The State Board voted unanimously on Wednesday evening to appoint Dr. Carey Wright as the interim State Superintendent of Schools for the remainder of the current term through June 30, 2024. Dr. Wright will begin her service as State Superintendent by October 23, 2023, pending the completion of onboarding logistics.
Most recently, Dr. Wright served for nine years as the State Superintendent of Schools in Mississippi leading successful educational reform efforts that guided Mississippi to lead the nation in improving student achievement outcomes. She has consistently demonstrated an ability to build consensus by developing critical relationships with key stakeholders to achieve results.
Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) will be emphasizing the importance of school bus safety and saying thank you to all who transport MCPS students during National Bus Safety week from Oct.16–21.
National School Bus Safety Week is a public program designed to educate the public about the importance of school bus safety. Each year schools organize events to bring attention to school bus safety and to recognize the critical role school bus employees play in providing safe transportation to our students.
Today, MCPS Superintendent Dr. Monifa B. McKnight delivered the following remarks during the Board of Education business meeting, providing an update on the comprehensive corrective action plan she has been charged with developing:
“I want to thank the Board for committing to releasing a redacted version of the Jackson Lewis report, which many in our community have asked for and is indeed an important step for restoring trust with our staff and community.
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Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) and Montgomery County Police responded to a collision involving a motorcyclist on Thursday, October 12 around 7:25pm. According to police, “At approximately 7:25 p.m., MCP officers responded to the area of Randolph Rd. and Glenallan Ave. for the report of a single vehicle collision. The preliminary investigation has revealed that the operator of a motorcycle lost control for reasons unknown at this time and sustained serious injuries. The adult male motorcyclist was transported to an area hospital in critical condition.“
Montgomery County Police tweeted the following at 8:12pm: ‘TRAFFIC ADVISORY – Westbound Randolph Rd. is closed at Glenallan Ave. due to a traffic collision. Drivers are advised to seek an alternate route. Expect significant delays.” We will provide an update if additional information becomes available.
Join Us for StoryBox Comics Fair, a two-day festival celebrating local and independent comics authors!
Day 1 – Saturday, June 27th, 11-5pm @ DwightMess compound (805 Silver Spring Ave): Events are open to the public, admission is FREE. Featuring Special Guest Artists, gallery exhibitions, workshops, artist talks, a modeling session (suggested donation) and exhibitors, you can dig in to indie comics and also tour the compound, which features an extensive comics collection, a rare video collection, Risograph and screenprinting studios.
MCPS has sent a message to the community recognizing information concerning online threats to safety by a former leader of Hamas calling for a “day of rage” on Friday, October 13th. The full message can be seen below:
“Dear MCPS Families and Staff,
The Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) has announced via social media that it has taken steps to enhance the safety of the local Jewish community. The full statement can be seen below:
“In response to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Montgomery County Department of Police has taken steps to enhance the safety of our Jewish community. We have increased police presence around religious institutions located within the county.
Per Montgomery County: The salsa of Verny Varela will headline the closing concert of the Wheaton TGIF Friday Encore fall series and Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich will lead tributes to Latin leaders and employees on Friday, Oct. 13. The performance is part of a month of concerts that join in the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month The final event in the series, “Que Bonita Bandera,” invites community members to wear the colors representing the diversity of the County.
Marian Fryer Town Plaza is adjacent to the Wheaton Metro Station. The TGIF party will begin on the plaza at 5 p.m. with a special set by El Zol Radio. Verny Varela will play at 6 p.m. Parking is available in the building at 2425 Reedie Dr.
Per the State of Maryland (10.12.23): Today, Governor Wes Moore joined U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg at Prince George’s Community College to announce funding for the Commercial Driver’s License program, highlighting President Joseph R. Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s job opportunity expansion. Governor Moore and Secretary Buttigieg were joined by former United States Congressman Patrick Murphy (D-PA) and Prince George’s Community College External Affairs, Communications, and Advancement Vice President Dr. Sherrie A. Johnson to highlight investments in the future of the trucking industry in Maryland and across the country.
“Our administration is committed to investing in community colleges because our community colleges open new avenues for success for all, not just for some,” said Gov. Moore. “Today, we celebrate the important investment of the Prince George’s Community College Commercial Driver’s License program and we celebrate an economy that offers on-ramps to success and opportunity.”
“I applaud the Board of Education for taking this important step forward in accountability and transparency for the families, students and staff within the school system. It has been two months since the allegations of employee misconduct by an MCPS principal were revealed through the press. At the EC Committee session held on Sept. 28, I called for the full release of a redacted report and my colleagues echoed that sentiment. It is only through transparency that we are able to have effective accountability and facilitate improvement in processes that protect our school community.
The release of the redacted report does not impact the ongoing investigations. The investigation through the Montgomery County Office of Inspector General (OIG) continues. Once the OIG releases its investigation findings, I will work with my colleagues to schedule a public meeting to discuss the findings and any recommended actions.”
The Montgomery County Board of Education (BOE) released a statement regarding the release of the redacted Jackson-Lewis Investigation Report. In a Thursday afternoon tweet, the Board of Education stated that the redacted report can be found on the Board’s website. As of press time at 3:30pm, we have been unable to find it on the website, but it can be accessed at this link. The (BOE) statement can be seen below:
“We believe that restoring trust with our staff and community is of utmost importance and it is our hope that by releasing this report, which is redacted to protect the right of our employees, will be a step toward a renewed belief in the integrity of our public-school system.
