Dear Students, Parents, and Staff:

The recent tragic school shootings in Colorado, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania provide a grim reminder that school safety and security must remain a priority for our own community.

As a parent and an educator, I know that such tragedies naturally prompt questions and concerns about the safety of our students. I want to assure you that Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) works diligently with the Montgomery County Police; Fire and Rescue; and other county emergency services to ensure a safe environment for everyone.

The school system has a nationally recognized Emergency Response Plan to provide comprehensive safety and security procedures for all of our schools, in collaboration with local, state, and federal agencies. Each school has an emergency plan in place, and staff members are trained to handle emergency situations that may occur in our schools. Each high school has a Montgomery County police officer assigned to work with the school community every day to promote a safe environment. These educational facilities officers are an important component of our safety plans.

Everyone—parents, students, and staff—plays a very essential role in keeping our schools safe. In particular, it is critical for students and parents to report anything suspicious to administrators, security personnel, or teachers. Anyone can also anonymously report suspicious activity through our 24-hour Safe Schools Hotline: 301-517-5995. Please keep this number in a convenient location and do not hesitate to use it.

Finally, we urge parents to take time to talk with their children about good safety and security practices and to discuss the recent events in a calm and caring manner. Parents should consider limiting the amount of exposure young children have to television and Internet images of the tragedies. And, if children express fears and anxieties about these events, let them know that such feelings and emotions are normal. It is also important to maintain normal routines and spend as much family time together as possible. Should your child express a need to talk with someone outside of the family, school psychologists and school counselors are available to provide this support.

The MCPS website has additional resources to help you talk about tragic events with your children. The material can be found at www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org and is available in multiple languages.

One of our highest priorities is ensuring that Montgomery County Public Schools is a place where every student can learn and succeed in a safe environment.

Respectfully,
Jerry D. Weast, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools