The safety of our students and staff members is always Calvert County Public Schools’ first priority. When school system administrators become aware of unsafe or serious situations, an investigation begins immediately. The investigation involves meeting with the students and/or adults who are involved in the situation or may have information about the situation, and subsequently contacting parents about the event. Continued efforts include allowing the student to return to school as soon as possible once all aspects of the investigation and follow-up meetings are complete.
In response to concerns of a look-alike gun at Dowell Elementary School earlier this week, we felt it was important to clarify some of the facts as well as share the steps followed by administrators during the investigation.
At approximately 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 29, 2013 a staff member reported to the principal that a student may have had a gun on a school bus. The student was brought to the principal and questioned about the incident for approximately 5 – 7 minutes. Reports were taken from several other students who were also on the bus. Parents were notified of the situation by the school administrators when the investigation was concluded later that morning. While the matter was being investigated, the student was seated at a desk in the main office and completed assignments provided by the classroom teacher. Staff monitored the student while in the main office. At no time was the student unsupervised during this process. The student’s needs were addressed when brought to the staff’s attention.
The safety of our students and staff remains Calvert County Public Schools’ first priority. We are committed to providing a safe and secure environment for all staff and students, so learning may occur without worry for ones’ safety.