Superintendent highlights school response to Mead High incident, student achievements and vacancy updates

Acting Superintendent Dr. Heiser updated the board on safety, student accomplishments and staffing at the Feb. 5, 2025 meeting, describing collaborative agency response to a stabbing at Mead High School and highlighting student fundraising and competition successes.

Dr. Heiser thanked county and partner agencies for their response to a student stabbing at Mead High School two weeks earlier, saying County Police, Fort Meade command police, the County Department of Health and school staff together provided "a swift and appropriate response" that aided students and staff on the day of the incident and in the days that followed.

Heiser also highlighted community and student achievements: more than 4,600 students at 45 schools participated in a district Polar Bear Plunge day that raised more than $600,000 for Maryland’s Special Olympics; Southern Middle School won the state-level Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition and received $12,000 in technology awards; and North County High School earned a national award of merit distinction from Magnet Schools of America, the only school in Maryland to receive that honor during the cited cycle.

On staffing, Heiser said the district’s vacancies are holding steady across most categories and noted continued low vacancies for crossing guards, which he credited in part to the police department’s partnership. He closed by thanking HR staff for their work as the district staff for the upcoming school year is being planned.

Dr. Heiser’s remarks were informational; no board action was taken on these updates during the meeting.