Silver Spring middle school delayed contacting police when student was seriously injured

Incident is one of two highlighting lags in reporting

Administrators at Odessa Shannon Middle School delayed contacting Montgomery County police for several hours following an Oct. 22 incident that seriously injured a student when he was struck in the head with a metal object thrown by another student, according to a police report recently posted on social media by the injured boy’s mother.  

The incident at the Silver Spring school occurred at roughly 11 a.m. and resulted in the hospitalization of the student in an intensive care unit. Principal Natasha Booms called 911 for medical aid, but did not contact police until about 5 p.m. that day, the police report said. Responding Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS) crews transported the boy to Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring.  

“It should be noted that school staff did not contact [the police department] about this incident when it occurred,” said the report posted on Jan. 14 by Emily Diaz, mother of the injured boy. Bethesda Today confirmed the report’s authenticity with police. 

The October incident is one of two incidents occurring in Montgomery County public schools in recent months in which there was a delay in contacting police —despite a 2022 memorandum of understanding between the police department and the district that details the type of incidents that require police to be contacted immediately...

https://bethesdamagazine.com/2026/01/21/silver-spring-middle-school-delays-police/

Groups Speak Out Against Chief Jones’ New Job with County Public Schools

Although retiring Police Chief Marcus Jones hasn’t started his new role as Chief of Security and Compliance for Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), several groups are speaking out against his appointment.

Young People for Progress, Silver Spring Justice Coalition and Jews United for Justice joined the Decriminalize Montgomery County Campaign to oppose Jones’ recent appointment by the Board of Education.

According to these groups, Jones’ background with the Montgomery County Police Department and his 38 years in law enforcement “makes him unsuitable for working with students.”

Previously, the Decriminalize Montgomery County Campaign fought to end the School Resource Officer program. Under that program, sworn police officers were assigned inside schools...

https://www.mymcmedia.org/groups-speak-out-against-chief-jones-new-job-with-county-public-schools/

From ‘irate’ to ‘threatening’ parents: Why a principals’ group wants security at elementary schools

It’s something Christine Handy, the president of the Montgomery County Association of Administrators and Principals, said is being seen more often at elementary schools.

“Increasingly aggressive behavior towards our staff,” Handy said. And that aggressive behavior isn’t from students — it’s “parents and community members.”

In testimony before the Montgomery County Board of Education during its June 27 meeting, Handy told board members, “a male parent invaded the personal space of a female principal in a threatening manner and had to be banned from the property.”..

From ‘irate’ to ‘threatening’ parents: Why a principals’ group wants security at elementary schools - WTOP News

Montgomery Co. reports uptick in students arrested on school grounds

At least thirteen students were arrested on the grounds of Montgomery County Public Schools in the most recent school year — up from three during the academic year prior.

The data was shared by school officials in a presentation on student well-being and safety during a June 27 Board of Education meeting. Eight of the students arrested during the 2022-2023 school year were Black, and five were white, according to county data. The data doesn’t cite what the students were arrested for.

Some school board members expressed frustration that Hispanic students weren’t included in the data...

Montgomery Co. reports uptick in students arrested on school grounds - WTOP News

Sound familiar? Superintendent appears to avoid Project Baltimore questions on school violence [Superintendent & Communications Both former @mcps]

TOWSON, Md. (WBFF) — Project Baltimore, for more than five years, has exposed alarming instances of violence in Baltimore County Public Schools. Reports of out-of-control fighting, repeated bullying and even a student thrown out of a moving school bus, have captured headlines.

Despite all that, the superintendent will not agree to an interview with Project Baltimore concerning student safety, which some believe is the biggest issue in the district...

https://foxbaltimore.com/news/project-baltimore/superintendent-appears-to-avoid-project-baltimore-questions-on-school-violence?fbclid=IwAR0Oc6s5ItkpqPnB-2P6ZyHC6Bm-MsNkmQKzBvCDu_Ej8gcjReCwvZviDkA

Other students who witnessed the shooting didn’t alert school officials or call 911, Jones said.

The Montgomery County teenager charged with critically wounding a classmate with an untraceable ghost gun told authorities he purchased the components online and a friend helped him assemble the weapon, a prosecutor said in court Monday.

“Three different parts were literally delivered to his home,” Montgomery County Police Chief Marcus Jones added at a news conference after the hearing.

The details of the Friday shooting that put Magruder High School in lockdown emerged as Steven Alston Jr., 17, was ordered held without bond pending trial.

The 15-year-old victim “is currently fighting for his life" at a local hospital, said Carlotta Woodward,a prosecutor in the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2022/01/24/magruder-shooting-teen-jailed/

@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

Many High Schools Struggling with Low Staff Morale, School Surveys Show

Employees cite lack of communication, involvement in decision making

Many Montgomery County high schools experienced a drop in staff morale last year, despite an overall increase countywide in the category, according to survey results posted online Friday morning.

A survey is administered each school year to staff and parents at each Montgomery County school to track the groups’ satisfaction with school operations. The surveys ask questions about staff access to resources and training, school safety, communication and building conditions.

This year, high school staff members were overall more satisfied with school safety. They said school leadership teams have “collaborative” work environments and include them in decisions that affect their work.

Across all 25 high schools, staff members who feel their school has a positive morale increased about 6%, but a dozen schools recorded drops in the category.

The high schools with lower ratings for morale, compared to the previous year, were: James Hubert Blake, Winston Churchill, Clarksburg, Damascus, Walter Johnson, Richard Montgomery, Paint Branch, Poolesville, Rockville, Springbrook, Watkins Mill and Walt Whitman.

At Damascus High School, where the community was stunned by a rape case in which four junior varsity football players were accused of using a broomstick to rape some teammates, staff members reported a drastic decrease in morale.

In the 2016-17 school year, about 60% of staff members at Damascus agreed there was a positive staff morale in the school. This year, only 7.6% agreed.

Fewer Damascus staff members also feel the school is safe for staff and students — 42.9% compared to 86.5% last year — and that there is open communication throughout MCPS — 6.5% compared to 32.3% last year...

https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/schools/many-high-schools-struggling-with-low-staff-morale-school-surveys-show/

MCPS Safety Message

English | español | 中文 | français | tiếng Việt | 한국어| አማርኛ Ensuring Student Safety - A Message from MCPS Chief Safety Officer Edward A. Clarke Video with English open captions Table of Contents Building Safety After-school Supervision Student Health and Wellness Bus Safety Safety Policies Pedestrian Safety Prevention of Child Abuse Bullying Prevention Environmental Safety Digital Safety As a new school year nears, it is important that we revisit the important topic of safety. Our core purpose as a school system is to prepare all students to thrive in their futures, and we know this cannot be achieved if students don’t feel safe and welcome in our schools. For this reason, MCPS is committed to providing a safe and supportive learning environment for students and staff. We do this through a comprehensive, coordinated and strategic approach to systemwide safety and security. Our work is built on the foundation of state and local laws and Montgomery County Board of Education policies, and informed by the voices of students, staff, parents and community members. Use the table of contents or scroll down to see some of the ways MCPS is working to ensure student safety every day. Building Safety Updated school emergency plans at every school (Learn more) On-site emergency teams at each school to assist in a school emergency. A partnership with the Montgomery County Police Department, fire and rescue services, and other county agencies to support schools during emergencies (Read the MOU) School safety evaluations conducted at all schools and educational sites Mandatory safety drills for fire and weather emergencies Enhanced preparations training for active assailant emergencies (Learn more) A school resource officer in every high school (Read more) Hundreds of dedicated MCPS security staff who support elementary, middle and high schools across the county Controlled access systems and entryways at schools Expansion of security vestibules at schools A visitor management system at schools that screens all visitors though state and national sex offender databases A comprehensive report on school safety and security (Read the 2018 report and action plan) Security cameras in all high and middle schools, with cameras being added to elementary schools Mandatory training for school resource officers and security staff A focus and vigilance from all staff members on building security After-school Supervision Enhanced supervision plans required for each sport and after-school activity An external review of after-school supervision safety to be released in September 2019, in coordination with the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office Student Health and Wellness Be Well 365 comprehensive social-emotional skills building in all schools (Learn more) Resources on the dangers of vaping (Link) School-based wellness centers  School Community Health Nurses or School Health Room Technicians in every school (Learn more) Suicide prevention training for students at all middle and high schools Access to anonymous tip line to report concerns regarding mental health crises, bullying, threats of violence and more (Learn more) BTheOne mental health campaign in partnership with Montgomery County, Every Mind and Family Services, Inc. (Learn about the campaign) Staff training on behavioral threat assessment A comprehensive health curriculum for students at all levels Mental health resources and crisis supports for students (Learn more)  Mandatory training for all staff on suicide prevention and intervention A streamlined reporting process for suicide risk reporting (Read more) Linkages to Learning initiative (Read more) Recovery Academic Program for students emerging from addiction (Learn more) Resources for Montgomery County Substance Abuse Assessment and Treatment (See the resources) Restorative justice programs for students (Learn more) Mandatory cultural proficiency training for educators Bus Safety Cameras on the interior and exterior of all buses (Watch the “Respect the Bus” video) The rollout of seatbelts on special education buses (Read more) New safety protocols on special education buses (Read about the protocols) Safety Legislation, Policies, Regulations and Guidelines Passage of the Maryland Safe to Learn Act of 2018 (Read the Act)   Adoption of Board of Education Policy COA: Student Well-being and School Safety (Learn More) Development of Regulation COA-RA, which outlines protocols for Behavioral Threat Assessment  (Read the Regulation)  Implementation of Policy ACA: Nondiscrimination, Equity, and Cultural Proficiency(Read the policy) Pedestrian Safety Pedestrian safety resources (Learn more) Pedestrian Safety Public Service Announcement – “Getting to School is Not a Race” (Watch) Partnership with Montgomery County Government to promote pedestrian and bike safety (Watch the video) Pedestrian safety lessons embedded in the health curriculum Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect Multi-point background checks for all employees, contractors and certain volunteers (Learn more) Mandatory training for employees, contractors and volunteers in preventing, recognizing and reporting child abuse and neglect (Take the training) Age- and developmentally appropriate personal body safety lessons for all students (See the lessons) Streamlined reporting process for incidents of abuse (Review our MCPS policy and reports on child abuse) A code of conduct for all employees (Read more) Creation of the Child Abuse and Neglect Stakeholder Continuous Improvement Team (Read more) Online Reporting of Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect (See form) Bullying and Harassment Prevention A streamlined process for reporting incidents of bullying (Bullying Reporting Form) Training for all employees on preventing and reporting bullying, harassment and intimidation Training for all student-athletes on identifying hazing and promoting a positive culture (Learn more) Increased emphasis on sportsmanship expectations at all athletic events to encourage prevention and reporting of discriminatory behavior Gang-awareness training for MCPS staff in collaboration with law enforcement partner agencies Updated guidelines regarding student gender identity matters (Read more) Counseling support for students Guidelines for Respecting Religious Diversity (Read the guidelines) Annual Choose Respect healthy teen dating conference (Learn more) Environmental Safety Drinking water testing (Learn more) Fire safety (Learn more) Playground safety (Read more) Radon testing (Review the reports) Athletics safety (Read more) Digital Safety Guidelines on data privacy and security (Read more) Lessons on digital citizenship and combating cyberbullying and harassment for students (Learn more) Mandatory training for staff on safety and security in a digital age Social media best practices for staff (Learn More) Best practices for email and other digital communications for staff (Learn more) We look forward to a great and safe school year with you! Sincerely, Edward A. Clarke Chief Safety Officer

Damascus athletic director placed on leave as investigation into hazing rape continues

DAMASCUS, Md. (ABC7) — The athletic director at Damascus High School has been placed on administrative leave, as part of an ongoing investigation into a Halloween 2018 hazing incident that led to criminal rape charges against five junior varsity football players...

https://wjla.com/news/local/damascus-athletic-director-placed-on-leave-following-principals-resignation

"School leaders determined the teen was so prone to acting out that he needed to be kept in class until the end of each passing period." [But was allowed to be unsupervised after school and on the football team.]

ROCKVILLE, Md. (ABC7) — The juvenile suspect — also known as the so-called ringleader in the Damascus High School locker room sexual assaults — will be tried as a juvenile due, in large part, to ADHD.

Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge Steven Salant issued his controversial ruling Thursday morning following nearly seven hours of court proceedings Tuesday. Those proceedings ran like a full-blown trial, during which, attorney Dan Wright crafted a defense grounded in his teenage client’s “extreme ADHD.”..

...“This was a premeditated, planned attack,” Woodward added. “And this wasn’t the first time The evidence shows the defendant was part of a similar attack earlier in the year.”

In fact, during a summer football practice — only a few months before the rape case — the suspect allegedly tried to “broom” a different teammate, but that player managed to break away. The revelation added fuel to the notion that hazing and “brooming” are tradition within Damascus’ revered football program.

Prosecutors also took time to highlight the suspect's “atrocious” school and juvenile criminal records...

...The suspect's Montgomery County Public Schools Record:

In the fall of 2014, he enrolled as a sixth grader at Rocky Hill Middle School in Clarksburg. Almost immediately, the then 11-year-old began to misbehave. By the time police arrested him in the pending broomstick case — some four years later — MCPS had given the suspect 11 suspensions, 61 disciplinary referrals and sent 141 communications home regarding poor conduct. The transgressions included sexual comments, inappropriate touching, threatening remarks, fights, and chronic class cutting...

...In fact, MCPS conducted multiple Functional Behavior Assessments (FBA) and Behavior Intervention Plans (BIP) for the suspect's benefit. School leaders determined the teen was so prone to acting out that he needed to be kept in class until the end of each passing period. That helped limit the number of hallway distractions. An adult escort was also recommended as an alternative option for the suspect to safely move from class to class...

...Judge Salant also took shots at MCPS for attempting to control the suspect's numerous symptoms, but not seeking to excavate the root cause of that disruptive behavior.

"They wanted him to follow the student code of conduct, but he can't do it... There's clearly a lack of impulse control."..

Fighting Words From the Father of One Victim:

...Following repeated requests, the victim's father says he is scheduled to meet with MCPS Superintendent Jack Smith on the afternoon Friday, March 29. The victim's father explained the meeting will be 45 minutes long. No attorneys are allowed to attend, and the discussion cannot delve into topics of negligence, liability or responsibility...

...The victim's father further shared that two of the four victims are the sons of Montgomery County Police officers, one having recently retired from the force. He believes the suspects — the suspect in particular — hand picked the victims due to their law enforcement ties.

For example, weeks before the locker room attacks, the suspect reportedly stole a gold chain from the son of one officer. Damascus head football coach Eric Wallich threatened to call the police if the chain was not returned. In another instance, the suspect demanded that same boy stop wearing a police department Maryland Special Olympics t-shirt.

"Take the fu----- shirt off! Fu-- the police! Fu-- Montgomery County," the suspect allegedly shouted during the heated ordeal.

“There’s no doubt that two of the victims were targeted because they’re sons of law enforcement...The act of inserting a broom in another man’s rectum is done to degrade and demoralize, retaliate, to injure, to destroy their self-esteem.”..

Prosecuting Judge Salant's Ruling:

...Maryland law prohibits prosecutors from appealing Judge Salant's ruling. Instead, McCarthy expects the juvenile court to sentence the suspect to less than one year. The types of discipline can include a detention center, house arrest, community service, among others.

“I challenge you to call the Department of Corrections to find out how many kids are incarcerated — or being detained in any juvenile facility in the state — who are 19, 20 or 21 years old. I’m going tell you, I think it’s going to be less than five.”

https://wjla.com/news/local/so-called-ringleader-in-damascus-hs-rapes-to-be-tried-as-juvenile-victims-outraged

Police sources: Magruder H.S. breaches policy by not calling 911 following violent fight

DERWOOD, Md. (ABC7) — Three law enforcement sources say Magruder High School violated clear, written policy by not calling 911 or the school resource officer following a violent fight earlier this week.

The altercation, which took place around 11:45 a.m. Tuesday, left a freshman in the ICU with a skull fracture and blood clot in his head. Surgery might be required.

"They told his mother, your son's puking, I think you need to take him to an emergency room," the boy's father, Shane Van Dyken, told ABC7 earlier this week. "They didn't call an ambulance, they didn't call nobody... Makes no sense."

Van Dyken said his wife picked up their 14-year-old son around 12:50 p.m. He was "covered in vomit" and showing "clear signs" of a head injury. Their first stop was MedStar Montgomery Medical Center in Olney, but staff there explained the teen's injuries were severe. They directed the family to seek advanced treatment at Children's National Medical Center in D.C.

"I mean my son's here, at the hospital with a fractured skull and bleeding from his head and nothing was done at the school."

https://wjla.com/news/local/magruder-hs-violates-policy-by-not-calling-911-following-violent-fight

"nearly all schools have secure entrances"

Active-Shooter Training To Reach All Schools by June

ABC7 Exclusive: Mom speaks out after teen vapes, collapses at Montgomery County high school #MagruderHS @ColonelCraziess

Kevin Lewis @ABC7Kevin EXCLUSIVE: Magruder High School student collapses 40 seconds after vaping in a school hallway.

EXCLUSIVE: Magruder High School student collapses 40 seconds after vaping in a school hallway.

The 15yo boy broke his nose and a front tooth during the Nov. 13 incident.

In this video, school security use surveillance footage to provide the boy’s mother with a play-by-play. pic.twitter.com/6iGXzU7d4V

— Kevin Lewis (@ABC7Kevin) January 3, 2019

MORE: The boy's mother demanded police test the vape to determine what it contained. Now nearly three months later, she is still waiting for the lab results.

"What did my son consume? I want to know," she told me. "Sweeping it under the carpet and ignoring it is not the answer." pic.twitter.com/GMOldynYua

— Kevin Lewis (@ABC7Kevin) January 4, 2019

 

MORE: This blurred photo shows the boy's swollen nose and chipped front tooth.

In a thread of emails, Magruder's school resource officer told the boy's mother: "This is not a MCPS matter at this point."

Mom strongly disagrees.

Note: I've redacted the student/mother's names. pic.twitter.com/L5hbkyDMFZ

— Kevin Lewis (@ABC7Kevin) January 4, 2019

Is Vaping an Epidemic in MCPS?

Surgeon General Warns Youth Vaping Is Now An 'Epidemic'

Vaping by U.S. teenagers has reached epidemic levels, threatening to hook a new generation of young people on nicotine.

That's according to an unusual advisory issued Tuesday by U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams about the the dangers of electronic cigarette use among U.S. teenagers.

"I am officially declaring e-cigarette use among youth an epidemic in the United States," Adams said at a news conference. "Now is the time to take action. We need to protect our young people from all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes."..

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/12/18/677755266/surgeon-general-warns-youth-vaping-is-now-an-epidemic