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/

Youth Social Justice Group Condemns Police Action During Fights at High School Football Game

Young People for Progress members condemned the actions of the Montgomery County Police to break up student fights outside a Sept. 19 football game at Blake High School.

Officers working a football security detail requested backup after seeing several groups of teenagers fighting near the tennis courts and parking lot. Montgomery County Public Schools security staff attempted to break up the fights, but hundreds of students ignored repeated requests to leave.

As reported by MCM, police attempted to de-escalate the situation by launching several air pops while ordering the crowd to leave the premises. Air pops are loud sounds that do not release ammunition or pepper.

Members of the social justice group “are deeply concerned,” according to a news release from Dorien Rogers, the group’s field organizer.

While nothing but air pops were released, according to police, Young People for Progress sent a news release decrying the police’s actions around high school students. “This action escalates fear, normalizes militarized policing in school settings, and communicates to young people that their presence warrants fear and force rather than care,” it states in the release...

https://www.mymcmedia.org/youth-social-justice-group-condemns-police-action-during-fights-at-high-school-football-game/

Montgomery County Public Schools updated their Standard Response Protocol

School District Initiates New Emergency Protocol

  

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) announced its new security protocol “to effectively and efficiently respond to emergency and crisis situations.”

There are now five directives – Hold, Secure, Lockdown, Evacuate and Shelter.

Previously, when there was an emergency, schools went into shelter in place or lock down. Shelter was the description given for a broad range of issues including weather, medical emergency or police activity.

Hold now means all hallways must be kept clear. Secure will be used for external threats, including police activity nearby. In that case, everyone will be brought into the school, and the doors will be locked, but normal school activities will continue, according to information on the MCPS website...

https://www.mymcmedia.org/school-district-initiates-new-emergency-protocol/

Kennedy High community looks to MCPS to improve safety in Silver Spring school

When junior Alex Acuna walks into John F. Kennedy High School in Silver Spring to start his school day, he feels safe. But in the back of his mind, he says he’s also thinking that walking into the school means it could be his “last day alive.”  

“I’ve seen people who look like grown adults [come into the school] and they were trying to jump my friends,” Acuna said.  

After continued concerns for safety and a back-to-back lockdown and shelter-in-place in January, a group of about 25 Kennedy students, staff and families gathered at the school Wednesday night for a session hosted by the PTSA to discuss how to improve safety in the school moving forward. Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) leaders, including Marcus Jones, the former county police chief who now heads the MCPS Department of Security and Compliance, also attended...

Kennedy High community looks to MCPS to improve safety in Silver Spring school - Bethesda Magazine

WTOP: Violence, mold, asbestos: Staffers at Montgomery Co. alternative school voice safety concerns

Teachers and staff at a building that houses two Montgomery County, Maryland, schools — which cater to students with additional needs — claim the school system is not doing enough to ensure students and staff have both a healthy and safe place to learn.

One half of the Blair G. Ewing Center on Avery Road in Rockville has been home to one alternative learning school known by staff as “Avery Road.” The school is one of three that serves students who have behavioral issues or other learning difficulties that require they be removed from their prior public school.

At the beginning of this school year, a second school, known as “Cloverleaf” in Germantown, relocated to the vacant side of the Blair Ewing facility. Two staff members who spoke with WTOP said they arrived to find mold and even warnings about asbestos.

“When we first came in, we had visible mold on ceiling tiles and walls and floors. We had leaks in some of the bathrooms that dripped and flowed down the wall when it rains,” said one teacher WTOP will refer to as “Teacher A.”..

Violence, mold, asbestos: Staffers at Montgomery Co. alternative school voice safety concerns - WTOP News

Rules remain in place for Montgomery Co. schools’ Friday night lights

Montgomery County high schools in Maryland begin their football season in two weeks and, once again, safety and security remain atop everyone’s playbook.

Many can’t forget an ugly incident that took place in September 2022 when a fight broke out on the field between Gaithersburg and Northwest high school involving players and coaches that eventually led to both programs being temporarily suspended.

Last September, after a game between two rivals featuring Walter Johnson and Bethesda-Chevy Chase high schools, a fight broke out near the Bethesda Metro station with students from both schools in which several altercations took place.

For this season, Montgomery County Public Schools has implemented some different rules for family, friends, and students, who plan to attend upcoming sports events at county high schools...

https://wtop.com/montgomery-county/2024/08/montgomery-co-schools-implement-new-set-of-rules-for-friday-night-lights/

Wootton High School Editor-in-Chief Enters 4 MCPS High Schools During Lunch to Test Security

 

Common Sense Print Edition April 2024 (woottoncommonsense.com)

https://woottoncommonsense.com/

MCPS Giving Parking Spaces at Gaithersburg Middle School Over to Public Use. Board of Ed. Approved this on their Consent Agenda. Board Did Not Discuss Security Issue.

 

MCPS is Piloting Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

...Additional pilot charging stations will be installed at Gaithersburg Middle School and are expected to be operational in July. These stations are available to be used by MCPS staff, students and the general public. Both locations will have Level 2 chargers that can charge a vehicle’s electric battery from empty in 4-10 hours, or a plug-in hybrid battery from empty in 1-2 hours. The cost per kWh is $0.18. There are three ways to pay:..

MCPS is Piloting Electric Vehicle Charging Stations - The MoCo Show

*****

Watch the Montgomery County Board of Education agree to give away school parking spaces to the public without discussion of security issues or discussion of any compensation for use of school land. 

Alexandria City High School to operate on ‘modified return’ starting Tuesday

Not all students at Alexandria City High School will return to in-person learning starting Tuesday.

The Northern Virginia high school will operate on a “modified return” amid the ongoing investigation into a stabbing that killed a student last week.

Those expected to come back in person on Tuesday include:..

https://wtop.com/alexandria/2022/05/alexandria-city-high-school-to-operate-on-moderate-return-starting-tuesday/

Bethesda-Chevy Chase HS student punches, stomps, spits on school security guard, cops say

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (7News) — Hours after telling an assistant principal that he was planning to harm someone, a Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School student beat a school security guard to the point that the guard blacked out, Montgomery County Police wrote in court documents obtained by 7News.

On Thursday, Feb. 3, the 61-year-old male security guard was walking down a first-floor hallway at BCC when he came across student Jacob Moore, 18, skipping class. It was around 1:07 p.m.

"Your mom does not send you to school so you can sit in the hall all day," the security guard told Moore.

Moore — who police describe as being "taller and built bigger" than the security guard — reportedly stood up and got in the guard's face. Sensing danger, the guard began to back up. While doing so, Moore punched the guard in the face several times, causing the guard to fall to the floor, police allege...

https://wjla.com/news/local/bethesda-chevy-chase-high-school-student-attacks-assaults-security-guard-montgomery-county-public-jacob-moore

Elrich says he will remove police officers from schools

 Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich on Monday said he plans to remove police from public high schools in the fall — instead, officers will be assigned to patrol communities and respond to incidents at schools when needed.

During a briefing announcing the county budget, he said, “The SROs will not be in schools,” referring to the school resource officer program.

“We are taking a very different approach,” Elrich said. “The state requires us to have a response plan for the county schools. We’re going to take police officers, they will have beats that will include wider areas that would encompass the different school districts. They will not be stationed in the schools.”..

https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/schools/elrich-says-he-will-remove-police-officers-from-schools/

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

Blair adds four new portables - 3,375 students for Fall 2019. Parents have to Buy Promethean Boards for Trailers.

In 2017, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) added four portables to Blair. Due to the school's increasing student population in the 2019-20 school year, the MCPS Department of Facilities Management is introducing more portables adjacent to the current portables.

According to Principal Renay Johnson, approximately 200 more students will be attending Blair next year compared to the 2018-19 school year when Blair enrolled over 3,200 students. "Right now in the scheduling system, there's 3,375 [students], but you know what happens when school opens: people enroll," Johnson said.

It is likely that the student body will continue to grow, because more people are choosing to come to Blair. "Blair is a choice school...

...Due to limited funds, the new portables may not be equipped with Promethean boards. "Unfortunately, high school portables don't come with [Promethean boards]," Johnson said. "The ones that do have them, I've had to purchase using school funds. I don't know if we'll have enough school funds to get enough Promethean boards, because we have other priorities."..

https://silverchips.mbhs.edu/content/blair-adds-four-new-portables-31958/

This is a new security checkpoint at Einstein HS in Kensington, MD. The school added it because a lot of the students were ordering food delivery every day at lunch. UberEats, DoorDash, etc. @MCPS discourages food delivery to closed campuses for safety reasons @nbcwashington

This is a new security checkpoint at Einstein HS in Kensington, MD. The school added it because a lot of the students were ordering food delivery every day at lunch. UberEats, DoorDash, etc. @MCPS discourages food delivery to closed campuses for safety reasons @nbcwashington pic.twitter.com/mDO9MucT5z

— Drew Wilder (@DrewWilderTV) April 30, 2019

"nearly all schools have secure entrances"

Active-Shooter Training To Reach All Schools by June

E-Mail from MCPS Re: Damascus High School

Email released yesterday by
Andrew M. Zuckerman, Ed.D.
Chief Operating Officer
Montgomery County Public Schools

Dear Damascus High School Community,
The past seven weeks have been a very trying time for the... https://t.co/vryBZR2yQz

— Everything Damascus (@EverythingDamas) December 20, 2018

Montgomery Co police say Elijah Nyamekye of Silver Spring has been charged with bringing a loaded revolver into Paint Branch High School yesterday. Officer Rick Goodale says the 17 yr old is not a student, the gun was stolen and he’s been released on bond. #News4 #Working4You

Montgomery Co police say Elijah Nyamekye of Silver Spring has been charged with bringing a loaded revolver into Paint Branch High School yesterday. Officer Rick Goodale says the 17 yr old is not a student, the gun was stolen and he’s been released on bond. #News4 @nbcwashington pic.twitter.com/PNbiY5ZWyL

— Chris Gordon (@ChrisGordonNews) June 13, 2018

Charge No:

001Description:POSS OF FIREARM MINOR

Statute:	PS.5.133.(d)Description:POSS OF FIREARM MINOR
Amended Date:	CJIS Code:1 5285MO/PLL:Probable Cause:X

Incident Date From:

06/12/2018

To:

06/12/2018

Victim Age:

---

Charge No:

002Description:HANDGUN ON PERSON

Statute:	CR.4.203Description:HANDGUN ON PERSON
Amended Date:	CJIS Code:1 5212MO/PLL:Probable Cause:X

Incident Date From:

06/12/2018

To:

06/12/2018

Victim Age:

---

Charge No:

003Description:REG FIREARM:STOLEN/SELL ETC

Statute:	PS.5.138Description:REG FIREARM:STOLEN/SELL ETC
Amended Date:	CJIS Code:1 2801MO/PLL:Probable Cause:X

Incident Date From:

06/12/2018

To:

06/12/2018

Victim Age:

---

Charge No:

004Description:ATT-SCHOOL: TRESPASS ON GROUND

Statute:	CLDescription:ATT-SCHOOL: TRESPASS ON GROUND
Amended Date:	CJIS Code:7A5707MO/PLL:Probable Cause:X

Incident Date From:

06/12/2018

To:

06/12/2018

Victim Age:

---

Charge No:

005Description:ATT-SCHOOL: DISTURB OPERATION

Statute:	CLDescription:ATT-SCHOOL: DISTURB OPERATION
Amended Date:	CJIS Code:1A0070MO/PLL:Probable Cause:

Incident Date From:

06/12/2018

To:

06/12/2018

Victim Age: