another SAFETY meeting

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:16:59, that is a long one. Was there anything in the letter that will help the school or any schools, or is it more word salad communications?

uh, why don't you read it and weigh in?

seems pretty substantial to me.

Is it? Maybe.
Still looking into weapons system, got it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:16:59, that is a long one. Was there anything in the letter that will help the school or any schools, or is it more word salad communications?

uh, why don't you read it and weigh in?

seems pretty substantial to me.

Is it? Maybe.
Still looking into weapons system, got it.

They said weapons detection system for 25 high schools is $100 million, plus the cost of personnel to staff it, because someone needs to be standing there when the alarm sounds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:16:59, that is a long one. Was there anything in the letter that will help the school or any schools, or is it more word salad communications?

uh, why don't you read it and weigh in?

seems pretty substantial to me.

Is it? Maybe.
Still looking into weapons system, got it.

They said weapons detection system for 25 high schools is $100 million, plus the cost of personnel to staff it, because someone needs to be standing there when the alarm sounds.

They usually need more than one person standing there. That's at least 50 security personnel only at a machine. Then another handful patrolling the halls or other doorways. Relieve teachers of door duties.

[Anonymous]

Where do they hire security guards is there a firm or two that trains them for school settings, does MCPD find them and train them etc.?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS sent a follow up email communication after Tues's meeting. Any thing on the to do actions list that is worthy of mention?

Share the email here?

Dear Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School Families,

Thank you to all who joined the community safety meeting Tuesday evening hosted and organized by Councilmember Andrew Friedson.

We heard you. The B-CC community raised concerns about school safety decision-making, prevention strategies, student discipline, and the emotional impact of repeated lockdowns. Many of you expressed that school leaders should NOT have to navigate security decisions alone and emphasized the need for stronger external partnerships to support violence prevention efforts. We also heard concerns about the frequency of lockdowns, their impact on student well-being, and the need for clearer communication and follow-up support after incidents. Most importantly, we heard your urgent call to action—stop studying the issue, stop talking about it, and start making tangible changes now.

Your concerns are valid, and we share these same concerns, as well as your call to make meaningful improvements. As stated at the meeting, a school culture with consistent routines, expectations, and habits is key to developing the trusted relationships that contribute to a safe school environment. As a result, we are taking immediate steps to address safety and security at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School, including:

1. Security Measures

Establish a cross-functional security support team to assist the administrative team onsite with school operations, school culture, and school safety.


This will include the Cluster Security Coordinator; the director from the office of school support and improvement; the director from the Office of Well-Being and Student Services; and mental health specialists. This team will be in place beginning Monday, March 10.


On Tuesday, March 11, staff from the Office of Systemwide Safety and Security and Office of School Support and Improvement will be present with the Instructional Leadership Team. During this time the team will review emergency preparedness protocols and how to prepare guests and visitors when serious incidents occur. This will include ensuring classrooms are secure when substitutes are in the building.

The Office of Systemwide Safety and Emergency Management will immediately assess the school security team to ensure all necessary resources are available and best practices are in place at the school. To support the implementation of these practices, two additional security specialists will be working with the security team, beginning on Monday, March 10.


2. Support Measures

MCPS will provide additional administrative support focusing on school safety, crisis management, and student engagement. Ensure that leaders are consistently equipped with the latest best practices and strategies.

Mr. Floyd Branch, Restorative Approaches Specialist, and a team of Well-Being Social Workers will be on-site on Tuesday, March 11 to facilitate listening and support sessions for students who would like to participate. The data collected from these sessions will be shared and we will communicate how it will inform changes and upgrades. Students can use this link to sign up. A similar process will be implemented to conduct staff listening sessions and focus groups.

Provide training in communications for the school leadership and security team to improve coordination and response. (This will be scheduled in coordination with the cross-functional support team.)

Remind students that their School Well-Being Social Worker, Julia Swissman, and the Bridge to Wellness staff are prepared to support them as needed. Students can self-refer to Bridge to Wellness or stop by room A215 to see Ms. Swissman.

All Bethesda-Chevy Chase teachers and staff have access to a Student Well-Being Team (SWBT) referral form, allowing for an easily accessible process for staff to directly refer students to social workers, counseling support, and Bridge to Wellness services. This process ensures that students in need—both those at risk of violent behavior and those experiencing emotional distress from frequent lockdowns—receive timely interventions, even if they do not self-identify. The system prioritizes confidentiality, ease of use, and prompt follow-up to connect students with the appropriate resources. If parents would like to refer their student, they should contact their counselor.

The Jewish Social Service Agency (JSSA) and BCC’s Our Minds Matter club will be hosting Teen Mental Health First Aid training sessions for six sessions beginning on Tuesday, March 11, 2025.

Mindfulness staff will be at BCC throughout the week of March 10 - March 14 to support staff with self-care activities. Staff will be able to access this throughout the day in the staff lounge.

3. Other Important Considerations

Rewriting the Student Code of Conduct – This effort is underway to clarify behavioral expectations, outline clear consequences for violations, and reinforce the importance of restorative practices to address conflicts and support students' growth. This process happens annually and will benefit all students and schools throughout MCPS.

Exploring a Closed Campus for B-CC During School Hours– This would be a significant change for the community and would involve significant logistical changes including an impact on school schedules and would also require thoughtful planning and input from students, families, and staff. Considerations include a completely closed lunch, or options for students based on academic accomplishment (GPA), character, and parent permission. Additionally, we are considering a similar and thus consistent approach for all high schools in the district.

Two more concerns brought forward Tuesday evening were around weapons detection systems and transitioning the Community Engagement Officer program back to a School Resource Officer program. We are evaluating weapons detection systems for information purposes; however, no commitment has been made to implement them. Any consideration of these systems would require thoughtful planning, community engagement, a multi-million dollar funding source, and a clear understanding of how they would be implemented across our MCPS schools. Similarly, any change to how officers engage in our schools, such as a School Resource Officer program is not solely an MCPS decision and must be a community-informed decision involving the County Council, County Executive, Board of Education, and the resources needed to support such a transition.

Safety in our schools and communities is not just about how we respond to incidents—it’s about the steps we take to prevent them. That’s why we are focused on strengthening community relationships, improving communication, and fostering a school environment where every student and staff member feels safe and supported. This work cannot be shouldered by MCPS alone. Creating a secure and welcoming school climate requires all of us– our elected officials, government agencies, community partners, families and students– to stay engaged. By actively checking in with students, encouraging open, respectful and civil conversations, and remaining vigilant to potential concerns, we can work together to address issues before they escalate.

We will continue to update you on our progress and welcome your ongoing partnership in this work. Thank you for being active participants in building a safer school community.

Sincerely,

Dr. Peter Moran
Chief of MCPS School Support and Improvement

Marcus Jones
Chief of MCPS Systemwide Safety and Emergency Management

so glad that dr moran has this under control. what an amazing leader for our kids.

[Anonymous]

13:23 Moran's spouse reads this forum? Or is that you Thomas?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS sent a follow up email communication after Tues's meeting. Any thing on the to do actions list that is worthy of mention?

Share the email here?

Dear Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School Families,

Thank you to all who joined the community safety meeting Tuesday evening hosted and organized by Councilmember Andrew Friedson.

We heard you. The B-CC community raised concerns about school safety decision-making, prevention strategies, student discipline, and the emotional impact of repeated lockdowns. Many of you expressed that school leaders should NOT have to navigate security decisions alone and emphasized the need for stronger external partnerships to support violence prevention efforts. We also heard concerns about the frequency of lockdowns, their impact on student well-being, and the need for clearer communication and follow-up support after incidents. Most importantly, we heard your urgent call to action—stop studying the issue, stop talking about it, and start making tangible changes now.

Your concerns are valid, and we share these same concerns, as well as your call to make meaningful improvements. As stated at the meeting, a school culture with consistent routines, expectations, and habits is key to developing the trusted relationships that contribute to a safe school environment. As a result, we are taking immediate steps to address safety and security at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School, including:

1. Security Measures

Establish a cross-functional security support team to assist the administrative team onsite with school operations, school culture, and school safety.


This will include the Cluster Security Coordinator; the director from the office of school support and improvement; the director from the Office of Well-Being and Student Services; and mental health specialists. This team will be in place beginning Monday, March 10.


On Tuesday, March 11, staff from the Office of Systemwide Safety and Security and Office of School Support and Improvement will be present with the Instructional Leadership Team. During this time the team will review emergency preparedness protocols and how to prepare guests and visitors when serious incidents occur. This will include ensuring classrooms are secure when substitutes are in the building.

The Office of Systemwide Safety and Emergency Management will immediately assess the school security team to ensure all necessary resources are available and best practices are in place at the school. To support the implementation of these practices, two additional security specialists will be working with the security team, beginning on Monday, March 10.


2. Support Measures

MCPS will provide additional administrative support focusing on school safety, crisis management, and student engagement. Ensure that leaders are consistently equipped with the latest best practices and strategies.

Mr. Floyd Branch, Restorative Approaches Specialist, and a team of Well-Being Social Workers will be on-site on Tuesday, March 11 to facilitate listening and support sessions for students who would like to participate. The data collected from these sessions will be shared and we will communicate how it will inform changes and upgrades. Students can use this link to sign up. A similar process will be implemented to conduct staff listening sessions and focus groups.

Provide training in communications for the school leadership and security team to improve coordination and response. (This will be scheduled in coordination with the cross-functional support team.)

Remind students that their School Well-Being Social Worker, Julia Swissman, and the Bridge to Wellness staff are prepared to support them as needed. Students can self-refer to Bridge to Wellness or stop by room A215 to see Ms. Swissman.

All Bethesda-Chevy Chase teachers and staff have access to a Student Well-Being Team (SWBT) referral form, allowing for an easily accessible process for staff to directly refer students to social workers, counseling support, and Bridge to Wellness services. This process ensures that students in need—both those at risk of violent behavior and those experiencing emotional distress from frequent lockdowns—receive timely interventions, even if they do not self-identify. The system prioritizes confidentiality, ease of use, and prompt follow-up to connect students with the appropriate resources. If parents would like to refer their student, they should contact their counselor.

The Jewish Social Service Agency (JSSA) and BCC’s Our Minds Matter club will be hosting Teen Mental Health First Aid training sessions for six sessions beginning on Tuesday, March 11, 2025.

Mindfulness staff will be at BCC throughout the week of March 10 - March 14 to support staff with self-care activities. Staff will be able to access this throughout the day in the staff lounge.

3. Other Important Considerations

Rewriting the Student Code of Conduct – This effort is underway to clarify behavioral expectations, outline clear consequences for violations, and reinforce the importance of restorative practices to address conflicts and support students' growth. This process happens annually and will benefit all students and schools throughout MCPS.

Exploring a Closed Campus for B-CC During School Hours– This would be a significant change for the community and would involve significant logistical changes including an impact on school schedules and would also require thoughtful planning and input from students, families, and staff. Considerations include a completely closed lunch, or options for students based on academic accomplishment (GPA), character, and parent permission. Additionally, we are considering a similar and thus consistent approach for all high schools in the district.

Two more concerns brought forward Tuesday evening were around weapons detection systems and transitioning the Community Engagement Officer program back to a School Resource Officer program. We are evaluating weapons detection systems for information purposes; however, no commitment has been made to implement them. Any consideration of these systems would require thoughtful planning, community engagement, a multi-million dollar funding source, and a clear understanding of how they would be implemented across our MCPS schools. Similarly, any change to how officers engage in our schools, such as a School Resource Officer program is not solely an MCPS decision and must be a community-informed decision involving the County Council, County Executive, Board of Education, and the resources needed to support such a transition.

Safety in our schools and communities is not just about how we respond to incidents—it’s about the steps we take to prevent them. That’s why we are focused on strengthening community relationships, improving communication, and fostering a school environment where every student and staff member feels safe and supported. This work cannot be shouldered by MCPS alone. Creating a secure and welcoming school climate requires all of us– our elected officials, government agencies, community partners, families and students– to stay engaged. By actively checking in with students, encouraging open, respectful and civil conversations, and remaining vigilant to potential concerns, we can work together to address issues before they escalate.

We will continue to update you on our progress and welcome your ongoing partnership in this work. Thank you for being active participants in building a safer school community.

Sincerely,

Dr. Peter Moran
Chief of MCPS School Support and Improvement

Marcus Jones
Chief of MCPS Systemwide Safety and Emergency Management

Did the bolded items above started at B-CC this week? Hold them accountable. Don't write it in a letter only, take the actions!

Is it too soon to see *any* positive effects it is having in the school?

Evaluating? How long are they going to take with that?

How and when will families and those who reside and work in and around the school community hear about progress?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS sent a follow up email communication after Tues's meeting. Any thing on the to do actions list that is worthy of mention?

Share the email here?

Dear Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School Families,

Thank you to all who joined the community safety meeting Tuesday evening hosted and organized by Councilmember Andrew Friedson.

We heard you. The B-CC community raised concerns about school safety decision-making, prevention strategies, student discipline, and the emotional impact of repeated lockdowns. Many of you expressed that school leaders should NOT have to navigate security decisions alone and emphasized the need for stronger external partnerships to support violence prevention efforts. We also heard concerns about the frequency of lockdowns, their impact on student well-being, and the need for clearer communication and follow-up support after incidents. Most importantly, we heard your urgent call to action—stop studying the issue, stop talking about it, and start making tangible changes now.

Your concerns are valid, and we share these same concerns, as well as your call to make meaningful improvements. As stated at the meeting, a school culture with consistent routines, expectations, and habits is key to developing the trusted relationships that contribute to a safe school environment. As a result, we are taking immediate steps to address safety and security at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School, including:

1. Security Measures

Establish a cross-functional security support team to assist the administrative team onsite with school operations, school culture, and school safety.


This will include the Cluster Security Coordinator; the director from the office of school support and improvement; the director from the Office of Well-Being and Student Services; and mental health specialists. This team will be in place beginning Monday, March 10.


On Tuesday, March 11, staff from the Office of Systemwide Safety and Security and Office of School Support and Improvement will be present with the Instructional Leadership Team. During this time the team will review emergency preparedness protocols and how to prepare guests and visitors when serious incidents occur. This will include ensuring classrooms are secure when substitutes are in the building.

The Office of Systemwide Safety and Emergency Management will immediately assess the school security team to ensure all necessary resources are available and best practices are in place at the school. To support the implementation of these practices, two additional security specialists will be working with the security team, beginning on Monday, March 10.


2. Support Measures

MCPS will provide additional administrative support focusing on school safety, crisis management, and student engagement. Ensure that leaders are consistently equipped with the latest best practices and strategies.

Mr. Floyd Branch, Restorative Approaches Specialist, and a team of Well-Being Social Workers will be on-site on Tuesday, March 11 to facilitate listening and support sessions for students who would like to participate. The data collected from these sessions will be shared and we will communicate how it will inform changes and upgrades. Students can use this link to sign up. A similar process will be implemented to conduct staff listening sessions and focus groups.

Provide training in communications for the school leadership and security team to improve coordination and response. (This will be scheduled in coordination with the cross-functional support team.)

Remind students that their School Well-Being Social Worker, Julia Swissman, and the Bridge to Wellness staff are prepared to support them as needed. Students can self-refer to Bridge to Wellness or stop by room A215 to see Ms. Swissman.

All Bethesda-Chevy Chase teachers and staff have access to a Student Well-Being Team (SWBT) referral form, allowing for an easily accessible process for staff to directly refer students to social workers, counseling support, and Bridge to Wellness services. This process ensures that students in need—both those at risk of violent behavior and those experiencing emotional distress from frequent lockdowns—receive timely interventions, even if they do not self-identify. The system prioritizes confidentiality, ease of use, and prompt follow-up to connect students with the appropriate resources. If parents would like to refer their student, they should contact their counselor.

The Jewish Social Service Agency (JSSA) and BCC’s Our Minds Matter club will be hosting Teen Mental Health First Aid training sessions for six sessions beginning on Tuesday, March 11, 2025.

Mindfulness staff will be at BCC throughout the week of March 10 - March 14 to support staff with self-care activities. Staff will be able to access this throughout the day in the staff lounge.

3. Other Important Considerations

Rewriting the Student Code of Conduct – This effort is underway to clarify behavioral expectations, outline clear consequences for violations, and reinforce the importance of restorative practices to address conflicts and support students' growth. This process happens annually and will benefit all students and schools throughout MCPS.

Exploring a Closed Campus for B-CC During School Hours– This would be a significant change for the community and would involve significant logistical changes including an impact on school schedules and would also require thoughtful planning and input from students, families, and staff. Considerations include a completely closed lunch, or options for students based on academic accomplishment (GPA), character, and parent permission. Additionally, we are considering a similar and thus consistent approach for all high schools in the district.

Two more concerns brought forward Tuesday evening were around weapons detection systems and transitioning the Community Engagement Officer program back to a School Resource Officer program. We are evaluating weapons detection systems for information purposes; however, no commitment has been made to implement them. Any consideration of these systems would require thoughtful planning, community engagement, a multi-million dollar funding source, and a clear understanding of how they would be implemented across our MCPS schools. Similarly, any change to how officers engage in our schools, such as a School Resource Officer program is not solely an MCPS decision and must be a community-informed decision involving the County Council, County Executive, Board of Education, and the resources needed to support such a transition.

Safety in our schools and communities is not just about how we respond to incidents—it’s about the steps we take to prevent them. That’s why we are focused on strengthening community relationships, improving communication, and fostering a school environment where every student and staff member feels safe and supported. This work cannot be shouldered by MCPS alone. Creating a secure and welcoming school climate requires all of us– our elected officials, government agencies, community partners, families and students– to stay engaged. By actively checking in with students, encouraging open, respectful and civil conversations, and remaining vigilant to potential concerns, we can work together to address issues before they escalate.

We will continue to update you on our progress and welcome your ongoing partnership in this work. Thank you for being active participants in building a safer school community.

Sincerely,

Dr. Peter Moran
Chief of MCPS School Support and Improvement

Marcus Jones
Chief of MCPS Systemwide Safety and Emergency Management

Did the bolded items above started at B-CC this week? Hold them accountable. Don't write it in a letter only, take the actions!

Is it too soon to see *any* positive effects it is having in the school?

Evaluating? How long are they going to take with that?

How and when will families and those who reside and work in and around the school community hear about progress?

Don't hold your breath. MCPS does not believe in genuine community collaboration and engagement.

[Anonymous]

No clue how they plan to communicate to the people in that neighborhood they probably won't and OLOL and others will hear about it of and when something happens or from their neighbors who have kids at the school, maybe through media?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:100 or so in attendance. The school has less than 2400 students. None of the school's personnel were in attendance. They were :
A. Fearful of showing up, did anyone from MCPS or their union advise them not to come?
B. They know "nothing" is coming out of yet another meeting.
C. They don't parents coming up to them to talk about their Larlo and Larla.
D. They were busy with their own outside work responsibilities, like working another job.
E. All of the above.

Absence speaks volumes

Apparently there's a reason for their absence:

https://bethesdamagazine.com/2025/03/16/opinion-bethesda-chevy-chase-high-administrators-shouldnt-be-scapegoats/

[Anonymous]

It feels like all the meetings are just for show. If they were serious they would take an honest look at the people that broke protocol throughout the years and got promoted while teachers that followed protocol got fired.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It feels like all the meetings are just for show. If they were serious they would take an honest look at the people that broke protocol throughout the years and got promoted while teachers that followed protocol got fired.

Do you mean meetings are a showcase on who may want to run in County politics? Pick me pick me I will "fix" schools. ??

[Anonymous]

Id bet money that their glory showcase of all stars are people who sold their soul by mismanaging their duties endangering people by doing back scratching favors to climb the ladder. That how there over 2000 people pushing pencils at Central instead of teaching- as they cut teachers willy nilly who follow protocol when reporting crime and violence. These people are ladder climbers, who want the big money, who want the power over hardworking teachers to say "I want 6 figs salaries", "I want million dollar payouts sue threats", "I want to have the super power of failing upward". These people fail upward and then they run the show- and we wonder why problems keep getting worse .

BLAME COVID
Blame over worked teacher
Blame racism
Blame anyone who tries to shed light that you ignored the call when a teacher needed help when students were having mental breakdowns- give that person a raise and a million dollars

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Id bet money that their glory showcase of all stars are people who sold their soul by mismanaging their duties endangering people by doing back scratching favors to climb the ladder. That how there over 2000 people pushing pencils at Central instead of teaching- as they cut teachers willy nilly who follow protocol when reporting crime and violence. These people are ladder climbers, who want the big money, who want the power over hardworking teachers to say "I want 6 figs salaries", "I want million dollar payouts sue threats", "I want to have the super power of failing upward". These people fail upward and then they run the show- and we wonder why problems keep getting worse .

BLAME COVID
Blame over worked teacher
Blame racism
Blame anyone who tries to shed light that you ignored the call when a teacher needed help when students were having mental breakdowns- give that person a raise and a million dollars

Or like when parents try to advocate for their kids and instead of actually trying to assist the kid or family, whomever in the school that was given the info uses that info to tell others so they can "climb ladder" - "we got info from that parent you should give us a promotion." Does anyone actually care to help a student?

[Anonymous]

Exactly. Then when they are picked their main prerogative is to make it look like things are better. Ie make teachers report less so they can claim- see my plans are working. In reality they are setting up a system where they blame teachers as poor managers and it really messes up our careers. They are almost sacrificing teachers for their own gain.

Extremely over worked- they cause the shortage, we pick up the slack by going way beyond our contract hours

They still blame us bc we can't do the impossible job they force us to do with threats of losing the job if we don't suck it up

When we work close to 80 hours per week it's like working double overtime with no extra pay and admin will still hold that against us blaming us for not getting things done in contract hours.

Finally rant, theym ake us sub and they steal our planning time , alot of time they do t pay us for it, and then they blame us