Urgent Request for Funding to Enhance MoCo Elementary School Safety

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why just elementary schools, OP? Usually shootings are in high schools or middle schools.

Did you completely miss Sandy Hook and Uvalde? How can you ask why focus on elementary schools?

PP you replied to. Because

A. My kids only ever had threats and lockdowns at their respective MCPS high schools (Bethesda-Chevy Chase and Walter Johnson), never when they were in the middle or elementary schools of those clusters.

B. Having volunteered in all those buildings, I can tell you that middle and high school buildings are much larger, with a lot more exterior doors, and it's far easier to get in if someone forgets to lock a door or holds the door for you. At my kids' elementary schools, there were fewer doors and fewer comings and goings to keep track of.

This is the lived experience of a parent who has been through K-12 with that kind of fear at the back of my mind.

I know your kids are probably in elementary, which is why you're focusing on those, but the reality is that larger buildings are exponentially more at risk. The mentally ill can write manifestos all they want, but if they can't get into the elementary school building... they'll try to get into an easier one.

What OP is telling you, that you don't seem to grasp, is that despite the secondary schools being bigger, they have better safety measures and resources in place compared to their elementary counterparts.

Elementary schools literally cannot call 911. Would-be shooters (likely former students) know that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Since I text with my kid’s teacher (3rd grade in MCPS), I know her cell phone works just fine during school hours (she doesn’t text while teaching, but when they’re at recess etc she does)…

Why is your kids' teacher texting you instead of teaching your kids? Also, how do you know that they aren't outside when they are texting you?

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]YES! So many parents have no idea that teachers can’t call 911. Cell phones don’t work. Some have no landlines. MCPS will never tell parents, either. It’s all a giant cover up to avoid spending money on anything other than DEI. [/quote]

There are call buttons in each classroom to call the office and classrooms have landlines.[/quote]

That's a lie. Ask any teacher.

[Anonymous]

I hope OP will go to the upcoming BOE meetings to testify. if OP has a kid at elementary school they should submit evidence of these security issues being a concern at that single elementary school and reach out to other parents at that school to do the same. This would start the ball rolling to address issues much more than this post which lacks evidence. Safety red flags differ school to school so focusing on one school where the issues are proven and bringing in students and parents from that school would likely be much more effective than this post. All schools are supposed to have security vestibules already so if your child’s school does not prove it and advocate for that. In so far as teachers not being able to contact 911 that all differs based and cell reception at that school or in that class. If your kid’s school had classrooms that cannot the main office or 911 directly advocate for that.

As for active shooter drills, the research suggests they do more harm than good. Look it up. Were I trying to get support from a broad range of parents for improved school security, I would leave that one out. Focus on advocating for know not controversial needs. The ability to call 911 effectively and to make sure police can communicate when in the building seems like a good place to start that you could rally support around once you prove it is an issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hope OP will go to the upcoming BOE meetings to testify. if OP has a kid at elementary school they should submit evidence of these security issues being a concern at that single elementary school and reach out to other parents at that school to do the same. This would start the ball rolling to address issues much more than this post which lacks evidence. Safety red flags differ school to school so focusing on one school where the issues are proven and bringing in students and parents from that school would likely be much more effective than this post. All schools are supposed to have security vestibules already so if your child’s school does not prove it and advocate for that. In so far as teachers not being able to contact 911 that all differs based and cell reception at that school or in that class. If your kid’s school had classrooms that cannot the main office or 911 directly advocate for that.

As for active shooter drills, the research suggests they do more harm than good. Look it up. Were I trying to get support from a broad range of parents for improved school security, I would leave that one out. Focus on advocating for know not controversial needs. The ability to call 911 effectively and to make sure police can communicate when in the building seems like a good place to start that you could rally support around once you prove it is an issue.

OP here - I signed up this evening and I hope others will as well!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why just elementary schools, OP? Usually shootings are in high schools or middle schools.

Did you completely miss Sandy Hook and Uvalde? How can you ask why focus on elementary schools?

PP you replied to. Because

A. My kids only ever had threats and lockdowns at their respective MCPS high schools (Bethesda-Chevy Chase and Walter Johnson), never when they were in the middle or elementary schools of those clusters.

B. Having volunteered in all those buildings, I can tell you that middle and high school buildings are much larger, with a lot more exterior doors, and it's far easier to get in if someone forgets to lock a door or holds the door for you. At my kids' elementary schools, there were fewer doors and fewer comings and goings to keep track of.

This is the lived experience of a parent who has been through K-12 with that kind of fear at the back of my mind.

I know your kids are probably in elementary, which is why you're focusing on those, but the reality is that larger buildings are exponentially more at risk. The mentally ill can write manifestos all they want, but if they can't get into the elementary school building... they'll try to get into an easier one.

What OP is telling you, that you don't seem to grasp, is that despite the secondary schools being bigger, they have better safety measures and resources in place compared to their elementary counterparts.

Elementary schools literally cannot call 911. Would-be shooters (likely former students) know that.

PP you replied to. I'm sorry, but having just walked into BCC high school, larger schools do not have better safety measures! They have open lunch, for God's sake AND THEY DO NOT CHECK STUDENT IDs WHEN COMING BACK FROM LUNCH. It's a major, major, flaw. There are 2000-3000 kids in any one high school. Our Principal was punched in the face last year, along with the security guard. We also had a lockdown with bomb and gun threat right in the middle of AP exams last May. So no, you will never convince me that elementary schools are more dangerous. All you're telling me here is that you don't have a high schooler in MCPS. Also, if elementary classrooms can't call 911, I doubt middle and high schools can either. The front desk is supposed to make that call. If you want to make every classroom 911-capable, then you have my full support.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why just elementary schools, OP? Usually shootings are in high schools or middle schools.

Did you completely miss Sandy Hook and Uvalde? How can you ask why focus on elementary schools?

PP you replied to. Because

A. My kids only ever had threats and lockdowns at their respective MCPS high schools (Bethesda-Chevy Chase and Walter Johnson), never when they were in the middle or elementary schools of those clusters.

B. Having volunteered in all those buildings, I can tell you that middle and high school buildings are much larger, with a lot more exterior doors, and it's far easier to get in if someone forgets to lock a door or holds the door for you. At my kids' elementary schools, there were fewer doors and fewer comings and goings to keep track of.

This is the lived experience of a parent who has been through K-12 with that kind of fear at the back of my mind.

I know your kids are probably in elementary, which is why you're focusing on those, but the reality is that larger buildings are exponentially more at risk. The mentally ill can write manifestos all they want, but if they can't get into the elementary school building... they'll try to get into an easier one.

What OP is telling you, that you don't seem to grasp, is that despite the secondary schools being bigger, they have better safety measures and resources in place compared to their elementary counterparts.

Elementary schools literally cannot call 911. Would-be shooters (likely former students) know that.

PP you replied to. I'm sorry, but having just walked into BCC high school, larger schools do not have better safety measures! They have open lunch, for God's sake AND THEY DO NOT CHECK STUDENT IDs WHEN COMING BACK FROM LUNCH. It's a major, major, flaw. There are 2000-3000 kids in any one high school. Our Principal was punched in the face last year, along with the security guard. We also had a lockdown with bomb and gun threat right in the middle of AP exams last May. So no, you will never convince me that elementary schools are more dangerous. All you're telling me here is that you don't have a high schooler in MCPS. Also, if elementary classrooms can't call 911, I doubt middle and high schools can either. The front desk is supposed to make that call. If you want to make every classroom 911-capable, then you have my full support.

I’m sorry this is happening at your school but you clearly feel passionately about it, so show up. Register to give testimony in front of the board and demand change. Demand increased funding and security at every level of MCPS schools.

[Anonymous]

There's a phone in my kids' clasrooms, although I don't know if you can dial out from them. I just assumed they were part of a functional PBX system.

I don't understand the issue with 911 and cell phones. Do the school wifi networks block wifi calling?

Whoever mentioned cell phones repeaters doesn't seem to understand the issues with deploying those at scale. Yes, basic repeaters are cheap, but you'd need a much more expensive distributed antenna system to cover a school.

Also, who does the OP think is going to be "monitoring" security cameras. Our local school has some, and there's a screen showing a feed in the office, but no one has time to just stare at a screen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There's a phone in my kids' clasrooms, although I don't know if you can dial out from them. I just assumed they were part of a functional PBX system.

I don't understand the issue with 911 and cell phones. Do the school wifi networks block wifi calling?

Whoever mentioned cell phones repeaters doesn't seem to understand the issues with deploying those at scale. Yes, basic repeaters are cheap, but you'd need a much more expensive distributed antenna system to cover a school.

Also, who does the OP think is going to be "monitoring" security cameras. Our local school has some, and there's a screen showing a feed in the office, but no one has time to just stare at a screen.

Unlike middle and high schools, elementary schools do not have dedicated security staff. So there is no one to monitor the security cameras.

[Anonymous]

A lot of the info poster here is completely inaccurate, especially when it comes to landline phones (in my experience, in every classroom and they CAN call out), call buttons to office (they are there and they work), 911 call ability (they can be called), and camera use and monitoring. As for cell phone ability, it tends to be spotty but not nonexistent, and depends on the carrier and the school location.

You should know what the situation is at your child's school. But but posting incorrect, detailed info on a public forum and making it seem like a system-wide issue is irresponsible and makes students and staff even more vulnerable..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A lot of the info poster here is completely inaccurate, especially when it comes to landline phones (in my experience, in every classroom and they CAN call out), call buttons to office (they are there and they work), 911 call ability (they can be called), and camera use and monitoring. As for cell phone ability, it tends to be spotty but not nonexistent, and depends on the carrier and the school location.

You should know what the situation is at your child's school. But but posting incorrect, detailed info on a public forum and making it seem like a system-wide issue is irresponsible and makes students and staff even more vulnerable..

Yes, this thread should be deleted as it is just fear mongering and not accurate

[Anonymous]

I have not seen a landline is most MCPS classrooms. My cell phone connection is spotty in many but not all areas of the school especially if I am by the window however there are absolutely areas where I would have trouble making a call or sometimes even texting. We do active shooter/lockdown trainings however I feel like we are missing the point. We have classrooms that are missing keys to their locks. The training info is not really updated and the police are not coming in to speak with us. If they expect teachers to be the heavy, they need to have better systems in place to protect not only the kids but also the teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of the info poster here is completely inaccurate, especially when it comes to landline phones (in my experience, in every classroom and they CAN call out), call buttons to office (they are there and they work), 911 call ability (they can be called), and camera use and monitoring. As for cell phone ability, it tends to be spotty but not nonexistent, and depends on the carrier and the school location.

You should know what the situation is at your child's school. But but posting incorrect, detailed info on a public forum and making it seem like a system-wide issue is irresponsible and makes students and staff even more vulnerable..

Yes, this thread should be deleted as it is just fear mongering and not accurate

Are you serious?!?!? Not accurate??? Our principal is crying out for help. Teachers are afraid to come to work. My elementary school DOES NOT have cell service in the majority of the building. Our kids need help, why would you want to suppress efforts to help them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of the info poster here is completely inaccurate, especially when it comes to landline phones (in my experience, in every classroom and they CAN call out), call buttons to office (they are there and they work), 911 call ability (they can be called), and camera use and monitoring. As for cell phone ability, it tends to be spotty but not nonexistent, and depends on the carrier and the school location.

You should know what the situation is at your child's school. But but posting incorrect, detailed info on a public forum and making it seem like a system-wide issue is irresponsible and makes students and staff even more vulnerable..

Yes, this thread should be deleted as it is just fear mongering and not accurate

Are you serious?!?!? Not accurate??? Our principal is crying out for help. Teachers are afraid to come to work. My elementary school DOES NOT have cell service in the majority of the building. Our kids need help, why would you want to suppress efforts to help them?

What specifically is your principal asking for? I doubt it is the list of things in the op.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of the info poster here is completely inaccurate, especially when it comes to landline phones (in my experience, in every classroom and they CAN call out), call buttons to office (they are there and they work), 911 call ability (they can be called), and camera use and monitoring. As for cell phone ability, it tends to be spotty but not nonexistent, and depends on the carrier and the school location.

You should know what the situation is at your child's school. But but posting incorrect, detailed info on a public forum and making it seem like a system-wide issue is irresponsible and makes students and staff even more vulnerable..

Yes, this thread should be deleted as it is just fear mongering and not accurate

Are you serious?!?!? Not accurate??? Our principal is crying out for help. Teachers are afraid to come to work. My elementary school DOES NOT have cell service in the majority of the building. Our kids need help, why would you want to suppress efforts to help them?

What specifically is your principal asking for? I doubt it is the list of things in the op.

+1. And why specifically is your school staff anymore afraid than anywhere else in MoCo or public schools in most of the US?