Baltimore City student misses first 140 school days, marked present and passes classes

BALTIMORE (WBFF) — Another scandal hits Baltimore City Public Schools, as Project Baltimore exposes how a student missed the first 140 days of school but was somehow marked as present and passing classes.

“I’m excited for him,” said Latasha Phillips, as her son prepared for his first day of eleventh grade on the 141st day of the school year. “I’m just glad he’s not sitting here all day, not being productive.”

Her son, Qwantay Spearman, has physical disabilities. He attends ConneXions, a charter school in West Baltimore, where he’s thrived, earning a 3.7 grade point average, until this year.

Qwantay missed the first 140 days of school because Baltimore City Schools could not provide him with a nurse, which is required under his federally mandated IEP or Individualized Education Program...

https://foxbaltimore.com/news/project-baltimore/baltimore-city-student-misses-first-140-school-days-marked-as-present-and-passes-classes?fbclid=IwAR1kUiskjAphZiUQ25RiCfGtXI2UGmpilkeUUmLHb6N8dXFcv5pOlByp6J8

145 Baltimore County school buses fail inspection, following Project Baltimore report

Baltimore County, MD (WBFF) — Project Baltimore has learned of more Baltimore County school buses that had bad parts. Fox45 News initially reported on fives buses with issues, but that number is now nearly 150 buses, according to inspections conducted by the Maryland Department of Transportation...

https://foxbaltimore.com/news/project-baltimore/145-baltimore-county-school-buses-fail-inspection-following-project-baltimore-report

Maryland bans sex offenders from public schools after Project Baltimore investigation

Baltimore County (WBFF) - Students throughout Maryland are now safer in school. Following a Project Baltimore investigation, Governor Larry Hogan has signed a new law making Maryland the first state in the country to ban registered sex offenders from being students inside public schools...

...The new law bans convicted sex offenders from attending Maryland public schools, while setting up alternative means to educate them outside the classroom. Previously, sex offenders could receive special permission by school administrators to enroll. Now, this new law includes a penalty of up to five years in jail and a $5,000 fine if someone knowingly allows a sex offender on school property...

https://foxbaltimore.com/news/project-baltimore/maryland-becomes-1st-state-to-ban-sex-offenders-from-being-students-inside-public-schools?fbclid=IwAR2RsyKx8Y9miC7DKkcoXXjS2RbOu4RbYs2AZDrRDyOYWlsY8UWm-mH5ZD8

Balt. Board of Ed. ACTS! Superintendent Avoids Questions as County School Board Enacts Discipline Change

(WBFF) -- The Baltimore County Board of Education took swift action Tuesday night, following a series of Project Baltimore investigations which exposed a spike in bullying and violence in County schools.

An impassioned debate concerning violence and bullying in the classroom unfolded as parents and community members addressed the board and school superintendent.

“The bullying epidemic is not going to go away if we don’t address it now,” one community member told the board...

http://foxbaltimore.com/news/project-baltimore/superintendent-avoids-questions-as-county-school-board-enacts-discipline-change

Baltimore County Board of Education members can talk and write resolutions. Take note silent Montgomery County Board members, this is what it looks like when Board members take their positions seriously.

Baltimore County School Board Members are taking action following a series of Fox45 investigations into violence and bullying in County schools.

“If we can’t keep our kids safe in school, then we are failing to do our jobs,” says Julie Henn, a member of the Baltimore County School Board.

Henn and fellow School Board Member Kathleen Causey have watched over the past month as Project Baltimore has interviewed parents, students, and teachers about a recent spike in violence in County classrooms...

http://foxbaltimore.com/news/project-baltimore/county-school-board-takes-action-following-project-baltimore-reports