Montgomery Community Media

A civil lawsuit against four Damascus High School officials and coaches concerning sexual assaults in their football locker rooms was dismissed June 23. Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge Jeannie Eun Kyung Cho ruled that former junior varsity football coach Vincent Colbert, former varsity head coach Eric Wallich, former Principal Casey Crouse and former athletic director […]

Four students who said they “were victims of vicious sexual assaults” in Damascus High School football locker rooms during 2017 to 2019 filed suit Thursday against the Montgomery County Board of Education and several Damascus school officials and coaches. The 33-page and 31-page lawsuits detail the sexual assault incidents as well as an environment in […]

The Montgomery County Board of Education made new Montgomery County Public Schools leadership appointments, including confirming Kevin Yates as the new principal of Damascus High School. Yates, who was previously the principal intern at Julius West Middle School, started serving as the acting principal of Damascus on May 13. He was immediately appointed to the […]

Montgomery County Public School Superintendent Jack Smith held a press conference Tuesday, where Smith answered questions about the letter mailed to the Damascus community detailing an update into MCPS’s internal investigation into the alleged locker room rapes. (Video courtesy of Facebook/Fox 5 DC) Athletic Director, JV Football Coach Out at Damascus MCPS is making major […]

Joe Doody, the athletic director at Damascus High School, was placed on administrative leave on Tuesday. In an email to Damascus coaches, the systemwide athletics director at Montgomery County Public Schools, Jeff Sullivan confirmed that the leave is due to the ongoing investigation into the supervision of the boys’ locker room on the afternoon of […]

Montgomery County Public Schools published a letter that Superintendent Jack Smith emailed to the Damascus high school community on Sunday. The letter is about how MCPS is cooperating with law enforcement’s investigation into alleged rapes and violent assaults at Damascus, and they’ve also hired an external firm to internally investigate the school and football team […]

Maniya Jules, an assistant principal at Damascus High School, has been put on “extended personal leave” effective April 1, according to a letter emailed home from Principal Casey Crouse. “We are in the process of identifying a qualified professional to act in her role while she is on leave. I will send a follow-up communication […]

Multiple brooms were discovered Sunday evening on and near the Damascus High School grounds, according to the principal. Principal Casey Crouse sent a letter to parents on Monday letting them know about the incident. According to the letter, the police were notified, and the brooms were removed Sunday. Both Montgomery County Public Schools staff members […]

UPDATE: Montgomery County’s Board of Education approved the appointments of the following principals and staff at its June 26 meeting: Standing room only here at tonight’s @mocoboe meeting. @mymcmedia pic.twitter.com/byVlcCFoSn — Mitti Hicks (@MittiMegan) June 26, 2017 Appointments and recognition of awards happening now. @mymcmedia @mocoboe pic.twitter.com/f7v2hW8Cox — Mitti Hicks (@MittiMegan) June 26, 2017