BCC on lockdown

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The listserv moderator is controlling, claiming she is limiting the clutter. When in fact all she is add clutter by passing along the administration’s emails. In the past, parents could discuss such incidents freely without this extreme censorship. Another list serv is necessary for this school.

I agree that passing along every message from the school was annoying. I can’t imagine that there are many parents who don’t get the Remind messages but are on the PTSA listserv. I do appreciate that they are strict about what gets approved during these incidents, though, because there are always a lot of rumors that end up not being true and don’t help an already tense situation.

I agreed with her position not to pass along messages in that period. It’s mostly rumor and unhelpful.

Frankly, it’s a volunteer position. If she said she was only going to pass along whatever messages she could get through from 8pm-9pm, it would be ok. Maybe better.

I'm a BCC parent who has been on the list serv for at least 8 years (multiple kids.) I'm hugely supportive of the current modertor's approach; there are too many random messages as it is, and no one needs a flood of baseless speculation during a crisis. Personally I would apply a quota - there are two or three parents who agitate over every single thing that happens. And the people who feel the need to send every single music booster activity or sports annoucement, enough already.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Speaking of the B-CC PTA list serv, this topic has been pretty silent on the board other than the passing along of the lockdown itself. In the past, there would be plenty of discussion but no longer. It certainly adds to a further disconnect to the school, even though I have never posted there. Frequently, I shared many of the same feelings of others who did post. I miss the PTA President from 2022-2023 school year.

It’s clear the current BCC PTSA President has a hands-off approach to safety and security which is unfortunately. I saw her give comments to a local media outlet where she held MCPS blameless and said she didn’t know what people expected the school to do about students fighting in a nearby park…..

But that's police's role, is it not? Schools have barely enough security staff to manage things in the buildings, let alone in neighborhood parks.

MCPS not staffing appropriately to ensure there's enough security staff to intercept kids like the ones who left the building to fight and shoot at each other is precisely the kind of thing we should be laying at the feet of MCPS. Security staffing sizes is completely within the discretion and choice of MCPS.

If MCPS had a strong emphasis on security, kids wouldn't be able to get away with as much as they do. Holding the school system blameless is turning a blind eye that the system has to ensure the safety and wellbeing of its students and staff.

I don’t believe there is any mechanism that prevents a kid from walking out during the school day. I had pick up my kid early the other day and we all (family) discussed the merits of this.

They can tell a child to go back to class, redirect them but they want to leave, especially in HS no adult can legally stop them.

Though they should be calling the parent.

That’s the issue - my kid is allowed to walk out and I just have to write a note within a couple days. For the*vast* majority of families, this is just fine. We are making all these measures for a few. By the way, I don’t think the issue is that a kid leaves school. The issue is when a kid who had a fight outside walks back in.

Parents like you are the problem if you are ok with your child leaving school early/for no good reason. I would not be excusing it and there would be consequences at home. We don't have open lunch but the principal is clear the kids can leave if they want to (which is wrong) and my kids know they better not leave without my approval.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The listserv moderator is controlling, claiming she is limiting the clutter. When in fact all she is add clutter by passing along the administration’s emails. In the past, parents could discuss such incidents freely without this extreme censorship. Another list serv is necessary for this school.

I agree that passing along every message from the school was annoying. I can’t imagine that there are many parents who don’t get the Remind messages but are on the PTSA listserv. I do appreciate that they are strict about what gets approved during these incidents, though, because there are always a lot of rumors that end up not being true and don’t help an already tense situation.

I agreed with her position not to pass along messages in that period. It’s mostly rumor and unhelpful.

Frankly, it’s a volunteer position. If she said she was only going to pass along whatever messages she could get through from 8pm-9pm, it would be ok. Maybe better.

I'm a BCC parent who has been on the list serv for at least 8 years (multiple kids.) I'm hugely supportive of the current modertor's approach; there are too many random messages as it is, and no one needs a flood of baseless speculation during a crisis. Personally I would apply a quota - there are two or three parents who agitate over every single thing that happens. And the people who feel the need to send every single music booster activity or sports annoucement, enough already.

They send all the announcements because people don't read the newsletters or turn off their remind. In a crisis, there should be one post about it and a discussion allowed as that is part of what the PTSA should be doing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Someone will be able to identify this kid. There is a still of him with the gun posted here.

https://www.reddit.com/r/bethesda/s/GdQwNV1k3a

That kid looks like he's 12 though the other kids in the video look more like high school age. Has anyone heard whether the kids in the video are BCC students?

This kid looks very much like a high schooler. I have no idea what you're talking about. And yes, it has already been confirmed that many of the kids involved are BCC students.

https://bethesdamagazine.com/2025/02/19/bethesda-chevy-chase-students-off-campus-fight-shots-fired/

“After a video of the fight was reviewed by school officials, it was determined that some of the students involved were B-CC students and the school went into a lockdown out of an abundance of caution,” Principal Shelton Mooney said Wednesday in a letter to the Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School community.

That kid is the same size as my 12 year old is what I am talking about. I am obviously not the only person unsettled to see kids/teenagers aiming a gun at other people.

And? You must have attended zero events at a MS and HS if you don’t understand how differently kids grow.

I don't know if you're the PP or NP but you're missing the point. I was (1) alarmed by the photo of a kid wielding a gun and (2) surprised and disturbed by how young that kid looked. Yes, I am well aware that kids grow at different rates. Obviously it would still be disturbing to see more mature-looking kids wielding a gun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The listserv moderator is controlling, claiming she is limiting the clutter. When in fact all she is add clutter by passing along the administration’s emails. In the past, parents could discuss such incidents freely without this extreme censorship. Another list serv is necessary for this school.

I agree that passing along every message from the school was annoying. I can’t imagine that there are many parents who don’t get the Remind messages but are on the PTSA listserv. I do appreciate that they are strict about what gets approved during these incidents, though, because there are always a lot of rumors that end up not being true and don’t help an already tense situation.

I agreed with her position not to pass along messages in that period. It’s mostly rumor and unhelpful.

Frankly, it’s a volunteer position. If she said she was only going to pass along whatever messages she could get through from 8pm-9pm, it would be ok. Maybe better.

I'm a BCC parent who has been on the list serv for at least 8 years (multiple kids.) I'm hugely supportive of the current modertor's approach; there are too many random messages as it is, and no one needs a flood of baseless speculation during a crisis. Personally I would apply a quota - there are two or three parents who agitate over every single thing that happens. And the people who feel the need to send every single music booster activity or sports annoucement, enough already.

+1. It was also put to a vote, and parents voted for moderation and fewer emails. I appreciate that they stop allowing emails on topics go on too long and don't add new information.
My guess is that people who complain of being "censored" were not actually adding anything meaningful to the conversation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Speaking of the B-CC PTA list serv, this topic has been pretty silent on the board other than the passing along of the lockdown itself. In the past, there would be plenty of discussion but no longer. It certainly adds to a further disconnect to the school, even though I have never posted there. Frequently, I shared many of the same feelings of others who did post. I miss the PTA President from 2022-2023 school year.

It’s clear the current BCC PTSA President has a hands-off approach to safety and security which is unfortunately. I saw her give comments to a local media outlet where she held MCPS blameless and said she didn’t know what people expected the school to do about students fighting in a nearby park…..

But that's police's role, is it not? Schools have barely enough security staff to manage things in the buildings, let alone in neighborhood parks.

MCPS not staffing appropriately to ensure there's enough security staff to intercept kids like the ones who left the building to fight and shoot at each other is precisely the kind of thing we should be laying at the feet of MCPS. Security staffing sizes is completely within the discretion and choice of MCPS.

If MCPS had a strong emphasis on security, kids wouldn't be able to get away with as much as they do. Holding the school system blameless is turning a blind eye that the system has to ensure the safety and wellbeing of its students and staff.

I don’t believe there is any mechanism that prevents a kid from walking out during the school day. I had pick up my kid early the other day and we all (family) discussed the merits of this.

They can tell a child to go back to class, redirect them but they want to leave, especially in HS no adult can legally stop them.

Though they should be calling the parent.

That’s the issue - my kid is allowed to walk out and I just have to write a note within a couple days. For the*vast* majority of families, this is just fine. We are making all these measures for a few. By the way, I don’t think the issue is that a kid leaves school. The issue is when a kid who had a fight outside walks back in.

Parents like you are the problem if you are ok with your child leaving school early/for no good reason. I would not be excusing it and there would be consequences at home. We don't have open lunch but the principal is clear the kids can leave if they want to (which is wrong) and my kids know they better not leave without my approval.

You are missing the point- my child does not leave for a reason which I have not approved of. I get messages regarding attendance and email with the attendance officer.

It sounds like your kids don’t even go to BCC so I don’t know you are talking about here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Speaking of the B-CC PTA list serv, this topic has been pretty silent on the board other than the passing along of the lockdown itself. In the past, there would be plenty of discussion but no longer. It certainly adds to a further disconnect to the school, even though I have never posted there. Frequently, I shared many of the same feelings of others who did post. I miss the PTA President from 2022-2023 school year.

It’s clear the current BCC PTSA President has a hands-off approach to safety and security which is unfortunately. I saw her give comments to a local media outlet where she held MCPS blameless and said she didn’t know what people expected the school to do about students fighting in a nearby park…..

But that's police's role, is it not? Schools have barely enough security staff to manage things in the buildings, let alone in neighborhood parks.

MCPS not staffing appropriately to ensure there's enough security staff to intercept kids like the ones who left the building to fight and shoot at each other is precisely the kind of thing we should be laying at the feet of MCPS. Security staffing sizes is completely within the discretion and choice of MCPS.

If MCPS had a strong emphasis on security, kids wouldn't be able to get away with as much as they do. Holding the school system blameless is turning a blind eye that the system has to ensure the safety and wellbeing of its students and staff.

I don’t believe there is any mechanism that prevents a kid from walking out during the school day. I had pick up my kid early the other day and we all (family) discussed the merits of this.

They can tell a child to go back to class, redirect them but they want to leave, especially in HS no adult can legally stop them.

Though they should be calling the parent.

That’s the issue - my kid is allowed to walk out and I just have to write a note within a couple days. For the*vast* majority of families, this is just fine. We are making all these measures for a few. By the way, I don’t think the issue is that a kid leaves school. The issue is when a kid who had a fight outside walks back in.

Parents like you are the problem if you are ok with your child leaving school early/for no good reason. I would not be excusing it and there would be consequences at home. We don't have open lunch but the principal is clear the kids can leave if they want to (which is wrong) and my kids know they better not leave without my approval.

New poster. That’s silly. My kids left every day once they were seniors and got accepted ED to college. They got straight A’s too. No kids go to school all the time at BCC. The whole place is a joke. No one cares. I never sent a note either.

[Anonymous]

NP here.

This is my child’s FOURTH lockdown at BCC in 3 1/2 years, including last May when the SWAT team came in with weapons drawn. The cumulative effect on these children frightens me.

Also important to reiterate that the 20 kids fighting yesterday and the one with the gun were ALL WHITE. Please stop blaming kids of color or labeling them as poor and violent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Speaking of the B-CC PTA list serv, this topic has been pretty silent on the board other than the passing along of the lockdown itself. In the past, there would be plenty of discussion but no longer. It certainly adds to a further disconnect to the school, even though I have never posted there. Frequently, I shared many of the same feelings of others who did post. I miss the PTA President from 2022-2023 school year.

It’s clear the current BCC PTSA President has a hands-off approach to safety and security which is unfortunately. I saw her give comments to a local media outlet where she held MCPS blameless and said she didn’t know what people expected the school to do about students fighting in a nearby park…..

She literally put together a group of parents last year to meet regularly with Dr. Mooney and people from central office about security. Did you volunteer? Have you gone to any of the sessions the PTSA has organized on security? Also, the only reason she's still the PTSA president is because she said she'd step down after last year's lockdown and NO ONE stepped up to take over for her. We're lucky she stayed on. I don't know her personally other than seeing her at the meetings she's organized and reading her messages on the listservs, but I'm grateful to anyone who's willing to do the thankless job of being PTSA president!

I'm not criticizing her willingness to volunteer her time and lead the PTSA. Of course that's great and laudable.

I'm criticizing the clamp down on parents who complain about security issues on the listserv and the free pass she gave MCPS for this serious community incident in her comments to the media.

If you're an adult, you should be able to separate the two things. Her being a kind person for being willing to lead the PTSA when others declined does not mean anything she says is good.

Please. Being a volunteer PTSA president does not make someone a kind person.

Leading it well, treating parents with respect, and working with parents and school administrators to actually solve problems would make someone a kind and effective volunteer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://docs.google.com/document/d/19ehsVbhgwYE8G_CjNcsz-fQHBeGbxMtDxg76fm-8tU0/edit?tab=t.0

Dr. Mooney is really a piece of work.

In what way? This is much better communication than last year's.

What does it say? Why is it better?

It's not any better. We will never hear any follow up regarding the incident or what was done. They'll fall back on the old standard line about the code of conduct or disciplinary policy and the privacy of the process. There's a law on the books in Md called the Safe To Learn Act of 2018...signed by Hogan, that requires police presence in schools and a threat assessment team to convene after these incidences. There is no privacy to this threat assessment process at all. MCPS is not in compliance with that law but our county officials are one-party virtue signalers who care more about the perception that they don't unfairly target people of color than they do the safety of the children in their schools.

This. ^^^

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Speaking of the B-CC PTA list serv, this topic has been pretty silent on the board other than the passing along of the lockdown itself. In the past, there would be plenty of discussion but no longer. It certainly adds to a further disconnect to the school, even though I have never posted there. Frequently, I shared many of the same feelings of others who did post. I miss the PTA President from 2022-2023 school year.

It’s clear the current BCC PTSA President has a hands-off approach to safety and security which is unfortunately. I saw her give comments to a local media outlet where she held MCPS blameless and said she didn’t know what people expected the school to do about students fighting in a nearby park…..

But that's police's role, is it not? Schools have barely enough security staff to manage things in the buildings, let alone in neighborhood parks.

MCPS not staffing appropriately to ensure there's enough security staff to intercept kids like the ones who left the building to fight and shoot at each other is precisely the kind of thing we should be laying at the feet of MCPS. Security staffing sizes is completely within the discretion and choice of MCPS.

If MCPS had a strong emphasis on security, kids wouldn't be able to get away with as much as they do. Holding the school system blameless is turning a blind eye that the system has to ensure the safety and wellbeing of its students and staff.

Have you ever stopped by that place Sprouts or the Starbucks Hilton during the day just to enjoy a f cup of coffee before work or an appointment? It's filled with students and not only during whatever time lunch is. Is the answer: more able bodied breathing adults inside the schools, if they can stop students under 18 yrs of age from exiting school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Speaking of the B-CC PTA list serv, this topic has been pretty silent on the board other than the passing along of the lockdown itself. In the past, there would be plenty of discussion but no longer. It certainly adds to a further disconnect to the school, even though I have never posted there. Frequently, I shared many of the same feelings of others who did post. I miss the PTA President from 2022-2023 school year.

It’s clear the current BCC PTSA President has a hands-off approach to safety and security which is unfortunately. I saw her give comments to a local media outlet where she held MCPS blameless and said she didn’t know what people expected the school to do about students fighting in a nearby park…..

But that's police's role, is it not? Schools have barely enough security staff to manage things in the buildings, let alone in neighborhood parks.

MCPS not staffing appropriately to ensure there's enough security staff to intercept kids like the ones who left the building to fight and shoot at each other is precisely the kind of thing we should be laying at the feet of MCPS. Security staffing sizes is completely within the discretion and choice of MCPS.

If MCPS had a strong emphasis on security, kids wouldn't be able to get away with as much as they do. Holding the school system blameless is turning a blind eye that the system has to ensure the safety and wellbeing of its students and staff.

I don’t believe there is any mechanism that prevents a kid from walking out during the school day. I had pick up my kid early the other day and we all (family) discussed the merits of this.

They can tell a child to go back to class, redirect them but they want to leave, especially in HS no adult can legally stop them.

That's not true.

LEGALLY, Maryland law REQUIRES minors under the age of 18 to be in school. It is COMPULSORY, not optional: https://www.peoples-law.org/compulsory-school-attendance#:~:text=Maryland%20law%20requires%20all%20children,in%20Maryland%2C%20to%20attend%20school.

LEGALLY, MCPS and the State of Maryland could go after parents much harder than they do for truancy and for their kids missing school.

In practice, they don't, because they because taking a hard-line approach to attendance/truancy breaks relationship. They also don't want the optics of what it would take to forcibly hold and restrain children to be in school.

But let's be clear: LEGALLY, MCPS has the authority to ensure kids remain in school when they are supposed to be in school.

Hence why some campuses are designated "closed campuses" for lunch. The idea behind a closed campus is that kids are NOT to leave the building. If MCPS could not ensure kids did not leave the building, why would they differentiate between schools that have an open or closed lunch policy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP here.

This is my child’s FOURTH lockdown at BCC in 3 1/2 years, including last May when the SWAT team came in with weapons drawn. The cumulative effect on these children frightens me.

Also important to reiterate that the 20 kids fighting yesterday and the one with the gun were ALL WHITE. Please stop blaming kids of color or labeling them as poor and violent.

Yup. And MCPS is responsible for this because they control the environment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The listserv moderator is controlling, claiming she is limiting the clutter. When in fact all she is add clutter by passing along the administration’s emails. In the past, parents could discuss such incidents freely without this extreme censorship. Another list serv is necessary for this school.

I agree that passing along every message from the school was annoying. I can’t imagine that there are many parents who don’t get the Remind messages but are on the PTSA listserv. I do appreciate that they are strict about what gets approved during these incidents, though, because there are always a lot of rumors that end up not being true and don’t help an already tense situation.

I agreed with her position not to pass along messages in that period. It’s mostly rumor and unhelpful.

Frankly, it’s a volunteer position. If she said she was only going to pass along whatever messages she could get through from 8pm-9pm, it would be ok. Maybe better.

I'm a BCC parent who has been on the list serv for at least 8 years (multiple kids.) I'm hugely supportive of the current modertor's approach; there are too many random messages as it is, and no one needs a flood of baseless speculation during a crisis. Personally I would apply a quota - there are two or three parents who agitate over every single thing that happens. And the people who feel the need to send every single music booster activity or sports annoucement, enough already.

Let's be honest here. The music activities posts are dwarved by a certain person posting in all caps about sports He doesn't even have kids at the school anymore, they're all adults. He's been an annoying fixture in local schools for years, I've had the misfortune to note. Please dude, retire already!!!

Now we're getting into his annual mulch mania. Sigh.

[Anonymous]

^ oh, and I forgot the most interesting tidbit. Sports Boosters are sitting on 10s of thousands of dollars in unspent funds under his reign. I've volunteered for several charitable organizations and PTAs in my life, and I can see there isn't enough oversight of this group. The money you sent to Sports Boosters could literally be lining his pockets.