Anonymous
Post 08/25/2023 20:28     Subject: Re:Blair crew
Anonymous wrote:Shouldn't these allegations have been investigated to a degree before the school went to these lengths? A letter like this causes wild speculation and immediately condemns the team to many members of the community. It seems to me that whatever is being charged should be clarified before a school letter is sent home, getting everyone up in arms. While it is certainly true that something substantial or serious could have happened, if there is enough evidence to go to these great lengths, then the charges should be made abundantly clear and publicized. This leaves the whole community to speculate wildly on sites like this about what it might involve. Reputations could be unjustly called into question if allegations turn out to be either untrue or do not rise to the level that the language of the letter implies. As a Blair parent, not affiliated with the team, I have just had discussions with my kids about not adding to the rumor mill on Monday and speaking and acting compassionately toward those impacted by this unfortunate circumstance.


Blair parent here. Disagree with this short-sighted take. Rumor mill will churn, no matter when a letter goes out and what it does or doesn’t say. The letter reads as an effort at transparency within the limits of what can be disclosed right now. There could be sensitive things for which the people affected need their privacy protected as a matter of safety.

Balancing transparency and safety is never easy, and MCPS central office is a model for how to fail pathetically in this regard, over and over again. That the principal put anything out at all puts her professionalism miles ahead of that of virtually everyone in central office.
Anonymous
Post 08/25/2023 19:17     Subject: Blair crew
The Principal is fantastic and deeply committed to our school (parent to two Blair, not involved in crew) and for her to sign off on this something must be something. She’s not a neophyte.
Anonymous
Post 08/25/2023 18:46     Subject: Re:Blair crew
Shouldn't these allegations have been investigated to a degree before the school went to these lengths? A letter like this causes wild speculation and immediately condemns the team to many members of the community. It seems to me that whatever is being charged should be clarified before a school letter is sent home, getting everyone up in arms. While it is certainly true that something substantial or serious could have happened, if there is enough evidence to go to these great lengths, then the charges should be made abundantly clear and publicized. This leaves the whole community to speculate wildly on sites like this about what it might involve. Reputations could be unjustly called into question if allegations turn out to be either untrue or do not rise to the level that the language of the letter implies. As a Blair parent, not affiliated with the team, I have just had discussions with my kids about not adding to the rumor mill on Monday and speaking and acting compassionately toward those impacted by this unfortunate circumstance.
Anonymous
Post 08/25/2023 17:22     Subject: Blair crew
This communication was horribly managed. The people involved with the Crew team should have been told before there was a blast communication to the whole school. Disappointed with how the Principal dis this.
Anonymous
Post 08/25/2023 16:03     Subject: Re:Blair crew
Blair Crew doesn't even operate over the summer. Where could this be coming from?
Anonymous
Post 08/25/2023 16:01     Subject: Blair crew
Even the Board didn't know? The principal did not contact the Board to give a heads up that there was a referral to authorities and that the team was suspended?
Anonymous
Post 08/25/2023 16:00     Subject: Re:Blair crew
Anonymous wrote:Previous poster is correct. I am a Blair Crew parent and our Board received a letter about the suspension just AFTER the letter was sent to the community. All parties involved are utterly confused and unaware of any incidents that would warrant this type of reaction. Those poor kids.


I assume the board of directors or whoever runs Blair Crew knows what is up. Again, if law enforcement are involved, it is likely a serious issue.
Anonymous
Post 08/25/2023 15:59     Subject: Re:Blair crew
Previous poster is correct. I am a Blair Crew parent and our Board received a letter about the suspension just AFTER the letter was sent to the community. All parties involved are utterly confused and unaware of any incidents that would warrant this type of reaction. Those poor kids.
Anonymous
Post 08/25/2023 15:19     Subject: Re:Blair crew
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My grandson is on the blair crew team he said many kids on the team would text the coach on his personal number regularly.


Why aren’t all athletes told this specific type of conduct by a coach violates the MCPS Code of Conduct? With all the criminal child abuse cases with MCPS staff including coaches, why aren’t all MCPS students taught to immediately report such conduct?


The thing is Crew is not a MCPS sport meaning they don’t have to follow any MCPS guidelines. They just happen to use Blair’s building for practice. The coach is not a MCPS employee.


So no oversight whatsoever for a team calling itself by the school name, meeting with school students right after school lets out, and using school facilities? Is this a good idea for MCPS to have this type of club in schools? Seems like an ideal place for child predators to have access to children.


Our crew team is run as a non-profit with a board of directors who take their roles quite seriously. In addition US Rowing requires that clubs participate in and refer all issues to SafeSport.


So what is the investigation about?
Anonymous
Post 08/25/2023 14:53     Subject: Re:Blair crew
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My grandson is on the blair crew team he said many kids on the team would text the coach on his personal number regularly.


Why aren’t all athletes told this specific type of conduct by a coach violates the MCPS Code of Conduct? With all the criminal child abuse cases with MCPS staff including coaches, why aren’t all MCPS students taught to immediately report such conduct?


The thing is Crew is not a MCPS sport meaning they don’t have to follow any MCPS guidelines. They just happen to use Blair’s building for practice. The coach is not a MCPS employee.


So no oversight whatsoever for a team calling itself by the school name, meeting with school students right after school lets out, and using school facilities? Is this a good idea for MCPS to have this type of club in schools? Seems like an ideal place for child predators to have access to children.


Our crew team is run as a non-profit with a board of directors who take their roles quite seriously. In addition US Rowing requires that clubs participate in and refer all issues to SafeSport.
Anonymous
Post 08/25/2023 13:55     Subject: Blair crew


So those involved with crew also don’t know what’s going on?


Correct.
Anonymous
Post 08/25/2023 13:08     Subject: Blair crew
Anonymous wrote:Blair Crew is simply not using the Blair HS facilities while MCPS is investigating some vague allegations that don’t seem to have been clarified for anyone. That’s standard policy while an investigation is happening. Close with many in this organization. It’s very collegial and supportive. Adults and kids alike are blindsided and confused by this letter. The season is scheduled as planned, just without the use of the high school.


So those involved with crew also don’t know what’s going on?
Anonymous
Post 08/25/2023 13:03     Subject: Blair crew
Anonymous wrote:Blair Crew is simply not using the Blair HS facilities while MCPS is investigating some vague allegations that don’t seem to have been clarified for anyone. That’s standard policy while an investigation is happening. Close with many in this organization. It’s very collegial and supportive. Adults and kids alike are blindsided and confused by this letter. The season is scheduled as planned, just without the use of the high school.


If the authorities are involved it’s gotta be something decently bad - not just texting the coach on a personal phone, as someone upthread suggested.
Anonymous
Post 08/25/2023 10:42     Subject: Blair crew
Blair Crew is simply not using the Blair HS facilities while MCPS is investigating some vague allegations that don’t seem to have been clarified for anyone. That’s standard policy while an investigation is happening. Close with many in this organization. It’s very collegial and supportive. Adults and kids alike are blindsided and confused by this letter. The season is scheduled as planned, just without the use of the high school.
Anonymous
Post 08/25/2023 08:48     Subject: Re:Blair crew
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My grandson is on the blair crew team he said many kids on the team would text the coach on his personal number regularly.


Why aren’t all athletes told this specific type of conduct by a coach violates the MCPS Code of Conduct? With all the criminal child abuse cases with MCPS staff including coaches, why aren’t all MCPS students taught to immediately report such conduct?


The thing is Crew is not a MCPS sport meaning they don’t have to follow any MCPS guidelines. They just happen to use Blair’s building for practice. The coach is not a MCPS employee.


So no oversight whatsoever for a team calling itself by the school name, meeting with school students right after school lets out, and using school facilities? Is this a good idea for MCPS to have this type of club in schools? Seems like an ideal place for child predators to have access to children.


Clearly there is oversight. That’s why it’s been suspended.