Safety in schools

[Anonymous]

Here's Fox 5's recap of the BCC Safety Event: https://www.fox5dc.com/news/safety-summit-at-bethesda-chevy-chase-high-school-focuses-on-recent-fights-crime

Nothing substantive or actionable was raised. Just more parents voicing their concerns and county and school leaders nodding their heads but doing NOTHING to change the status quo.

[Anonymous]

FOX? Ugh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FOX? Ugh.

Yes, if they would just not report on it like the other stations the whole thing would be covered up.

[Anonymous]

What about the media outlet that reported on recent McPS scandal and Superintendent? Wasn't it 360? They didn't cover the safety meeting? Shocking!

[Anonymous]

Did they discuss safety at middle schools? Don't the Community Engagement officers (CEO) float between the middle schools and high schools in the cluster?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did they discuss safety at middle schools? Don't the Community Engagement officers (CEO) float between the middle schools and high schools in the cluster?

They're supposed to. But CEOs don't seem to have been a great fix to the dedicated SRO model.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What action items resulted from the safety meeting held at BCC HS? What did the stakeholders - students, parents, the school, MCPS, police, elected officials and others - say about improving safety at the school and across MCPS secondary schools?

None

Figures. They will check their box saying we held a meeting. They don't know what to do.

Parents submitted questions ahead of the time and the first hour or so involved Dr. Mooney and MCPS staff answering those questions. Then there was another hour for additional questions from the audience. Action items are supposed to come later (per PTSA president at the meeting). So no, I don't think this was just a "check the box" meeting. It was really helpful to hear about state and federal laws that severely limit what MCPS and principals can and can't share. I always thought these were MCPS rules, but the MCPS reps who were there seemed just as frustrated. While I think the intent of these law is good, the impact results in a lot of frustration all around. It was helpful to hear more about disciplinary action schools can take (and also how this is shaped by state law in some cases - and the laws that prevent principals from even saying, "the student involved was suspended for X number of days"). I actually thought it was a good meeting and I appreciate Dr. Mooney's willingness to answer questions and to sit there and take some pretty harsh criticism, some of which he deserves and some of which he doesn't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What action items resulted from the safety meeting held at BCC HS? What did the stakeholders - students, parents, the school, MCPS, police, elected officials and others - say about improving safety at the school and across MCPS secondary schools?

None

Figures. They will check their box saying we held a meeting. They don't know what to do.

Parents submitted questions ahead of the time and the first hour or so involved Dr. Mooney and MCPS staff answering those questions. Then there was another hour for additional questions from the audience. Action items are supposed to come later (per PTSA president at the meeting). So no, I don't think this was just a "check the box" meeting. It was really helpful to hear about state and federal laws that severely limit what MCPS and principals can and can't share. I always thought these were MCPS rules, but the MCPS reps who were there seemed just as frustrated. While I think the intent of these law is good, the impact results in a lot of frustration all around. It was helpful to hear more about disciplinary action schools can take (and also how this is shaped by state law in some cases - and the laws that prevent principals from even saying, "the student involved was suspended for X number of days"). I actually thought it was a good meeting and I appreciate Dr. Mooney's willingness to answer questions and to sit there and take some pretty harsh criticism, some of which he deserves and some of which he doesn't.

So it was an education session on how MCPS's hands are tied by state and federal government, but what actions that will change the dynamics in BCC are you expecting will come of the meeting?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What action items resulted from the safety meeting held at BCC HS? What did the stakeholders - students, parents, the school, MCPS, police, elected officials and others - say about improving safety at the school and across MCPS secondary schools?

None

Figures. They will check their box saying we held a meeting. They don't know what to do.

Parents submitted questions ahead of the time and the first hour or so involved Dr. Mooney and MCPS staff answering those questions. Then there was another hour for additional questions from the audience. Action items are supposed to come later (per PTSA president at the meeting). So no, I don't think this was just a "check the box" meeting. It was really helpful to hear about state and federal laws that severely limit what MCPS and principals can and can't share. I always thought these were MCPS rules, but the MCPS reps who were there seemed just as frustrated. While I think the intent of these law is good, the impact results in a lot of frustration all around. It was helpful to hear more about disciplinary action schools can take (and also how this is shaped by state law in some cases - and the laws that prevent principals from even saying, "the student involved was suspended for X number of days"). I actually thought it was a good meeting and I appreciate Dr. Mooney's willingness to answer questions and to sit there and take some pretty harsh criticism, some of which he deserves and some of which he doesn't.

So it was an education session on how MCPS's hands are tied by state and federal government, but what actions that will change the dynamics in BCC are you expecting will come of the meeting?

The PTSA already circulated some possible action items on the parent listerv and they are hoping interested parents will join the conversation/work with the PTSA, admin and MCPS. If you're a B-CC parent, you've probably seen the discussions on the listserv. It's a multipage document that I don't feel the need to summarize here. But yes, the education session was very helpful because parents often ask why principals/MCPS can't be more transparent, can't say what the exact offense was or what the punishment was - and the answer is that their hands are tied by state and federal government in many ways.

[Anonymous]

I think education session can be helpful because they can help communities have a greater understanding of issues and constraints that may be involved or need to be considered in determine changes/solutions.

Often times parents are speaking from an emotional perspective or from a perspective of what sounds logical but also doesn’t consider applicable city/state/federal law. They also don’t often consider how something will scale across all 211 schools.

[Anonymous]

I don’t care much about the transparency part — I understand the laws about why they can’t tell you details. I just want the schools to have actual recourse for students that have significant problems. At my kids MS, there is a child that has been suspended repeatedly for criminal and violent conduct — each time for a week and then they return. They’ve recently focused on my child’s best friend because they incorrectly believe this kid got them in trouble. It’s very upsetting. This child also really needs help — apparently the whole school is aware that this child regularly discusses their bad home environment. Suspending them repeatedly is not helping anyone and I’m sure the principal would love to have a different option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Probably a whole lot of nothing. MCPS is abysmal and a joke on all things safety and security.

This. MCPS is all about optics, but doesn’t really care much about the safety of our kids and teachers.

[Anonymous]

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe8PMbZti0W0iwCdIKem0SSA4RmB8vr0aSMz_tAv2IHL6rP1w/viewform

Make your voices heard if you want SROs back

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What action items resulted from the safety meeting held at BCC HS? What did the stakeholders - students, parents, the school, MCPS, police, elected officials and others - say about improving safety at the school and across MCPS secondary schools?

None

Figures. They will check their box saying we held a meeting. They don't know what to do.

Parents submitted questions ahead of the time and the first hour or so involved Dr. Mooney and MCPS staff answering those questions. Then there was another hour for additional questions from the audience. Action items are supposed to come later (per PTSA president at the meeting). So no, I don't think this was just a "check the box" meeting. It was really helpful to hear about state and federal laws that severely limit what MCPS and principals can and can't share. I always thought these were MCPS rules, but the MCPS reps who were there seemed just as frustrated. While I think the intent of these law is good, the impact results in a lot of frustration all around. It was helpful to hear more about disciplinary action schools can take (and also how this is shaped by state law in some cases - and the laws that prevent principals from even saying, "the student involved was suspended for X number of days"). I actually thought it was a good meeting and I appreciate Dr. Mooney's willingness to answer questions and to sit there and take some pretty harsh criticism, some of which he deserves and some of which he doesn't.

So it was an education session on how MCPS's hands are tied by state and federal government, but what actions that will change the dynamics in BCC are you expecting will come of the meeting?

The PTSA already circulated some possible action items on the parent listerv and they are hoping interested parents will join the conversation/work with the PTSA, admin and MCPS. If you're a B-CC parent, you've probably seen the discussions on the listserv. It's a multipage document that I don't feel the need to summarize here. But yes, the education session was very helpful because parents often ask why principals/MCPS can't be more transparent, can't say what the exact offense was or what the punishment was - and the answer is that their hands are tied by state and federal government in many ways.

Were they under oath?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What action items resulted from the safety meeting held at BCC HS? What did the stakeholders - students, parents, the school, MCPS, police, elected officials and others - say about improving safety at the school and across MCPS secondary schools?

None

Figures. They will check their box saying we held a meeting. They don't know what to do.

Parents submitted questions ahead of the time and the first hour or so involved Dr. Mooney and MCPS staff answering those questions. Then there was another hour for additional questions from the audience. Action items are supposed to come later (per PTSA president at the meeting). So no, I don't think this was just a "check the box" meeting. It was really helpful to hear about state and federal laws that severely limit what MCPS and principals can and can't share. I always thought these were MCPS rules, but the MCPS reps who were there seemed just as frustrated. While I think the intent of these law is good, the impact results in a lot of frustration all around. It was helpful to hear more about disciplinary action schools can take (and also how this is shaped by state law in some cases - and the laws that prevent principals from even saying, "the student involved was suspended for X number of days"). I actually thought it was a good meeting and I appreciate Dr. Mooney's willingness to answer questions and to sit there and take some pretty harsh criticism, some of which he deserves and some of which he doesn't.

So it was an education session on how MCPS's hands are tied by state and federal government, but what actions that will change the dynamics in BCC are you expecting will come of the meeting?

The PTSA already circulated some possible action items on the parent listerv and they are hoping interested parents will join the conversation/work with the PTSA, admin and MCPS. If you're a B-CC parent, you've probably seen the discussions on the listserv. It's a multipage document that I don't feel the need to summarize here. But yes, the education session was very helpful because parents often ask why principals/MCPS can't be more transparent, can't say what the exact offense was or what the punishment was - and the answer is that their hands are tied by state and federal government in many ways.

Were they under oath?