Urgent Request for Funding to Enhance MoCo Elementary School Safety

Anonymous
Wifi works in all the buildings I work at. Cellular service is another story and I blame Germantown for that for pushing back on cellphone towers in neighborhoods.
Anonymous
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Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Hi MCPS Parents! Below are the email addresses and an template email for the Board of Education elected officials, as well as Superintendent Taylor regarding an urgent request for funding to enhance MCPS Elementary School Safety. If you are an MCPS taxpayer, parent or student and you care about the safety of our youngest learners, please consider sending along to the people listed below. Thanks!

Subject: Urgent Request for Funding to Enhance MoCo Elementary School Security

Dear Board of Education Members and Superintendent Taylor,

I am writing to you as a concerned citizen and parent to express my deep concern for the safety and security of our children in Montgomery County elementary schools. In light of the increasing frequency of tragic events in schools across the nation, I urge you to prioritize the allocation of adequate funding for the implementation of comprehensive security measures in all Montgomery County elementary schools before one of our schools becomes the epicenter of the next tragedy.

I believe that the following measures are essential to creating a safer learning environment for our children:

Physical Security Upgrades:
- Enhanced Entryways: Controlled access points, security vestibules, and visitor screening procedures are crucial to prevent unauthorized entry.
- Emergency Communication Systems: Reliable and easily accessible communication systems, including cellular 911 calling capability, land lines, panic buttons, and public address systems, all of which are vital for rapid response in emergency situations and are currently lacking in nearly all of Montgomery County’s 136 elementary schools.
- Surveillance Systems: High-quality surveillance cameras strategically placed throughout the school grounds and interior that are regularly monitored by law enforcement.
- Standardized Infrastructure Assessments: Allowing qualified MCPS emergency and security personnel to equally assess all 136 elementary schools for vulnerabilities and subsequent funding to address security gaps that are identified.

Mental Health Support:
- Increased Counseling Services: Access to mental health professionals, such as school counselors and psychologists, which are essential for early identification and intervention of potential threats.
- Threat Assessment Teams: Multidisciplinary teams comprised of educators, mental health professionals, and law enforcement should be utilized to assess and address potential threats effectively.

Staff Training & Parent Involvement:
- Active Shooter Training: Regular standardized training for all staff members on active shooter response protocols, including lockdown procedures, evacuation plans, and first aid/CPR.
- De-escalation Techniques: Training for staff on de-escalation techniques to manage disruptive behavior and prevent situations from escalating into violence.
- MCPS-Wide Safety and Security Meeting: Q&A on of the code of conduct, current elementary school safety measures, and elementary school safety and security gaps that will be addressed (with timelines and deliverables).

I understand that funding for these measures may require careful budget allocation. However, I believe that the safety and well-being of our most vulnerable children are paramount and should be considered the number one priority. I urge you to advocate for the necessary funding and support the implementation of these critical security enhancements in our elementary schools.

Thank you for your time and consideration of this urgent matter. I look forward to your prompt attention and a positive response.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Thomas_W_Taylor@mcpsmd.org
Karla_Silvestre@mcpsmd.org
Rita_M_Montoya@mcpsmd.org
Brenda_Wolff@mcpsmd.org
Graciela_Rivera-oven@mcpsmd.org
Laura_M_Stewart@mcpsmd.org
Julie_Yang@mcpsmd.org
Praneel_S_Suvarna@mcpsmd.org
Natalie_Zimmerman@mcpsmd.org


This is either a troll or a remarkably stupid elementary school teacher.

Rather than making statements that could be verifiably true (e.g., So-and-So Elementary doesn't have working phones or a PA syste). she made statements that were easily verified to be false.

And now knowing that her credibility is shot, she's disappeared from the thread.


Keyboard warrior. Great effort, you must be really proud of yourself. A concerned individual makes a genuine, and desperately needed effort to help keep children safe, and you insult them?!?! Your kids, if you have any, must think you’re very special. I’m embarrassed for you.


So "genuine" and "desperately needed" that you still refuse to name the school...

This has got to be a troll.


It’s not a singular school, this is the issue. I’ll be at the Board of Education meeting on Thursday. I will wear a green shirt so you can identify me. Please feel free to come and have a conversation with me.


It's not a district-wide issue, either, as you've seen in this thread. If you pretend it is, you're going to get the same reaction from the Board as you've received in this thread. Namely, that what you're claiming isn't true at the schools they're aware of, therefore you're not credible.


OP Here Again - I don't think anyone can know if anything is a district-wide issue if there aren't district wide security assessments. Here is the free tool that we're suggesting in the letter - https://www.cisa.gov/school-security-assessment-tool. If MCPS mandated that all schools take this and report results back, the data could be used to identify gaps and prioritize resources. Is there anything remotely controversial about asking for something like this? Shouldn't we know where there are gaps in cell coverage? It's a free tool.


Did you even look at that assessment?

Do you think emergency call boxes, speed bumps, and vehicle barriers are good priorities for elementary schools?

Also, get a better mobile phone provider and cell phone that supports wifi calling.


Wi-fi doesn’t work in many parts of many MCPS buildings. We’ve brought this up during every PD about lockdowns.


It works in classrooms, given they use Chromebooks there.

We've got bigger problems than this. Snow removal, for one.


April Key being in charge of human resources, for another. You should check her out on Md Case Search.


??? I get no cases with April Lealia Key as a party.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Wifi works in all the buildings I work at. Cellular service is another story and I blame Germantown for that for pushing back on cellphone towers in neighborhoods.


Those wackos aren't just in Germantown. And they complain about wifi, too!
Anonymous
Granted, I’ve subbed and volunteered at about thirty schools, mostly upcounty, some mid, and some down. The only time I ever had any issues were in music rooms, which were often soundproof, and extra padded, which would cause some issues. (But then I would just hardwire the Boxlight.) Beyond that the wifi often worked well enough to live-stream graduations, performances, and more. (You can test speeds with speedtest.net or if that’s blocked fast.com.) Even if a particular room is saturated, there are wifi extenders throughout the building. So while I’m not saying that some schools may be having problems, it doesn’t feel district-wide.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Hi MCPS Parents! Below are the email addresses and an template email for the Board of Education elected officials, as well as Superintendent Taylor regarding an urgent request for funding to enhance MCPS Elementary School Safety. If you are an MCPS taxpayer, parent or student and you care about the safety of our youngest learners, please consider sending along to the people listed below. Thanks!

Subject: Urgent Request for Funding to Enhance MoCo Elementary School Security

Dear Board of Education Members and Superintendent Taylor,

I am writing to you as a concerned citizen and parent to express my deep concern for the safety and security of our children in Montgomery County elementary schools. In light of the increasing frequency of tragic events in schools across the nation, I urge you to prioritize the allocation of adequate funding for the implementation of comprehensive security measures in all Montgomery County elementary schools before one of our schools becomes the epicenter of the next tragedy.

I believe that the following measures are essential to creating a safer learning environment for our children:

Physical Security Upgrades:
- Enhanced Entryways: Controlled access points, security vestibules, and visitor screening procedures are crucial to prevent unauthorized entry.
- Emergency Communication Systems: Reliable and easily accessible communication systems, including cellular 911 calling capability, land lines, panic buttons, and public address systems, all of which are vital for rapid response in emergency situations and are currently lacking in nearly all of Montgomery County’s 136 elementary schools.
- Surveillance Systems: High-quality surveillance cameras strategically placed throughout the school grounds and interior that are regularly monitored by law enforcement.
- Standardized Infrastructure Assessments: Allowing qualified MCPS emergency and security personnel to equally assess all 136 elementary schools for vulnerabilities and subsequent funding to address security gaps that are identified.

Mental Health Support:
- Increased Counseling Services: Access to mental health professionals, such as school counselors and psychologists, which are essential for early identification and intervention of potential threats.
- Threat Assessment Teams: Multidisciplinary teams comprised of educators, mental health professionals, and law enforcement should be utilized to assess and address potential threats effectively.

Staff Training & Parent Involvement:
- Active Shooter Training: Regular standardized training for all staff members on active shooter response protocols, including lockdown procedures, evacuation plans, and first aid/CPR.
- De-escalation Techniques: Training for staff on de-escalation techniques to manage disruptive behavior and prevent situations from escalating into violence.
- MCPS-Wide Safety and Security Meeting: Q&A on of the code of conduct, current elementary school safety measures, and elementary school safety and security gaps that will be addressed (with timelines and deliverables).

I understand that funding for these measures may require careful budget allocation. However, I believe that the safety and well-being of our most vulnerable children are paramount and should be considered the number one priority. I urge you to advocate for the necessary funding and support the implementation of these critical security enhancements in our elementary schools.

Thank you for your time and consideration of this urgent matter. I look forward to your prompt attention and a positive response.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Thomas_W_Taylor@mcpsmd.org
Karla_Silvestre@mcpsmd.org
Rita_M_Montoya@mcpsmd.org
Brenda_Wolff@mcpsmd.org
Graciela_Rivera-oven@mcpsmd.org
Laura_M_Stewart@mcpsmd.org
Julie_Yang@mcpsmd.org
Praneel_S_Suvarna@mcpsmd.org
Natalie_Zimmerman@mcpsmd.org


This is either a troll or a remarkably stupid elementary school teacher.

Rather than making statements that could be verifiably true (e.g., So-and-So Elementary doesn't have working phones or a PA syste). she made statements that were easily verified to be false.

And now knowing that her credibility is shot, she's disappeared from the thread.


Keyboard warrior. Great effort, you must be really proud of yourself. A concerned individual makes a genuine, and desperately needed effort to help keep children safe, and you insult them?!?! Your kids, if you have any, must think you’re very special. I’m embarrassed for you.


So "genuine" and "desperately needed" that you still refuse to name the school...

This has got to be a troll.


It’s not a singular school, this is the issue. I’ll be at the Board of Education meeting on Thursday. I will wear a green shirt so you can identify me. Please feel free to come and have a conversation with me.


It's not a district-wide issue, either, as you've seen in this thread. If you pretend it is, you're going to get the same reaction from the Board as you've received in this thread. Namely, that what you're claiming isn't true at the schools they're aware of, therefore you're not credible.


OP Here Again - I don't think anyone can know if anything is a district-wide issue if there aren't district wide security assessments. Here is the free tool that we're suggesting in the letter - https://www.cisa.gov/school-security-assessment-tool. If MCPS mandated that all schools take this and report results back, the data could be used to identify gaps and prioritize resources. Is there anything remotely controversial about asking for something like this? Shouldn't we know where there are gaps in cell coverage? It's a free tool.


Did you even look at that assessment?

Do you think emergency call boxes, speed bumps, and vehicle barriers are good priorities for elementary schools?

Also, get a better mobile phone provider and cell phone that supports wifi calling.


Wi-fi doesn’t work in many parts of many MCPS buildings. We’ve brought this up during every PD about lockdowns.


It works in classrooms, given they use Chromebooks there.

We've got bigger problems than this. Snow removal, for one.


April Key being in charge of human resources, for another. You should check her out on Md Case Search.


??? I get no cases with April Lealia Key as a party.


Haha. Must be a different person than the April L Key who keeps being a defendant for failure to pay rent. Unluckily, the lady who is ruining our school system staffing has the same name.
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