MoCoPAAN expresses support for MCPS efforts to move swiftly on a racist incident at Wootton High School

MoCoPAAN joined a community meeting on December 17, 2024 at Wootton High School where the the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) superintendent, high ranking officials and acting principal addressed the community on school actions taken following a well publicized anti-Black incident in early December. The community meeting drew approximately 150 attendees, including parents, student alumni, and community leaders, MCPS Board of Education member and as well as a County Council member. Several parents spoke about ongoing bias incidents affecting students of different groups, showing solidarity.

Last week, MoCoPAAN also had sent letters of support to the MCPS superintendent and Board of Education members for its actions to remedy a delay by the Wootton High School principal - now on leave of absence - to respond to a racist incident. The incident was the second to have taken this year. Students have been raising issues since last year, and asking for support. Yet, in both cases, the school had not responded in a timely manner, leaving students, families and community members frustrated. The MoCoPAAN letters expressed solidarity for all students who are targets of hate and encouraged MCPS to keep anti-hate work a priority.

This past year, MoCoPAAN has been serving on two MCPS advisory groups - anti-hate/bias advisory group and the anti-racist action plan. The Wootton incident is a pressure test of the plans.