I would like to thank the White Marsh precinct of the Baltimore County Police Department for their work over the past 48 hours. The precinct investigated the horrific incident at Perry Hall High School, identified suspects, made an arrest, and maintained a strong presence at the school. Captain Kelly constantly communicated with my office and other elected officials.
Moving forward, there are still unanswered questions about the incident itself, as well as broader concerns that need to be addressed. My paramount concern is discipline. There is an overwhelming sense among those who have contacted me that bullying, intimidation, and violence need to be dealt with in a more effective manner. It’s a concern that cuts across communities; it’s been communicated to me by teachers and parents alike.
We have many things to cheer in our school system. As a parent of two children in the public school system, I see the positive things all the time—outstanding student achievements, excellent teachers, rigorous academic requirements that, candidly, surpass anything I had to learn two decades ago. I am proud of the work we have done to improve facilities, with every Fifth District school air conditioned and three new schools budgeted for the northeast.
Safety, however, remains a fundamental challenge. I look forward to working with our School Board to make improvements.