By Adam Pagnucco.
Yesterday, the principals of three MCPS schools in Wheaton and Glenmont sent a joint letter to parents stating:
Today, we, the three principals of John F. Kennedy High School, Odessa Shannon Middle School and Wheaton High School, were made aware by the Montgomery County Police Department of a serious incident in the community yesterday afternoon, Tuesday, Sept. 3. The police were called to respond to the Glenmont Circle area of Silver Spring for a gun-involved incident that resulted in no student injuries. Police have reported that two students were arrested for their involvement.
Citing privacy laws, the letter contains no other information about what happened.
I am the parent of a student at one of these schools. I don’t expect to know the identities of the students involved or any information that may tend to identify them. But rumors are flying about this, and when a gun is involved, such rumors will inevitably degenerate into sensationalism, hyperbole and problematic inaccuracy. I will not state what I have heard in this forum.
Accordingly, MCPS and/or the Montgomery County Police Department must release more information regarding the nature of this incident. I suspect that I am not the only person in this community holding such an opinion.
The letter is reprinted below.
*****
Joint Letter to the Kennedy HS, Shannon MS and Wheaton HS
September 4, 2024
Dear Families and Caregivers of the Kennedy High, Odessa Shannon Middle and Wheaton High School Communities,
Today, we, the three principals of John F. Kennedy High School, Odessa Shannon Middle School and Wheaton High School, were made aware by the Montgomery County Police Department of a serious incident in the community yesterday afternoon, Tuesday, Sept. 3. The police were called to respond to the Glenmont Circle area of Silver Spring for a gun-involved incident that resulted in no student injuries. Police have reported that two students were arrested for their involvement.
The investigation and any resulting actions are a police matter, not a school disciplinary matter, per the memorandum of understanding between Montgomery County Public Schools and the Montgomery County Police Department.
It is important to note that MCPS cannot share any other information due to student privacy law. Student privacy regulations are not a matter of arbitrary discretion but are firmly established by federal law, specifically the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). While this may understandably pose frustrations, particularly in contexts where transparency is desired, it’s crucial to recognize that these regulations are in place to uphold the safety and privacy rights of all students, even those who may be subjects of a criminal investigation.
Ensuring the safety and security of our students is not just a priority, but a daily commitment for the MCPS staff. We are fully dedicated to the ongoing collaboration between the MCPS Department of Systemwide Safety and the Montgomery County Police Department, working to create a secure environment for our students and staff.
We also ask that you reinforce at home that violence is not ever a good choice to resolve conflict; students should reach out to a trusted adult at home or in school to seek help in resolving conflict.
Respectfully,
Vicky Adamson
Principal
John F. Kennedy High School
Natasha Booms
Principal
Odessa Shannon Middle School
Pamela W Krawczel
Principal
Wheaton High School
