Allegany County board approves MOU giving Cumberland police authority to exclude individuals from school property
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Summary
The Allegany County Board of Education unanimously approved a memorandum of understanding with the Cumberland City Police Department to permit police to deny access to school properties after hours under Maryland education law; the agreement renews annually unless the board terminates it.
The Allegany County Board of Education voted unanimously Nov. 11 to approve a memorandum of understanding (MOU) granting the Cumberland City Police Department authority to deny access to school buildings and grounds outside staffed hours.
Mr. Llewellyn, who presented the agreement, said the Education Article of the Maryland Code "provides authority under certain circumstances to remove somebody from school property, to no trespass them, and basically deny them access to school buildings and grounds." He said the MOU is intended to give local police that authority in instances when a school is not staffed beyond custodial coverage.
Mr. Green moved to adopt the MOU and Mrs. Widmeier seconded. The board discussed a term provision; Mr. Green asked whether the annual renewal means "no future board action will be required to continue the MOU," and Mr. Llewellyn confirmed that "you need a board action to discontinue it." The motion passed unanimously.
Board members framed the agreement as a school-safety measure both during and after the school day. No vote tally by individual members was recorded in the minutes; board materials indicate five members were present and the motion carried unanimously. The MOU as approved renews yearly unless the board votes to terminate it.
The board did not specify operational details such as the criteria police will use before denying access, which departments beyond Cumberland might be approached later, or a public release of the full MOU language at the meeting.
