Ulman: County to Invest $2 Million in School Security 'Immediately'

Howard County Executive Ken Ulman was joined by local leaders at an event on Monday to release the final report of the joint task force on school safety.

County Executive Ken Ulman said Monday that $2 million would be spent to update security measures at Howard County schools, an initiative taken following the Sandy Hook school shooting in Connecticut. In addition, a task force recommended emergency response training and measures to create a safe climate for students and help identify children who may be suffering from issues. “All of what we’re doing is trying to put together the best possible group of policies to diminish the chances that we have a tragedy in Howard County,” said Ulman. The recommendations were released Monday at an event at Thunder Hill Elementary in Columbia and was prepared by a joint task force on school safety. By the end of this year, the county plans on installing …

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Week in State News: Reliving the Purple Glory, Going Hollywood, Panic Buttons in Schools?

Stories you may have missed across the state.

  By Patch Staff Relive the Ravens Super Bowl Parade (VIDEO) There's only one place to see the parade as though you were there. Also, check out photos of the trophy and the purple sea of humanity here. Baltimore Native, UMD Grad Makes it to Hollywood for American Idol Kriss Mincey is a relative newcomer to the music scene. At Aberdeen High School, Mincey—who grew up in Baltimore, Richmond and points in between—took up dance and came out of her shell. She never returned to that shell. Now, Mincey, 22, is on the world's stage as a contestant on American Idol.  Accused Maryland School Shooter to be Charged as Adult Adult charges will stand against the student accused of opening fire inside Perry Hall High School on the first day of school, …

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Would Schools Be Safer With Armed Officers?

After the Newtown, CT school shooting, Maryland legislators are looking at a number of ways to make schools safer.

According to Annapolis Patch, delegates from Anne Arundel County are introducing legislation on Tuesday, Jan. 22 in hopes of increasing security and mental health services at public schools across the state. The proposed bill would also pay for an armed resource officer at each school. "If you really understand public schools in Maryland, you know this: They are becoming increasingly more difficult for classroom teachers because discipline is lacking at home and teachers are spending an increasing amount of time maintaining discipline in the classroom," said Del. Nic Kipke (R-Pasadena). In Montgomery County, Councilman Craig Rice (D-Dist. 2) of Germantown, a vocal advocate of school resource officers stationed in schools, told a room full …

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Task Force on School Safety to Meet Today

In the wake of the Sandy Hook shooting, a task force in Howard County was convened to discuss safety in local schools.

School Safety, Public Hearings and More: HCPSS Newsletter

Get information from the school system on important dates, meetings and ways to stay involved in your child's education.

Joint Task Force on School Safety to Meet Next Week

The county task force was formed in the wake of the Sandy Hook school shooting.

  The Howard County Joint Task Force on School Safety will meet for the first time on Jan. 8 in Columbia to discuss ways to make local schools safer in the wake of the Sandy Hook, CT school shooting. The task force is made up of representatives from county government, schools and police. The forum on Jan. 8 is being held to solicit feedback from the community on school safety and emergency planning. The forum will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Wilde Lake High School Cafeteria at 5460 Trumpeter Road in Columbia. The task force is chaired by Chief of Police William McMahon, Howard County Public Schools' Executive Director of School Improvement and Administration William Ryan and HCPSS Acting Chief of Operations and Finance Ken Roey. …

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County Schools Cautious After Sandy Hook Shooting

County schools are focusing on safety and support measures after the Connecticut school shooting.

Update - 5 p.m. - This post has been updated to include information about a new joint task force dedicated to identifying and dealing with possible violence. Howard County schools are focusing on safety and support measures in the wake of the deadly school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut. On Monday, the school system reported it would hold staff meetings to review emergency plans at each school, discuss visitor policies and guideline reporting procedures for suspicious activity, according to a county statement. "We must remain vigilant and provide our children and teachers with the help they may need," said County Executive Ken Ulman in a statement. The school system has asked teachers, administrators and other …

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Howard County Police to Increase Patrols Near Schools After Connecticut Shooting

Police recently concluded an in-service training of their "active shooter plan."

  Howard County Police said Friday afternoon they would be increasing patrols around schools next week after an elementary school shooting in Connecticut. A gunman allegedly killed 27 people, including 20 children, at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT, according to Newtown Patch. The gunman was reportedly found dead inside the school. Howard County police spokesperson Sherry Llewellyn said the department recently concluded in-service training to review the department's "active shooter plan" with its members. "We also conduct drills to simulate mass shooting incidents," wrote Lllewelyn in an email. "The procedure has police working closely with the school system, which has systems in place to reach out to parents quickly." …

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Police Investigate Suspicious Vehicle Days After Student Reports Stranger Danger

Days after a student reported a stranger offered him a ride, two people say they saw a similar vehicle in the vicinity of children.

Three days after a student reported that a stranger had offered him a ride to school, police received phone calls Friday evening of a similar car driving slowly in an area near children, according to police.  One call was made to police Friday just after 5 p.m. at Avalon Drive and Marshalee Drive; the second came in at 5:26 p.m. from Rockburn Woods Way and Montgomery Road in Ellicott City. According to police spokeswoman Elizabeth Schroen, both callers said they saw a gray sedan, possibly a Volkswagen, driving slowly near a group of children playing.  Schroen said both callers had received notice from Rockburn Elementary School to be on the lookout for a suspicious gray vehicle after a student said a man driving such a car offered him a …

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Police Investigate, Schools Warn of Stranger Danger

After a student says he was approached by a stranger, police are on the look-out while administrators remind parents to stay vigilant.

Several Howard County schools sent emails to parents this week warning of “stranger danger” after a student said a stranger offered him a ride to school Tuesday morning. Rockburn Elementary School Principal Lauren Bauer sent a letter to parents that a student reported that as he was walking to a bus stop, a man in a silver car pulled up and offered him a ride. When the student called out to a friend and ran away, the letter said, the driver made a u-turn and left.  "Since I had the report, I wanted to let the parents in the area know, and I also let some surrounding schools know that we had sent the letter home and that there had been an incident," Bauer said of sending the letter.   She said that she wanted "to heighten awareness" among …

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