MCPS Board of Education At-Large Candidates Offer Different Takes on Webcam Rule

On Tuesday the Montgomery County Board of Education unanimously approved a fall semester plan.

Instruction will be all-virtual throughout the first semester, which ends Jan. 21, 2021. The plan includes on and off-screen learning. Online classes will be recorded, and students are required to keep their cameras on unless parents and students opt out. Some on social media said the rule was an invasion of privacy. Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) officials said the recordings will help students who miss class and those who want review material. Chief Technology Officer Pete Cevenini said only students and teachers can access the recording and that they will be automatically deleted after 72 hours.

MyMCMedia spoke with at-large school board candidates Lynne Harris and Sunil Dasgupta about their takes on the controversial rule.

The upcoming November election will determine whether the at-large seat goes to Harris or Dasgupta. In the June primary, Harris won 29.2% of the vote, and Dasgupta won 20.6%.

About Maryam Shahzad

Maryam is a reporter with Montgomery Community Media. She graduated from the University of Maryland in 2019 with a bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism. Previously, she was an intern with MCM. She can be reached at mshahzad@mymcmedia.org or on Twitter @maryam_mcm.

View all posts by Maryam Shahzad