPS family!"
The Board of Education did not have any approval authority over the hiring of Mr. Jones per Board of Education Policy GEA, "Leadership positions subject to Board approval shall be those positions classified “O” and higher on the MCPS salary schedule." Mr. Jones position was classified NS.
MCPS was in a period of transition in the spring and summer of 2024. Which of the acting/interim/superintendents had authorized April Key to hire Marcus Jones, or is that a decision she made on her own?
You might remember the name of April Key, MCPS Chief of Human Resources and Development, from the Beidleman matter or from the Damascus High School sex assault cases.
MCPS made him reverse Beidleman sex harassment finding—and then retaliated, he alleges
Walker alleged that the administrators who have retaliated against him include two of the most senior leaders in MCPS: Chief of Human Resources and Development April Key and Chief Operations Officer Brian Hull, who was acting superintendent for a short period last fall and who ranks just below Superintendent Monifa McKnight, according to an MCPS organizational chart.
Criticism over MCPS allowing 2 former principals to serve in corrective action workgroup.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (7News) — At a February 8 Montgomery County Council meeting about the Inspector General report on MCPS' complaint processing, a councilmember referred to the 2018 Damascus High School sexual assault case.
Laurie-Anne Sayles asked MCPS Chief of Human Resources April Key a pointed question about the school's former principal and former head football coach.
"Is the coach and principal still employed by MCPS?" she queried.
"Yes, they are," answered Key regarding former Damascus High Principal Casey Crouse and former coach Eric Wallich
