GERMANTOWN, Md. — Parents in Montgomery County say they want better communication and transparency when it comes to their kids' safety after a student was arrested and charged with attempted murder. They will have a chance to voice those concerns during a listening session taking place Wednesday at Rockville High School.
On Monday night, parents and students gathered at the school for a meeting. Media was not allowed inside.
Afterward, we spoke with several parents who said they still have concerns about the safety of their kids.
“I’m like terrified, she was terrified. And then the school message came,” said Rama Medicherne after the meeting.
MCPS parents are calling for more transparency after they were notified days after an incident involving a current Northwest High School student.
“They gave just facts,” said parent Yuki Nakandakari. “We need more than that.”
Parents say they need more details on a firm plan from the district after a student was arrested near the campus on Sept. 6 for the shooting that happened in March.
Police arrested 16-year-old Jaiden Ochieng in connection with a shooting in Germantown. He is being charged as an adult, which is why we are naming him. Police say Ochieng tried to shoot a 15-year-old student as he got off the bus.
He was arrested on Sept. 6 near school campus. During his arrest, officers recovered a loaded gun and added an additional charge of possessing a gun on school grounds.
“That part really scared me because there’s no knowing what their intention was,” said student Alvaro Nakandakari. “With the security features in place, I think they could use work.”
Nakandakari and his father told WUSA9 they left the meeting with more questions than answers.
“This meeting made me feel more stressed because I think it brought a lot of the unknown in the school system,” Nakandakari said.
The principal did send a letter to families, but parents say they weren't notified until days later, and families want to know what the school district is doing to keep students safe.
“I am frustrated because my daughter was actually traveling on the same bus as the kid,” parent Rama Medicherne said.
WUSA9 asked her if she felt like her daughter is safe.
“No not at all. I’m thinking about moving her to being homeschooled,” Medicherne said.
Now parents say the focus should be on ways to be proactive instead of reactive.
“We need to focus on the preventative actions, like what does it take to put in metal detectors? We really need that now,” Medicherne said.
Meanwhile MCPS Superintendent Thomas Taylor will hold listening sessions with the school community.
The superintendent has only been on the job for a couple of months now, but we know these listening sessions were part of his entry plan.
The Montgomery County School District is hosting three additional listening sessions for the community to voice any concerns and ask questions.
- Wednesday, Sept. 18, Rockville High School, 2100 Baltimore Road, Rockville, 7–8 p.m.
- Monday, Sept. 23, Montgomery Blair High School, 51 University Blvd. East, Silver Spring, 7–8 p.m.
- Monday, Oct. 21, Paint Branch High School, 14121 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville, 7–8 p.m.
The upcoming community engagement session will allow parents, students, staff, and community members to share their input on two key questions regarding the district's operations and academics.
- Regarding operations, what is working well in the district and what needs attention?
- Regarding academics, what should be done differently to improve student academic results?
Attendees will have the opportunity to voice feedback verbally during the session. Those who prefer to submit feedback digitally can do so on this Google form.