Monday, February 11, 2013
Stories you may have missed across the state.
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Monday, February 11
By Patch Staff Relive the Ravens Super Bowl Parade (VIDEO) There's only one place to see the parade as though you were there. Also, check out photos of the trophy and the purple sea of humanity here. Baltimore Native, UMD Grad Makes it to Hollywood for American Idol Kriss Mincey is a relative newcomer to the music scene. At Aberdeen High School, Mincey—who grew up in Baltimore, Richmond and points in between—took up dance and came out of her shell. She never returned to that shell. Now, Mincey, 22, is on the world's stage as a contestant on American Idol. Accused Maryland School Shooter to be Charged as Adult Adult charges will stand against the student accused of opening fire inside Perry Hall High School on the first day of school, …
Friday, January 25, 2013
A Maryland company started making bulletproof school supplies in response to the shootings at Newtown, Conn. Company owner tells Capital News Service the supplies are a last line of defense.
Since the shootings in Newtown, Conn., much of the discussion has swirled around gun control and school security, whether there should be armed police officers or guards in America’s schools. But what about bulletproof school supplies? Several Montgomery County Patch sites picked up a Capital News Service story about Hardwire LLC. The Eastern Shore military armor company started making bulletproof whiteboards and clipboards in response to the tragic school shootings. The company’s CEO George Tunis told CNS that the bulletproof school supplies could be effective if incorporated into a broader security strategy. He donated 90 of the white boards to a school in Worcester County, according to the report. "Inside every classroom, with every …
Monday, January 21, 2013
After the Newtown, CT school shooting, Maryland legislators are looking at a number of ways to make schools safer.
According to Annapolis Patch, delegates from Anne Arundel County are introducing legislation on Tuesday, Jan. 22 in hopes of increasing security and mental health services at public schools across the state. The proposed bill would also pay for an armed resource officer at each school. "If you really understand public schools in Maryland, you know this: They are becoming increasingly more difficult for classroom teachers because discipline is lacking at home and teachers are spending an increasing amount of time maintaining discipline in the classroom," said Del. Nic Kipke (R-Pasadena). In Montgomery County, Councilman Craig Rice (D-Dist. 2) of Germantown, a vocal advocate of school resource officers stationed in schools, told a room full …
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Wednesday's community action forum on school safety draws crowd.
Dozens of concerned parents packed the Montgomery County Public Schools headquarters in Rockville Wednesday night to hear police, County Council members and school officials pledge efforts to make schools safer, including increasing police presence. County Councilman Craig Rice (D-Dist. 2) of Germantown, a vocal advocate of school resource officers stationed in schools, told the meeting, "We are going to double the number of school resource officers from 6 to 12." The school resource officer, or SRO, program historically has stationed police officers in schools as an added safety boost. In recent years budget cuts have limited the SRO program to one officer per police district, in addition to one Gaithersburg City SRO. Now county …
Do guns belong in schools? How do we handle bullying? Should schools be a fortress or remain relatively open?
There are seven armed police officers in high schools, 214 school security officials placed throughout the county, buzzer entry systems, locked doors and security cameras—but is it enough to keep Montgomery County’s public school children safe? Dozens of Montgomery County parents packed the Montgomery County Public Schools headquarters in Rockville last night for a community discussion on school safety, but Wednesday's meeting was just the beginning of an ongoing conversation, according to officials. What are your thoughts on safety in Montgomery County public schools? Some talking points from recent county discussions: Tell us your answers in the comments below.
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Join county leaders to discuss 'what's realistic, what's not' in terms of student security in the wake of school shootings in other areas.
County residents are invited to participate in a panel discussion surrounding Montgomery County Public Schools safety and security on Wednesday at a community action forum. Organized by the Montgomery County Council of PTAs, Wednesday’s community forum will focus on community discussion of the county’s emergency preparedness and security. Since the December shooting that killed 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT, county parents and leaders have spoken out about school safety concerns in Montgomery County. Ranking representatives from across Montgomery County government will answer questions, including Montgomery County Police Chief Tom Manger, MCPS Deputy Superintendent Beth Schiavino-Narvaez, the …
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
If the Montgomery County Council approves the request, all 132 elementary campuses could receive the upgrade by July.
Montgomery County parents may rest a little easier after the county school board voted Tuesday to speed up spending to increase security at Montgomery County elementary schools. The Montgomery County Board of Education voted unanimously to request an additional $364,000 to place video intercom systems at the entrance of every county elementary school. If the Montgomery County Council approves the request, all 132 elementary campuses could receive the upgrade by July, the Washington Examiner reported. Passage by the County Council is likely. On Monday, Council President Nancy Navarro (D-Dist. 4) of Silver Spring and Education Committee Chair Valerie Ervin (D-Dist. 5) of Silver Spring sent a letter to school board President Christopher …
Friday, January 4, 2013
A school safety meeting is scheduled for Jan. 16.
How much security is the right amount of security for Montgomery County’s public school students? Following the shock of December’s tragic shootings in Newtown, CT, parents and family members of students at Bradley Hills Elementary in Bethesda have written to county leaders asking for security improvements at the elementary school’s temporary location, according to a Wednesday Gazette report. Students and teachers at Bradley Hills currently are housed at the Radnor Center, while the school undergoes modernization, scheduled for completion in August. “Our school has no security system in place and our front door remains unlocked throughout the school day with no mechanism for screening visitors,” parents wrote, according to the report. …
Friday, December 14, 2012
Although there's no indication of any threat in Montgomery County, police were visible at schools Friday "for the comfort of the community."
Montgomery County police increased presence around schools at dismissal time Friday afternoon “for the comfort of the community” following a mass shooting at a Newtown, CT, elementary school. School and police officials, and parents expressed sadness and horror in response to the event. Susan Burkinshaw, a Germantown mother of three, seemed to express what other parents were feeling at the news that a gunman shot and killed 20 children Friday morning: "I have been crying listening to WTOP all day. I finally had to turn the news off. Can't wait to get home from work to hug my kids." Police Chief Thomas Manger spoke with Montgomery County Public Schools Superintendent Joshua Starr following the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, said …
Jay Levy
8:47 am on Sunday, January 27, 2013
What a great idea. Of course, kids only wear their backpacks to and from school so why not also put as little derringer in the backpack. Oh, wait a minute, maybe dleivering the kids to school in tanks would be better, then they would be hustled into a totally fortified school building for their complete protection. more ›