Calverton school-safety advisory panel outlines phased, data-driven plan and solicits public input

The chair of the Calverton County School Safety and Well-Being Advisory Committee opened a special evening listening session to present the panel’s mission, structure and a phased, data-driven plan aimed at improving school safety and student well-being.

The committee — formed under a county-commissioners resolution and composed of 15 members including representatives from each commissioner selection district, education groups, public-safety agencies and health departments — summarized work completed in its first two phases and described its current focus on data collection and assessment. “This is a listening session. There should be no expectations that we will answer questions nor will we have solutions for you,” the chair said, explaining the meeting’s purpose and the committee’s intent to gather public feedback.

Why it matters: Committee members told attendees they want recommendations grounded in evidence. Members identified gaps requiring more trauma-informed mental-health data, additional staff training for internal and external safety threats, and tools to monitor and report student behavior. Presenters also noted an increase in tobacco and vaping incidents, which they said may partly reflect improved reporting.

The panel laid out next steps: subcommittees will develop a community survey (each subcommittee proposing one or two questions), invite groups and individuals for testimony, and prepare a uniform data-assessment report to be finalized in quarter three. The committee adopted a three-person “triangle” model for subcommittees, assigned roles (lead, secretary, researcher), and set a monthly reporting requirement to improve coordination and avoid duplicating effort.

Public voices: Several community members and officials addressed the committee during the public-comment period. Buddy Hance, a Port Republic farmer, praised the chair’s leadership and suggested a joint meeting between the county commissioners and the Board of Education to present findings and expand engagement. “There’s nobody better suited in Calverton County to lead this group than Chairman Jones,” Hance said.

Grace Monakowski, the student member of the Board of Education, recounted personal experience after losing her mother and credited school programs and support staff for keeping her engaged: “The thing that saved me was the programming at my school.” She urged investment in early-grade supports and cautioned against shifting childcare burdens onto school staff.

Joseph Cormier, a resident, urged the committee to prioritize equity and accessibility for extracurriculars, describing Unified Sports bowling held at the Lord Calverton Bowling Alley and asking for solutions to provide post-activity transportation; he also recommended increased funding for ROTC and junior officer programs.

What the committee decided: The panel maintained its existing meeting schedule, added quarterly evening meetings to broaden public participation and reiterated that its final product will be short- and long-term recommendations delivered to the county commissioners. The session concluded with a motion to adjourn, approved by voice vote.

The advisory panel reiterated that its forthcoming recommendations will balance aspirational outcomes with fiscal realities: “Whenever you sit down in a public setting… they’re talking about money,” the chair said, noting prioritization will be necessary as recommendations are paired with resource constraints. The committee plans further testimony and data work through March and expects the data-assessment report to be completed in quarter three.