Worcester Sheriff Raised the Alarm in 2023 About Not Reporting: Montgomery County Now Faces the Same Hidden School Safety Crisis

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is facing growing concerns over how serious incidents are reported within its schools. During the 2023-2024 school year, only 130 fights were documented, a figure that raised eyebrows among both school board members and staff. Peter Moran, MCPS Chief of Schools, expressed skepticism, noting that the number seemed low compared to what had been observed throughout the year. The accuracy of this data has come into question, particularly as the system looks to reassess how incidents are being reported.

According to the school board’s definition, serious incidents are those that involve harm or the risk of harm to students or staff, seriously disrupt school operations, or could escalate to legal matters. Despite this broad definition, MCPS reported 4,424 serious incidents last year, with 16% of those categorized as “critical.” These critical incidents included weapons, bomb threats, fights, drug-related issues, and trespassing, with 21 bomb threats alone. However, many believe the fight data is incomplete. The reporting guidelines only require documentation for fights that result in significant injuries or when emergency personnel respond, leaving many incidents under the radar.

While the data shows a decrease in fights and drug-related incidents, there was an alarming increase in weapons, bomb threats, and trespassing. Despite this, the bulk of the reported incidents were deemed “non-critical” and posed no direct threat to safety, such as small disruptions like a power outage or an animal entering a school. High schools saw the majority of incidents, followed by middle schools and elementary schools.

These reporting discrepancies have prompted MCPS staff to call for an overhaul of the current system. Social media accounts of fights and other incidents suggest the problem is much larger than what’s being officially recorded. School board member Brenda Wolff voiced concern that the numbers didn’t align with what she had seen online, and Moran agreed, acknowledging the limitations in the current reporting structure. Dana Edwards, MCPS Chief of District Operations, noted that these limitations must be addressed in the upcoming school year to ensure data accuracy and effective school safety measures.

MCPS leaders are committed to improving the system. Marcus Jones, head of the MCPS Department of Security and Compliance, and other staff members are developing new strategies to ensure that incidents are reported accurately and transparently. The district also reviewed its expectations with principals before the start of the school year, emphasizing the importance of support from central services in responding to reports. The goal is to create an environment where teachers and administrators feel comfortable reporting incidents without fear of retribution.

The challenges Montgomery County faces are jyst like those experienced in Worcester County, just a year prior. In Worcester, the Sheriff raised similar concerns about underreported incidents in schools, leading to a series of contentious meetings with the Board of Education. Despite the Sheriff’s 13 recommendations to improve school safety, both sides struggled to agree on how to implement them, resulting in a prolonged public dispute. Montgomery County’s situation shows that Worcester is not alone; other school systems across Maryland are grappling with similar issues regarding the accuracy and transparency of school incident reporting. Both counties underscore the need for stronger reporting processes and collaboration between schools and law enforcement to ensure safety is prioritized and properly documented.