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Student Safety and Well-Being Advisory Committee adopts phased work plan, guiding framework and subcommittee structure
Summary
The committee approved previously circulated phases and a guiding framework, adopted a vision statement, and voted to keep its regular meeting schedule while adding a quarterly evening public meeting. Staff will form five subcommittees, provide monthly reporting templates, and coordinate data requests; public commenters raised a recent school-safety incident and state resources.
Dana Sherrard, chair of the Student Safety and Well-Being Advisory Committee, called the meeting to order and led the group in a series of approvals and organizational decisions, including adoption of a phased work plan and a guiding framework to steer the committee’s subcommittees and final report.
Emily, staff, reintroduced the committee’s phased approach as a roadmap for future work, saying it is “sort of the guide for the work that needs to be completed throughout the course of this committee.” Members discussed how phase 3 (data assessment) will inform measurable short- and long-term targets in phase 4; one member urged that initial review focus on counting and noticing patterns rather than immediately assigning causes.
The committee voted to approve the recommended phases and to adopt the guiding framework with the amendments discussed, including an explicit inclusion of accessibility under the category of safe and supportive environments and a request that acronyms be spelled out (for example, ACES as Adverse Childhood Experiences).
The chair reported poll results showing strong support for retaining the committee’s current meeting schedule and adding a quarterly evening meeting to improve public access. The committee voted to continue its existing meeting schedule and add quarterly evening public meetings (the chair described the quarterly cycle as January, April, July and October). Staff confirmed that members of the public may submit comments to the committee email address (sswac@albertmontymd.gov) and that recordings of meetings are posted on the committee’s website.
Members described plans to form five subcommittees aligned with the guiding framework. Emily said staff will circulate a monthly reporting template so each subcommittee reports comparable information and will help collect requested data by coordinating with the appropriate department heads. The committee indicated subcommittees should have at least three members and that ex officio participants will serve as supportive resources rather than voting members.
The committee also approved a concise vision statement developed by a subcommittee. Throughout the meeting the chair emphasized the committee’s charge as a collective, community-focused effort and warned against using the body as a forum for individual agendas, saying, “We are not organized for the purpose of personal agendas.”
During public comment, a member of the public reported a recent safety incident at Patuxent High School involving a threat and swastika graffiti; the committee thanked the speaker and directed the commenter to the public email address for follow-up. Joseph Cormier, who identified himself during public comment, urged continued support for students and staff and pointed the committee and public toward state resources, including the mymarylandthink.maryland.gov portal and Maryland ABLE accounts for families of students with special education needs.
The meeting concluded after a motion to adjourn was moved, seconded and carried. Several motions were adopted by voice vote; specific roll-call tallies were not recorded in the transcript.
