Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Superintendent Dr. Monifa B. McKnight issued the following statement in response to the report released today by the Montgomery County Office of the Inspector General (OIG):

“I am grateful to Montgomery County Inspector General Megan Davey Limarzi and her team for their thorough and rigorous review of longstanding, systemic issues within MCPS. The OIG report represents an important step toward updating and modernizing processes, policies and procedures to better align them with MCPS values — and most importantly so no one within the MCPS family ever has to endure unchecked abuse, harassment, bullying or retaliation again. I am fully in alignment with the OIG’s recommendations, many of which I have already been working with my team to address by implementing dozens of corrective actions over the last several months — and I appreciate the OIG for acknowledging that progress in today’s report. I shared updates on that work both in October and earlier this week, outlining the progress that’s been made. But we still have important work ahead, which we will do in collaboration with Board of Education leaders, the County Council and the OIG’s office — who have remained important and trusted partners throughout this process — as we finalize the comprehensive corrective action plan that the Board directed me to develop last year. Part of overhauling MCPS is cultivating an environment and policies that facilitate greater collaboration and coordination, ensuring that important information is shared with appropriate leaders who are empowered to take action when we recognize rot in the system. As I’ve said from day one, these issues may not have started on my watch, but as superintendent, they will end on my watch. As a mother, a woman and an educator who has committed decades of her life working to support the students, families and staff at MCPS, I am honored to continue serving this community, and to drive the reforms that will usher in a new era for MCPS — one that embraces accountability, transparency and trust, and that ensures students and staff are able to thrive in the safe and healthy learning and teaching environments I know MCPS is capable of.” 

For reference:

• MCPS Action Plan Update (January 2024)
• MCPS Action Plan Update (October 2023)