Urgent Request for Funding to Enhance MoCo Elementary School Safety

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

My federal agency has cameras and dedicated security staff, but we also don't have anyone monitoring those cameras at all times. I doubt the middle and high schools are consistent monitoring those cameras.

[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 school? Without basic, verifiable details, this is fearmongering.

[Anonymous]

Security in high schools is stretched really thin. Look up the threads on how they can’t manage to let kids use the bathrooms in middle and high school for safety reasons. I get that OP is probably most concerned with the age her child is. In my experience security and open doors are much more problematic in middle and especially high schools. Our high school has pods of portables meaning kids walking outdoors to get to class, open lunch, numerous doors and kids quick to open them, and way more kids than the staff can know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:are wifi calls possible?

No! it's a common misconception...most school wifi networks are too weak or nonexistent. And it's part of the reason why there isn't a bigger push for more emergency buttons. The infrastructure does not exist to support it and the county refuses to fund it.

Taylor came in blazing about Safety First and either didn't know this or didn't address this?
He needs to go. I have no patience left for incompetence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:are wifi calls possible?

No! it's a common misconception...most school wifi networks are too weak or nonexistent. And it's part of the reason why there isn't a bigger push for more emergency buttons. The infrastructure does not exist to support it and the county refuses to fund it.

Wifi has worked everywhere fine at our elementary school. And if not, how would the kids use their chromebooks?

[Anonymous]

Tthe county has a budget shortfall to fund the many studies it requires, lawsuits, and staff up its rapidly expanding Central Office, but can always raise taxes to fund these pet issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:are wifi calls possible?

No! it's a common misconception...most school wifi networks are too weak or nonexistent. And it's part of the reason why there isn't a bigger push for more emergency buttons. The infrastructure does not exist to support it and the county refuses to fund it.

Taylor came in blazing about Safety First and either didn't know this or didn't address this?
He needs to go. I have no patience left for incompetence.

Not sure about Taylor yet because haven’t seen any real change or great ideas or risk taking. That said he started at the same time as a new security chief so both need time. He has added security positions in his budget. He can’t snap his fingers and every issue be resolved

[Anonymous]

I've been a short- and long-term substitute for over five years now and most elementary school classrooms I've worked in have had voip landlines and call buttons almost all the time. (I've had to call the office for support a number of times.)

For the most part security procedures are pretty moderate and you can't get into the buildings easily without signing in. I'm not too worried about elementary schools at all, within reason, though MCPS has buried some developing situations some time again under the old administration.

[Anonymous]

How do other local school systems handle communication...Fairfax? Howard? I assume their buildings are similarly constructed.

[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 school? Without basic, verifiable details, this is fearmongering.

+1 This thread started with a plea for parents to copy paste a letter, but none of the details have been verified nor has any person been willing to put their name to this cause publicly.

I'm not saying there are not potential security issues, but this feels very suspicious if there has not been previous school board testimony or any sort of organized advocacy, or anyone coming forward to say they wrote the letter and they've seen these issues and they are willing to advocate publicly for change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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 school? Without basic, verifiable details, this is fearmongering.

+1 This thread started with a plea for parents to copy paste a letter, but none of the details have been verified nor has any person been willing to put their name to this cause publicly.

I'm not saying there are not potential security issues, but this feels very suspicious if there has not been previous school board testimony or any sort of organized advocacy, or anyone coming forward to say they wrote the letter and they've seen these issues and they are willing to advocate publicly for change.

There has been multiple testimonies on the gaps and risks in safety and security for elementary schools in several recent BOE meetings. Go back and watch them.

[Anonymous]

Fear mongering at its worst

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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 school? Without basic, verifiable details, this is fearmongering.

+1 This thread started with a plea for parents to copy paste a letter, but none of the details have been verified nor has any person been willing to put their name to this cause publicly.

I'm not saying there are not potential security issues, but this feels very suspicious if there has not been previous school board testimony or any sort of organized advocacy, or anyone coming forward to say they wrote the letter and they've seen these issues and they are willing to advocate publicly for change.

There has been multiple testimonies on the gaps and risks in safety and security for elementary schools in several recent BOE meetings. Go back and watch them.

Perhaps if the OP wants some support for their cause, but for some reason isn't willing to put her own name, school, or situation on this forum, she could point to that testimony.

I believe that its there, but I'm not going to dig through the meeting agendas and recordings to find them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And this ladies and gentlemen is why President Trump was re-elected. People are more worried about sNowFlaKeS and REstoRAive JuSTice than the rest of the kids who are there trying to learn.

RJ and DEI are much more important than math and reading!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:are wifi calls possible?

No! it's a common misconception...most school wifi networks are too weak or nonexistent. And it's part of the reason why there isn't a bigger push for more emergency buttons. The infrastructure does not exist to support it and the county refuses to fund it.

Taylor came in blazing about Safety First and either didn't know this or didn't address this?
He needs to go. I have no patience left for incompetence.

This 100%. He has made no positive changes. And, his response is to ask for more money and isn't transparent as promised.