On March 5, Chip Bertino, President of the Worcester County Commissioners made some direct comments regarding school safety and he hit the nail on the head. There’s no room for word semantics when it comes to the safety of children and teachers at school. Bertino pointed out that the difference between a Crime or Referral is irrelevant. No matter what you call it, the fact is that someone was violated. Violating another person is illegal, and we can’t have that. Children and teachers need to feel safe at school.
The bottom line is found in one question: Where do we go from here?
It’s up to the elected officials to work together to do what’s necessary in order to protect the citizens. No more doubling down, lashing out in pride, downplaying the facts, throwing temper tantrums, blaming others, obstructing, or lying. Cooperation between officials must occur.
As a citizen, what can you do? You can contact your officials below to express your concerns or show up at the next school Worcester BOE meeting on March 19 @ 6:00PM.
Dear Readers,
It is my opinion (as I have no direct proof in any way) that the reticence of the WCBO is to avoid a state identifying tag, referred to as “persistently dangerous”. This is tied to significant federal/state funding, and should a school fall into this category, not only would funds be affected, but it is quite possible a state/federal investigation can begin.
I wrote about this may years ago when Dr. Margo Handy was attempting the same thing. I correctly predicted that Wicomico Schools would fall into dangerous territory, and indeed they did, resulting in a number of issues, mandates and requirements. I predict Worcester will suffer the same consequence. Mr. Bertino is indeed asking the right questions, and with such high profile professionals (such as the Sheriff and the State’s Attorney) directly calling out senior school staff, a clear answer needs to be attended to. In short, there is absolutely no reason why students and staff should be subjected to such outrageous and dangerous behavior in schools.
The simple solution is an immediate application of laws already on the books, and for a very aggressive, no tolerance stance. This will indeed bring quite a bit of attention from many, but it is the only solution.
Regards,
Paladin
Thank you Commissioner Bertino for representing me.
While the Board of Education was doing it’s first press conference full of lies & “nothing to see here…there was a FIRST DEGREE ASSAULT taking place DURING the conference!!! And another assault that they did not report for days! Every one that is denying there is crime in the schools of them needs to go…
To 12:26. That would be all of them, especially the one from district 4
The county faces significant liability risks in the event of a critical incident resulting in loss of life, injury, or property damage, exacerbated by the ongoing public discord between Law Enforcement (Sheriff’s Office and State’s Attorney) and the Board of Education (Board of Education and School Leadership). Since these entities rely on county funding, any legal ramifications will ultimately fall on the county.
Recent trends show a dramatic increase in liability claims and settlements related to school violence. While the settlement for the Columbine shooting in 1999 was less than $3 million, the Parkland shooting settlement reached nearly $150 million. In the Uvalde shooting, the initial lawsuit demands a staggering $27 billion. Moreover, the lawsuit stemming from the Oxford, Michigan shooting not only targets Board Members but also administrators and school staff, with the county/state expected to foot the bill.
Amidst these legal complexities, the paramount concern should be the safety of students, staff, and potential victims. It’s crucial for all parties involved in this dispute to prioritize the well-being of those they are duty-bound to protect. As highlighted by the Final Report of the Federal Commission On School Safety, “schools have unique responsibilities in ensuring security and emergency preparedness. They must adhere to specific laws, policies, and regulatory obligations, which may differ from those of businesses, emphasizing the gravity of their duty to safeguard students and lead them effectively during crises.”
I still say DEFUND PULIC EDUCATION & DISSOLVE the BOE. Why pour more money into a FAILING SYSTEM corrupt tax sucking bunch of misfits..Give me my tax money I send it to a school that educates. We already pay taxes for judicial and prisons. Public education is a JOKE, more aligned to the court system, then real JOBS!!