Is this the end for Sup. Jack Smith?

[Anonymous]

NP here. What I found so offensive about Smith's presser is that he lumped everyone with measured and legitimate concerns about this incident in with the lunatic fringe that apparently sent him emails. He even noted that the vast majority of emails were from concerned parents and only a few were from weirdos and then proceeded to only address the racist views. He said he wasn't going to send home the 25k students who speak other languages at home. Fantastic. We speak 3 languages at home and he got a letter from me, and I found him to be completely tone deaf. This isn't a bunch of racists ganging up. It's parents wondering why their children were attending schools with criminals 4 years senior to them. I'm now seriously considering a move to private school. We can swing the expense. I've always wanted to support public schools from a sort of liberal, support-your-community perspective. But the community school has to support US and I don't see that happening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP here. What I found so offensive about Smith's presser is that he lumped everyone with measured and legitimate concerns about this incident in with the lunatic fringe that apparently sent him emails. He even noted that the vast majority of emails were from concerned parents and only a few were from weirdos and then proceeded to only address the racist views. He said he wasn't going to send home the 25k students who speak other languages at home. Fantastic. We speak 3 languages at home and he got a letter from me, and I found him to be completely tone deaf. This isn't a bunch of racists ganging up. It's parents wondering why their children were attending schools with criminals 4 years senior to them. I'm now seriously considering a move to private school. We can swing the expense. I've always wanted to support public schools from a sort of liberal, support-your-community perspective. But the community school has to support US and I don't see that happening.

Well said.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He clearly wanted to sweep this under the rug. Just another overpaid scumbag bureaucrat.

+1 you got that right.

+1,000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP here. What I found so offensive about Smith's presser is that he lumped everyone with measured and legitimate concerns about this incident in with the lunatic fringe that apparently sent him emails. He even noted that the vast majority of emails were from concerned parents and only a few were from weirdos and then proceeded to only address the racist views. He said he wasn't going to send home the 25k students who speak other languages at home. Fantastic. We speak 3 languages at home and he got a letter from me, and I found him to be completely tone deaf. This isn't a bunch of racists ganging up. It's parents wondering why their children were attending schools with criminals 4 years senior to them. I'm now seriously considering a move to private school. We can swing the expense. I've always wanted to support public schools from a sort of liberal, support-your-community perspective. But the community school has to support US and I don't see that happening.

+1

This is exactly the issue with Smith. Did not address any valid concerns. Only addressed the racist emails.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:House Judicary Chairman is now involved- he's asked Secretary Kelly Department of Homeland Security to get involved to investigate background of suspects. The Feds are taking this on, so yeah Smith is toast.




https://twitter.com/fitzfox5dc/status/844670291037081601u

Hallelujah. Now there's hope.

How does this make smith toast, and how will this stop rapes occurring in HS?

It won't.

It also makes me question the Republicans' actual commitment to local control of schools -- i.e., what they actually do, compared to what they say. The voters of Montgomery County elect the Montgomery County Board of Education, and the Montgomery County Board of Education hires the superintendent of Montgomery County Public Schools. Not Bob Goodlatte, not John F. Kelly, not Larry Hogan.

[Anonymous]

He needs to do more to engage directly with the Rockville HS community and cluster.

His email today is again pathetic. More focus on xenophobic emails that he has received. I would bet that a good amount of the hate mail/Xenophobic emails he received are from people not even in MCPS. The case got some national media so people from all over the country can be sending him emails.

Come and deal with the parents right here in Rockville. Give us more than 15 minutes of your time and fluff emails.

I'm sure there are some racist parents in Rockville, but there are also many more of us who are genuinely concerned about a BRUTAL RAPE of a 14 year old young girl in our school.

[Anonymous]

He has my full support after the letter he sent to the school community.

Dear MCPS Community:

As you may have heard or read, a serious incident occurred at Rockville High School on March 16, 2017. While I can’t share many details because it is an ongoing police investigation, I can share that the incident involves allegations of rape and the arrest of two students.

The allegations presented in the charging documents are horrible and unacceptable. They do not represent the positive values of our students and school communities. Our thoughts are with the student who reported the incident and her family. Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is committed to supporting them through these difficult times.

Please know that our school staff immediately contacted the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) once they were informed about the alleged sexual assault. MCPS continues to fully cooperate with MCPD and the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office on this matter.

While I know this tragic incident has become part of a national political debate, I want to remind community members that the lives of real students have been forever affected. While many have chosen to engage civilly in the conversation, far too many have crossed the line with racist, xenophobic calls and emails. MCPS is working with law enforcement to identify those who are making threats toward our students and schools. This behavior will not be tolerated in our community.

Rockville High School staff, with the support of the MCPS administration, are working closely with their community to heal after this tragedy. Tuesday night, the Rockville High School Parent Teacher Student Association held a meeting where police and school representatives provided an update on the investigation, school security and MCPS policies. The community used this opportunity to express their concerns and ask questions of the principal, law enforcement and MCPS staff.

Watch the video of the Meeting

In addition to the questions we heard last night, we have received many questions from community members seeking to learn more about our policies. To help answer these questions we have created a web page that includes information and resources about our system policies; frequently asked questions and more. We will continue to update the page as more information becomes available.

MCPS is committed to the safety and security of our students and schools. In the coming days, we will share more about our efforts to ensure the safety of every student in our 204 schools.

Respectfully,
Jack R. Smith
Superintendent of Schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He has my full support after the letter he sent to the school community.

Dear MCPS Community:

As you may have heard or read, a serious incident occurred at Rockville High School on March 16, 2017. While I can’t share many details because it is an ongoing police investigation, I can share that the incident involves allegations of rape and the arrest of two students.

The allegations presented in the charging documents are horrible and unacceptable. They do not represent the positive values of our students and school communities. Our thoughts are with the student who reported the incident and her family. Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is committed to supporting them through these difficult times.

Please know that our school staff immediately contacted the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) once they were informed about the alleged sexual assault. MCPS continues to fully cooperate with MCPD and the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office on this matter.

While I know this tragic incident has become part of a national political debate, I want to remind community members that the lives of real students have been forever affected. While many have chosen to engage civilly in the conversation, far too many have crossed the line with racist, xenophobic calls and emails. MCPS is working with law enforcement to identify those who are making threats toward our students and schools. This behavior will not be tolerated in our community.

Rockville High School staff, with the support of the MCPS administration, are working closely with their community to heal after this tragedy. Tuesday night, the Rockville High School Parent Teacher Student Association held a meeting where police and school representatives provided an update on the investigation, school security and MCPS policies. The community used this opportunity to express their concerns and ask questions of the principal, law enforcement and MCPS staff.

Watch the video of the Meeting

In addition to the questions we heard last night, we have received many questions from community members seeking to learn more about our policies. To help answer these questions we have created a web page that includes information and resources about our system policies; frequently asked questions and more. We will continue to update the page as more information becomes available.

MCPS is committed to the safety and security of our students and schools. In the coming days, we will share more about our efforts to ensure the safety of every student in our 204 schools.

Respectfully,
Jack R. Smith
Superintendent of Schools

It's amazing that it took him 3 days to send out a letter after the "event" but only 1 day after he recieved the threat at Rockville High school. People, it's clear where his heart is at. Expect no change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He has my full support after the letter he sent to the school community.

Dear MCPS Community:

As you may have heard or read, a serious incident occurred at Rockville High School on March 16, 2017. While I can’t share many details because it is an ongoing police investigation, I can share that the incident involves allegations of rape and the arrest of two students.

The allegations presented in the charging documents are horrible and unacceptable. They do not represent the positive values of our students and school communities. Our thoughts are with the student who reported the incident and her family. Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is committed to supporting them through these difficult times.

Please know that our school staff immediately contacted the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) once they were informed about the alleged sexual assault. MCPS continues to fully cooperate with MCPD and the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office on this matter.

While I know this tragic incident has become part of a national political debate, I want to remind community members that the lives of real students have been forever affected. While many have chosen to engage civilly in the conversation, far too many have crossed the line with racist, xenophobic calls and emails. MCPS is working with law enforcement to identify those who are making threats toward our students and schools. This behavior will not be tolerated in our community.

Rockville High School staff, with the support of the MCPS administration, are working closely with their community to heal after this tragedy. Tuesday night, the Rockville High School Parent Teacher Student Association held a meeting where police and school representatives provided an update on the investigation, school security and MCPS policies. The community used this opportunity to express their concerns and ask questions of the principal, law enforcement and MCPS staff.

Watch the video of the Meeting

In addition to the questions we heard last night, we have received many questions from community members seeking to learn more about our policies. To help answer these questions we have created a web page that includes information and resources about our system policies; frequently asked questions and more. We will continue to update the page as more information becomes available.

MCPS is committed to the safety and security of our students and schools. In the coming days, we will share more about our efforts to ensure the safety of every student in our 204 schools.

Respectfully,
Jack R. Smith
Superintendent of Schools

Look at the inconsistencies of the letter, he says last night at the meeting, the meeting was Tuesday night, he only took a few questions and then was escorted out of the building by security. Change a few words and this is the exact letter he sent out during the student protests that his lack of leadership showed he is a wet suit.

If he sent this letter out on the 16th an hour after it happened then maybe he could have saved his job but he didn't. Clearly he waited to discuss the legal ramifications of this.

[Anonymous]

The recently created webpage of FAQs answers every single ignorant and irrational complaint I have read on here so far:

http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/incident-information/#faqs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For the OP and others who are upset, what would you have preferred him to have said?

That he intended to break federal law and ban undocumented children, or the children of undocumented parents?

That's obviously what folks want, but he can't say that because he can't do that.

We want these adult criminals to be offered evening classes.
What part of that don't you understand?

What adult criminals? Nobody is a criminal yet. Innocent u til proven guilty and these guys were both minors when they entered the school system, and neither had any sort of criminal record or even contact with the police prior to this. You can't just randomly assign people to adult classes. If it's even Constitutional.

Not the PP but I want older teens who are uneducated and can't speak English (basically those who meet the METS criteria) to not be in the same high schools as our children. THey should be offered night classes or go elsewhere. There are 500+ of them in 12 High schools in the county. This needs to change. Especially if they can't properly be vetted. I think this is reasonable.

Do you really believe this man raped because he didn't speak English?

Seriously? Why does it have to always come back to this? Don't you get it? We don't want our children to be put at risk by being in the same schools as ADULTS who arw not here legally and cannot be vetted. Why are we being demonized for wanting safe schools???

Do you or do you not believe that this man raped because he is an illegal immigrant?

Did i say that that he raped because he's an illegal immigrant? What are you trying to prove?

You obviously think his crime has to do with him immigration status. I disagree, and it seems Jack Smith does as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He has my full support after the letter he sent to the school community.

Dear MCPS Community:

As you may have heard or read, a serious incident occurred at Rockville High School on March 16, 2017. While I can’t share many details because it is an ongoing police investigation, I can share that the incident involves allegations of rape and the arrest of two students.

The allegations presented in the charging documents are horrible and unacceptable. They do not represent the positive values of our students and school communities. Our thoughts are with the student who reported the incident and her family. Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is committed to supporting them through these difficult times.

Please know that our school staff immediately contacted the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) once they were informed about the alleged sexual assault. MCPS continues to fully cooperate with MCPD and the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office on this matter.

While I know this tragic incident has become part of a national political debate, I want to remind community members that the lives of real students have been forever affected. While many have chosen to engage civilly in the conversation, far too many have crossed the line with racist, xenophobic calls and emails. MCPS is working with law enforcement to identify those who are making threats toward our students and schools. This behavior will not be tolerated in our community.

Rockville High School staff, with the support of the MCPS administration, are working closely with their community to heal after this tragedy. Tuesday night, the Rockville High School Parent Teacher Student Association held a meeting where police and school representatives provided an update on the investigation, school security and MCPS policies. The community used this opportunity to express their concerns and ask questions of the principal, law enforcement and MCPS staff.

Watch the video of the Meeting

In addition to the questions we heard last night, we have received many questions from community members seeking to learn more about our policies. To help answer these questions we have created a web page that includes information and resources about our system policies; frequently asked questions and more. We will continue to update the page as more information becomes available.

MCPS is committed to the safety and security of our students and schools. In the coming days, we will share more about our efforts to ensure the safety of every student in our 204 schools.

Respectfully,
Jack R. Smith
Superintendent of Schools

Look at the inconsistencies of the letter, he says last night at the meeting, the meeting was Tuesday night, he only took a few questions and then was escorted out of the building by security. Change a few words and this is the exact letter he sent out during the student protests that his lack of leadership showed he is a wet suit.

If he sent this letter out on the 16th an hour after it happened then maybe he could have saved his job but he didn't. Clearly he waited to discuss the legal ramifications of this.

There is precisely 0% chance he will lose his job over this, nor should he. Of course he waited to discuss the legal ramifications! As he should have! You are all nuts.

[Anonymous]

The 'Super' does not know how to handle crisis. Just wait until the next one. We are all SMH. Embarrassing for all of us.

Now this morning-- one of the perps is claiming it was consensual. He is the 18 year old. Remember MCPS put the 18 year old around the 14 year olds. The lawyer is playing the harp with the' he is soft spoken' ....

Give us a break. The perp broke the law 2 times.

[Anonymous]

According to Smith, the violent rape at school is merely "unacceptable," while the racist, xenophobic emails and calls "will not be tolerated."

[Anonymous]

]He has my full support after the letter he sent to the school community.

Dear MCPS Community:

As you may have heard or read, a serious incident occurred at Rockville High School on March 16, 2017. While I can’t share many details because it is an ongoing police investigation, I can share that the incident involves allegations of rape and the arrest of two students.

The allegations presented in the charging documents are horrible and unacceptable. They do not represent the positive values of our students and school communities. Our thoughts are with the student who reported the incident and her family. Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is committed to supporting them through these difficult times.

Please know that our school staff immediately contacted the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) once they were informed about the alleged sexual assault. MCPS continues to fully cooperate with MCPD and the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office on this matter.

While I know this tragic incident has become part of a national political debate, I want to remind community members that the lives of real students have been forever affected. While many have chosen to engage civilly in the conversation, far too many have crossed the line with racist, xenophobic calls and emails. MCPS is working with law enforcement to identify those who are making threats toward our students and schools. This behavior will not be tolerated in our community.

Rockville High School staff, with the support of the MCPS administration, are working closely with their community to heal after this tragedy. Tuesday night, the Rockville High School Parent Teacher Student Association held a meeting where police and school representatives provided an update on the investigation, school security and MCPS policies. The community used this opportunity to express their concerns and ask questions of the principal, law enforcement and MCPS staff.

Watch the video of the Meeting

In addition to the questions we heard last night, we have received many questions from community members seeking to learn more about our policies. To help answer these questions we have created a web page that includes information and resources about our system policies; frequently asked questions and more. We will continue to update the page as more information becomes available.

MCPS is committed to the safety and security of our students and schools. In the coming days, we will share more about our efforts to ensure the safety of every student in our 204 schools.

Respectfully,
Jack R. Smith
Superintendent of Schools