Leaders Review Recommendations from Reimagining School Safety and Student Well-Being Committee

Montgomery County leaders reviewed preliminary recommendations from the Reimagining School Safety and Student Well-Being Committee, aimed to reshape public safety in Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) and provide social and mental support to students.

County Executive Marc Elrich and other officials launched the effort in April. The 32-member steering committee was tasked with making recommendations for reimagining safety and mental health supports in MCPS and the county. It was chaired by representatives from MCPS, the county Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD). Other members included three students and representatives from MCPS, the MCPS school board, DHHS, MCPD and the county council. Three subcommittees were formed: mental health, restorative justice, and a subcommittee focused on a Memorandum of Understanding between MCPS and public safety departments.

During a virtual media briefing Oct. 13, Elrich highlighted three recommendations from the mental health subcommittee:

“1. Look at root causes of behavior (from a Mental Health vs delinquency lens) with funding for mental health supports rather than police response as a solution,
2. Create systems of support to respond to student mental health crises in school, and
3. Assess if there are sufficient mental health professionals available to students for proactive engagement”

MCPS Interim Superintendent Dr. Monifa McKnight said the school system will move forward with hiring 50 social workers to support schools. In August, she said MCPS was waiting on state approval to use federal funding toward hiring the employees.

Music provided by Manhattan Production Music.

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