MCPS Community Forum Scheduled After Communication Complaints

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD — Parents and community members will have a chance to ask questions about Montgomery County Public Schools' COVID-19 policies during a forum Wednesday evening.

Case increases and changes in procedure have frustrated some this year, as Superintendent Monifa McKnight addressed in a letter to the school community earlier this week.

The district adopted a policy in December that stated if more than 5 percent of "unrelated" people within a school tested positive, the school would go virtual. The policy was implemented at the beginning of this month, and 11 schools were quickly sent online. The district then reversed the policy, stating that it wanted to more clearly align with the state's guidance, which does not recommend any automatic triggers for virtual learning.

During the first week of school after winter break, dozens of bus routes were left unserviced due to a driver shortage. The district asked that parents carpool or have their kids walk to school together.

"While the circumstances leading to these disruptions are beyond our control, we should have done a better job communicating with you about these challenges and clarifying our response," McKnight wrote in the letter. "I apologize for any stress this caused our staff, students, and community members."

The forum scheduled for Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. is a chance for MCPS leaders to give the public on update on where it stands now, as well as give parents and family members an opportunity to ask questions.

Registration is open, and the district is also asking people with question to submit those in advance here. It will be streamed on the district's website and YouTube page, as well as on MCPS-TV, which is Comcast 34, Verizon 36 or RCN 89.