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Student Safety and Well‑Being Advisory Committee outlines data‑driven recommendations, requests joint BOCC–BOE meeting
Summary
The Student Safety and Well‑Being Advisory Committee reported progress on Aug. 26, saying it has compiled data and public input, identified staffing gaps and is drafting recommendations with a proposed implementation tracking plan.
The Student Safety and Well‑Being Advisory Committee updated the Board of County Commissioners on Aug. 26 about its work since the group formed by resolution in May 2024. Committee leaders said they have held ten meetings, three public input sessions and formed five subcommittees focused on safe and supportive environments, support for school staff, positive student behavior, modern facilities and family and community engagement.
Reverend Dana Jones, chair of the committee, and staff liaison Emily Cherries said the committee emphasized a data‑driven approach, assembling presentations and mid‑year data from Calvert County Public Schools, the Maryland Center for School Safety and county public‑health and law‑enforcement partners. The committee also conducted a community survey capturing student and parent perspectives; early signals cited bullying, vaping, mental‑health supports and safety training as recurring concerns.
Committee leaders highlighted a staffing challenge: many school psychologist positions and some pupil‑personnel roles remain unfilled. School staff at the meeting noted that as of the prior Wednesday only about 40% of school psychologist positions were filled, a trend the committee said is statewide and complicates service delivery.
The group also discussed juvenile services (DJS), including recent limits on public presentations by DJS that prevented a full public briefing; committee members said the county and public should better understand how DJS involvement changes the disciplinary and support pathway for students. The committee said that juvenile services typically becomes involved after law enforcement referrals and that consistent application of school code of conduct and early intervention in elementary grades could reduce escalation.
The committee said it is finalizing recommendations and will propose tracking mechanisms to monitor implementation beyond the committee’s lifespan. Committee leaders asked for a joint session with the Board of County Commissioners and the Board of Education when the final report is ready.
Next steps: the committee will analyze survey results, complete recommendations and present a final report with proposed metrics and an implementation tracking plan; staff will coordinate a future joint meeting with the Board of Education.
