[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6082492,"mediaKeyId","2937784-0a51516b3810740d2992f3ffc16a35d9","parentId",2937784,"title","SMOB finalists call for transparency and student supports ahead of redistricting vote","audioSeconds",386,"startMs",4826000,"endMs",5212000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2937784-0a51516b3810740d2992f3ffc16a35d9&start=4826&end=5212","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2937784-0a51516b3810740d2992f3ffc16a35d9/thumbnail_4826000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6082492/Maryland/SMOB-finalists-call-for-transparency-and-student-supports-ahead-of-redistricting-vote","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6082492-6a3265ddd0b31d6a8feec615209f9085/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141765&Signature=otog3GJrJDu~KGdOMVHD8H69bEDJvg9A9~p64pLd8sqaJhTXJ21PKlM9asEr2N7IoqOwnfwaMhNV44uEexCEQWwr3XdNTXqFok9NURt9inLZZcA8p5bpAWG6m0vIxKBOqFIJNh6Ruk-NTY18A3irMUkuyIVKqPDQXhe~5bw~Pe66kHsZ6KJz0Zcpq8CeF~CvO89XFRrz6n1bmqOjzdh1cKHx-eeRflGXlxizFVHZ8lPIZrcQ60JkeiOsDJXHrZzuyaDFimbsqqGitHycPgYy88AIgsw89l-bPNcIdQbO9sHjPXzhIIkH9YSVq2UUGPPzcNkRXxaMkC95Bm0d5Ags5Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-04-10T00:11:05.43Z","article","Annapolis, Md. — When asked about an upcoming phase of school redistricting, the three finalists for Anne Arundel County’s student member seat said transparency, broad community input and robust support for displaced students should guide Board decisions.

Michelle Fadel urged the district to “listen to the communities” and to consider transportation and elementary‑school impacts when redrawing lines. She said the district should communicate clearly why boundary changes are proposed and provide orientation for students who move.

Braden Morgan emphasized transparency and direct outreach to students affected by changes, proposing programs that explain available opportunities at a new school to reduce anxiety. “By giving them more opportunities to learn about what opportunities are there for them in their new school … that can alleviate a lot of the fear,” Morgan said.

Jack Warwick said redistricting should be as “noninvasive as possible,” and he urged district officials to hold hearings in the communities that will be affected rather than only central meetings. All three asked that planners weigh longer-term impacts on communities as well as immediate classroom and extracurricular implications.

Candidates did not propose alternative boundary maps or specific policy amendments at the debate; their remarks focused on procedural criteria and student supports to accompany any future Board action.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","BOE Student Member of the Board Debate 4-9-2025","oneSentenceSummary","Candidates said redistricting decisions should minimize disruption, increase community engagement and provide orientation and support for students who would change schools.","taxTitle","Anne Arundel County Public Schools, School Boards, Maryland","taxId",14430,"location","Maryland","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6082496,"Candidates differ on weapons-detection pilot but agree on prevention and mental-health supports",88,4575000,4663000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2937784-0a51516b3810740d2992f3ffc16a35d9&start=4575&end=4663","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2937784-0a51516b3810740d2992f3ffc16a35d9/thumbnail_4575000.jpg","/articles/6082496/Maryland/Candidates-differ-on-weapons-detection-pilot-but-agree-on-prevention-and-mental-health-supports","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6082496-b67123c97496a764d08ab0eb4a09c76d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141765&Signature=M9DUZmYvVMuISmoLjnRx6H-pm35vTC34mVJmbqYBu2bqegnKCKErBnwZeiRwnKEMNXTp6XfUM8-DRGNgKYMd0wf4ekYJjCOcmz4LOWJ0LrslU65Ni5hokzy1OLDyTfXSg6-SfEpezNXOGrzhuFIoDKVuHKsk4dIBCm-yi11jFyM3jGF7uIrjMEgR7HqTWSNO~h9Xku2cnCYzR~13MWk~4trU4wRKuTN3Xx7r200HbOk3ebvGlI1wDIprXzdjnm~gX-1DS5ycT3eAILbsTNzGeVr73-F80wFYI7mBdIZmFbsmBa5FgN752iABf2vyr8ZvNs9vbwYhHn3TgXFA9d0~mg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Annapolis, Md. — School safety drew pointed discussion at the April 21 SMOB debate. Candidates agreed student safety is critical but differed in emphasis between immediate technological measures and long‑term prevention through mental‑health and community-building programs.

Michelle Fadel said she supports the noninvasive weapons-detection pilot the district is considering for high schools, arguing that students must feel safe in order to learn. “No student should ever feel unsafe walking in school,” Fadel said, describing school security technologies as part of a broader approach.

Jack Warwick said he is not opposed to noninvasive detection but urged stronger focus on prevention and services that address root causes. “Weapons detection systems are great, but they are a huge budgetary item,” Warwick said. “We need to get into schools early and really prevent this kind of conflict from ever escalating.”

Braden Morgan tied school safety to mental-health investment and prevention programs; he urged greater awareness of existing county programs and more student participation in them so the district can identify what to scale or improve.

None of the candidates provided technical specifications for detection technology, enrollment thresholds or cost estimates; those details remain district decisions outside the debate. Candidates repeatedly linked short‑term measures to the need for more counselors, peer supports and early conflict-resolution curricula as complementary approaches.","At the SMOB debate, one finalist supported the district's noninvasive weapons-detection pilot while others emphasized prevention through mental-health supports and conflict-resolution education.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6082501,"Finalists propose outreach and representation for English learners and students with disabilities",1786,2242000,4028000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2937784-0a51516b3810740d2992f3ffc16a35d9&start=2242&end=4028","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2937784-0a51516b3810740d2992f3ffc16a35d9/thumbnail_2242000.jpg","/articles/6082501/Maryland/Finalists-propose-outreach-and-representation-for-English-learners-and-students-with-disabilities","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6082501-73c20e9d063bec88b6ee0697716d10e8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141765&Signature=UEHTpJkZArbFUC9ApNWgEKqhVFWJYCHw2gulr4vluupwpQ6FTCpszRDwJfIz1INCzvnZe-5UIlC6K3rK79LjXhsk0kXCEOKktXouphFBTY8veI9U3YVdFalIPA9ujTEnv676N5D4ga35MLZIu8LsWRRA39PlrirUmNP~LvQu~ELcwSST98NEsZzJKMVde5GV94t0VIrxoeI0v2~5i-wZs84JHSGvVh~Fnqs-sRRQinyJCW6~YkvQmAICHohGLbg9wxT6UFwfcEdtUDZqsWo~RS9R-7eLQX1~3j5AoKS8Lxh-2WLc~OEFkzlVdJXAwKzICO5xD4x3F3OIJfmZz3OGKA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Annapolis, Md. — At the SMOB debate on April 21, finalists said the district should focus on equity by expanding outreach to English learners, increasing bilingual resources and creating dedicated structures to represent students with disabilities.

Michelle Fadel proposed more bilingual translators and translated materials for English learners, expanded outreach to school clubs and a mentorship program that pairs students with peers and adults. “If we really want to improve, we can't just be speaking to just a certain group of students,” Fadel said, adding she would visit elementary, middle and high schools and create a Canvas classroom for countywide access.

Braden Morgan described an initiative he is leading to establish “the first special education–led student council in the state of Maryland,” working with Special Olympics leadership and school staff to create a county-level council next year to elevate voices of students in special education. He said he plans to visit dedicated special‑education schools as well as mainstream sites to ensure those programs are visible and supported.

Jack Warwick called for robust English‑learner services through middle and high school and argued for data-driven allocation of resources so schools with greater needs receive additional supports. “We have a lot of students and a lot of families where English is not the first language, and it's important that we're really providing robust services to every single English learner,” Warwick said.

Candidates also discussed “representation” as part of equity: all three said outreach should include clubs and groups that do not typically interact with student government, such as multicultural clubs, Black Student Unions and National Honor Society chapters. None of the candidates provided specific funding plans or statutory changes; proposals focused on outreach, translated materials and new student‑led councils.","Candidates emphasized bilingual resources, special‑education representation and targeted outreach to ensure equity across Anne Arundel County schools.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6082506,"SMOB finalists push for more counselors, training and peer programs to address student mental health",2140,2069000,4209000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2937784-0a51516b3810740d2992f3ffc16a35d9&start=2069&end=4209","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2937784-0a51516b3810740d2992f3ffc16a35d9/thumbnail_2069000.jpg","/articles/6082506/Maryland/SMOB-finalists-push-for-more-counselors-training-and-peer-programs-to-address-student-mental-health","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6082506-1dcd25d4710a0e64f9786af961ab9921/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141765&Signature=PW-bZ5YlXhAgDV8mBoXQMgz3OC24hOVkm3mflDqpXl6iRXjFoLVk1fWw7qMbTl1wmCRMwmi9CK462NPz7wF-VPILSmca9uUPBsUmPBiSHQqii4IrCnaRGSI85MZkkWm1cOn54afyVDgY3SdL-YM5xL1N7i35C3tGuDKyLXhg6eT~-laxI~COWJzU9zNFbG1qfncGIS34u9kqNhIKVgr9tT9YVL3JWn7nnbkPEl78ktWtba9JfL7ZHifA29kDSa9U5ysUA148u59rIzphCyxawNWti42KP06WqiZ2uMnkto4Zx-hNsz0mkohfi8nWFwFfzz53nv6GOeYwIbyOT4XdGw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Annapolis, Md. — Mental-health supports were a central focus of the student member of the Board of Education debate on April 21, when all three finalists urged expanded counseling services, teacher training and peer programs to reduce stigma and reach students countywide.

Braden Morgan said he would advocate for more school therapists and “school sites” offering services, and he urged use of existing programs such as the Children’s Guild to broaden access. “Mental health leads to a lot of other growth such as student success, school safety, and an overall sense of well‑being and community,” Morgan said.

Jack Warwick called for bolstering student support services inside schools and adding programs that lower barriers to care. He said creating chapters of a student organization he called “Avidum” in every secondary school could help reduce stigma and change school culture: “Avidum improves students’ abilities to recognize oppression, has positive impacts on school culture, and especially importantly, lowers the stigma around seeking help,” Warwick said.

Michelle Fadel proposed training teachers to recognize mental‑health concerns in the classroom and described mentorships that pair students with both adults and peers. “Teachers know the students first then and there, and they know what they do normal and they could see if something happens going wrong,” Fadel said, adding that students should be able to seek help from counselors, administrators or teachers depending on circumstances.

All three candidates also suggested low‑cost or nonbudget measures to complement hiring more clinicians. Proposals included student mental‑health clubs, peer support networks, anonymous feedback channels and campaigns to increase awareness of services already available at school sites. Candidates repeatedly emphasized that raising awareness is a necessary step before expanding programs.

Candidates did not offer specific counselor‑to‑student ratios or dollar figures during the debate; those details were described as “not specified.”","At the debate, finalists for Anne Arundel County’s student member seat prioritized increased counselors, teacher training and peer-based programs to reduce stigma and expand services.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6082511,"Three finalists debate priorities in Anne Arundel County student member election",5302,289000,5591000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2937784-0a51516b3810740d2992f3ffc16a35d9&start=289&end=5591","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2937784-0a51516b3810740d2992f3ffc16a35d9/thumbnail_289000.jpg","/articles/6082511/Maryland/Three-finalists-debate-priorities-in-Anne-Arundel-County-student-member-election","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6082511-db109b6c65647a0b45f60775dce79564/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141765&Signature=kfY3HdsqbolLybxmiqQ3dEyeH41u2Ih-5o5XQZFK7Jn~I2MzRLd8via5Zo8pOB1eIMHpzWAN01m85-iCR-lXiSQIJITbAYDWtZeoLPLNNBNP695bC61IS1C1rLOs6iJxlNQJrHSHDQmaC1znJgUSitbWhRnhTTvWZSNkwbf26PhTi0OlFnlJA-W0fk6jI3l4v4OlXss7GZGIaaQHVY~RGMjBjFeUsl6L5yVGRSdg4ufClXVsokTuR1wgLpzZwNjgBsmk5wso3hx0cRNhKtc-vUYJiWxoTSeSzPHgAz33o5UOzWVHdwzpJtHOSidfTGbvpxL67yedkWqJDZOUw8Xw5Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Annapolis, Md. — Three finalists for the 2025–26 student member of the Board of Education (SMOB) for Anne Arundel County Public Schools debated priorities for the one-year student representative on April 21, outlining proposals on mental health, equity, student outreach and school safety.

At a public forum moderated by Jason Simonoff Jr., who identified himself as a CRASC Secretary of Education, the finalists — Michelle Fadel, a junior at Chesapeake High School; Jack Warwick of Chesapeake Science Point; and Braden Morgan of Glen Burnie High School — each summarized platforms and answered questions submitted by the Chesapeake Regional Association of Student Councils and via AACPS’s CRASC webpage. The debate format gave each candidate three minutes to open, one minute to answer questions with optional 30-second rebuttals, and included a sequence of questions on budget priorities, equity, student supports and redistricting.

The three candidates emphasized student outreach and increased mental-health services but proposed different tactics. Michelle Fadel ran on three pillars — “advocacy, connection and elevation” — and called for expanding advisory council access, using social media and a Canvas classroom to increase student awareness of the SMOB and building school visits and read-alouds for younger students. Jack Warwick focused on eliminating inequities through his “GEMS” platform, proposed adding a school-day ACT option and emphasized data-driven allocation of services. Braden Morgan stressed peer-to-peer systems and special-education outreach, including work to establish a special-education-led student council.

Candidates repeatedly tied their proposals to mental-health supports and to improving access to existing programs. They also discussed school safety and the county’s proposed noninvasive weapons-detection pilot; Michelle Fadel voiced support for the pilot, while Jack Warwick framed it as an immediate measure but argued for long-term prevention through mental-health services and conflict-resolution curricula.

All three said they would prioritize hearing directly from students countywide. Proposed outreach methods included social-media engagement, open advisory meetings, town halls, direct school visits, classroom visits and anonymous feedback channels. Several candidates specifically named CRASC and statewide organizations such as MASC and AVID as bodies they have worked with or would coordinate with while serving.

The debate included references to recent state legislation: Fadel said Senate Bill 307 had been signed recently and described it as raising Board member compensation to parity; she said students had testified and lobbied in support. (The comment reflects Fadel’s account during the debate.)

The debate concluded with closing remarks and an invitation to an SMOB Instagram Live event scheduled for Tuesday, April 22, at 7 p.m., with details on the CRASC website. The county has more than 84,000 students, a detail candidates cited when describing the scale of outreach they plan to pursue.

The finalists face the SMOB election in April; the board’s rules give the winning student a one-year voting seat on the Board of Education.","Three finalists for the Anne Arundel County Public Schools student member of the Board of Education presented competing priorities at a public debate on April 21, highlighting mental health, equity, student outreach and school safety ahead of the April election.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

SMOB finalists call for transparency and student supports ahead of redistricting vote

Candidates differ on weapons-detection pilot but agree on prevention and mental-health supports

Finalists propose outreach and representation for English learners and students with disabilities

SMOB finalists push for more counselors, training and peer programs to address student mental health

Three finalists debate priorities in Anne Arundel County student member election