Education

Nominations Now Open for Edye Miller Distinguished Service Award

By MCS Staff

Nominations are open for the Edye Miller Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes MCAAP/MCBOA members who have effectively provided distinguished service and made exemplary contributions to the association. This award was established by MCAAP’s board of directors and funded by the association’s former executive director, Edye Miller, after her retirement in 2017. The recipient receives a $2,000 cash award.

MCPS administrators and supervisors can be considered for this award if they are a current voting member of MCAAP/MCBOA; have five years of continuous and recent voting membership; and have not won the award before. Nominees should have made an impact on the association through:

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Gaithersburg

Gaithersburg/Takoma Park Police Departments Each Collect Over 120 Pounds of Prescription Drugs

By MCS Staff

The Gaithersburg and Takoma Park Police Departments have each announced a successful “Prescription Drug Take Back Day’ that took place on Saturday, April 22nd. Residents had the opportunity to prevent prescription drug abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous, expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs by bringing unused medications to the police station for disposal.

Though all police departments in Montgomery County participated in taking back prescription drugs, Gaithersburg Police and Takoma Park Police announced that they collected 135lb and 123lb of prescription drugs, respectively. Both police departments, along with Rockville Police, collect prescription drugs year-round. Additional year-round disposal sites can be seen below:

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Education

Clarksburg High School Educator, Shannon McKenzie, Named MCPS Teacher of the Year

By MCS Staff

Shannon McKenzie, child development teacher at Clarksburg High School, was named the 2023–2024 MCPS Teacher of the Year during a celebration at BlackRock Center for the Arts on April 24. She will now go on to compete for Maryland Teacher of the Year.

An educator for 23 years, she has been teaching in MCPS for seven. She previously owned and operated a private preschool for 16 years, and worked in the Preschool Education Program (PEP) program at Germantown Elementary School. In only her second year at Clarksburg, she has rapidly grown the Child Development program, more than doubling enrollment in the second year. Forty-one students were enrolled in Child Development courses the first year; by the next year, 95 students enrolled. The Clarksburg program—the Coyote Pups Preschool Program—serves 12 families.

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Gaithersburg

So What Else?, A Non-Profit That Serves 150,000 Meals Per Week to Those in Need, Finds New Home After Being Forced to Leave Lakeforest

By MCS Staff

In January, So What Else received the devastating news that its lease at Lakeforest Mall was being terminated due to the recent purchase of the space for redevelopment. The Rockville-based non-profit operated its food pantry out of Lakeforest, but was required to vacate by March 31st. They’ve now moved their pantry headquarters to a new location at 4924 Wyaconda Rd in North Bethesda to continue serving 150,000 meals a week without disruption. So What Else?  mentions that this move comes with a 1300% rent increase and will be holding a “Forced to Move Fundraiser”’in May.

So What Else’s mission is “to improve the lives of children and families living in underserved communities in the Baltimore-Washington Metro Area by providing food security, access to basic necessities, and high-quality out-of-school time programs in literacy, athletics, and the visual and performing arts while inspiring young people to give back to the community by creating volunteer opportunities for individuals of all ages.” So What Else’s new distribution schedule, starting May 1st, can be seen below.

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Takoma Park

Arrest Made for Strong Arm Robbery and Assault on a Police Officer

By Patrick Herron

Per the Takoma Park Police Department: Chief Antonio DeVaul from the Takoma Park Police Department announces the arrest of Ronald Miranda-Montoya, 30, of Silver Spring, Maryland, for strong-arm robbery, assault on a police officer, resisting arrest, failure to obey and disorderly conduct.

On April 23, at approximately 2:46 pm, Takoma Park Police responded to the victim’s residence for the report of a strong-arm robbery that occurred earlier in the 900 block of East West Highway. The victim exited an establishment when he was approached by Miranda-Montoya demanding property from him. The victim did not comply and Miranda-Montoya assaulted him and took the property. Officers later found Miranda-Montoya at a bus stop where he became hostile towards officers. Miranda-Montoya was placed under arrest after resisting and assaulting officers.

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Gaithersburg

Gaithersburg’s Housing Element Public Forums Scheduled for May 4

By MCS Staff

The City of Gaithersburg will host two virtual public forums on May 4, 2023, where staff will present the draft Housing Element of the City’s Master Plan. These forums will take place from noon to 1 p.m. and 7 to 8 p.m., and will include Spanish and English real-time closed captioning options. During these events, staff will discuss the contents and recommendations of the Housing Element and answer questions from participants. The day and evening forums include the same information. No registration is required; simply use the following links to join:

The Housing Element is required, at a minimum, to address the need for affordable housing. The City’s draft Housing Element also discusses other facets of housing and includes goals and recommendations meant to address future housing needs in the City. The Joint Public Hearing on the draft Housing Element is on June 5, 2023. Further information is available on the Housing Element project page.

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MCPS

MCPS Superintendent Dr. Monifa McKnight Will Address the Rise of Racism and Hate Incidents in MCPS

By MCS Staff

MCPS has sent out a letter informing the community of an event that will take place this week that will see superintendent Dr. Monifa McKnight address the rise of racism and hate incidents in MCPS:

“Dear MCPS Community, The rise of incidents of hate, bias, racism, antisemitism, and LGBTQ+ prejudice has grown significantly over recent months. In an address on Thursday, April 27, Superintendent Dr. McKnight will speak to this issue and its impact on the county’s children and school system. The superintendent will characterize the problem, issue a collective call to action and announce actions the school district will take moving forward.”

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Germantown

Montgomery County Executive Elrich Holding ‘Community Conversations’ to Talk About Long-term Priorities and FY 2025 CIP Budget April 24, in Germantown

By Patrick Herron

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich is holding “community conversations” at sites around the County in April and May to talk about long-term priorities and how he will address the Fiscal Year 2025 Capital Improvements Program (CIP) budget. There will be an event for the UpCounty area from 7-8:30 p.m. TONIGHT, Monday, April 24, at the Sidney Kramer UpCounty Regional Services Office

The Sidney Kramer UpCounty Regional Services Office is located at 12900 Middlebrook Rd, Suite 1000, in Germantown.

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Fairland

Update: Four Children and One Adult Injured After Collision Involving School Bus Monday Morning

By Patrick Herron

Montgomery County Police and Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services responded to a collision involving a Montgomery County Public Schools bus on Monday, April 24, around 9:30am in the 13000 block of Old Columbia Pike in Fairland.

Four children (initially reported as five) and the driver were on the bus at the time of the collision. According to MCPD, “one child was extricated from the bus, but everyone was transported to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries” The ages of the children have not yet been released. According to a report, the bus was traveling to Fairland Elementary School.

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Rockville

Paris Baguette To Open Rockville Town Square Location This Week

By Patrick Herron

Paris Baguette, “the neighborhood bakery café where communities come together over expertly crafted baked and brewed goods,” has announced it will hold the grand opening of its Rockville Town Square location at 101 Gibbs Street on Friday, April 28. Paris Baguette offers cakes, gourmet sandwiches, salads, and an assortment of baked goods such as croissants and donuts.

The company detailed its expansion plans back in August: “Paris Baguette currently operates in 14 states with a focus on expanding to a nationwide footprint in top-tier markets through a combined strategic approach of corporate-owned and franchise locations; franchise agreements have been signed to expand across 25 states. “The increased interest we’ve seen in franchise agreements and rapid expansion through new store openings at Paris Baguette is a testament to the success we’ve seen by focusing on the elevated bakery café experience and creating an emotional connection with our guests,” said Darren Tipton, Chief Executive Officer, Paris Baguette America. “We set an aggressive goal to open 1,000 locations in the U.S. by 2030 and we’re on track to exceed this plan with strategic direction on growth, quality products, customer experience, and innovation.”

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Fairland

MCFRS Respond to Collision Involving School Bus Monday Morning; Five Children and One Adult Transported With Non-Life Threating Injuries

By Patrick Herron

2pm Update: Montgomery County Police and Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services responded to a collision involving a Montgomery County Public Schools bus on Monday, April 24, around 9:30am in the 13000 block of Old Columbia Pike in Fairland.

Four children (initially reported as five) and the driver were on the bus at the time of the collision. According to MCPD, “one child was extricated from the bus, but everyone was transported to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries” The ages of the children have not yet been released. According to a report, the bus was traveling to Fairland Elementary School.

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