Montgomery Community Media

On Thursday, Montgomery County Health Officer Dr. Travis Gayles asked private schools to consider a return to fully-virtual instruction. In a letter, Gayles said a recent surge in COVID-19 cases in the county will make it hard to maintain the current low rate of transmission in schools. He also cited that as of Tuesday, the […]

Councilmember Hans Riemer is concerned schools are not being prioritized when it comes to Montgomery County’s reopening strategy. “Yes small businesses are paying a price from covid, kids are paying a price from covid too,” Riemer said in an interview with MyMCMedia. Montgomery County Public Schools has been offering virtual learning since March and will […]

It’s unclear what authority Montgomery County has to make broad school closures if COVID-19 conditions get worse, Emergency Management Director Dr. Earl Stoddard said at a county council meeting Tuesday.  On July 31, Montgomery County was launched into a week-long back and forth with the state when County Health Officer Dr. Travis Gayles issued an […]

During the county’s weekly virtual media briefing on Wednesday, Montgomery County Health Officer Dr. Travis Gayles provided an update regarding COVID-19 contact tracing investigations at non-public schools. Since last week, Dr. Gayles says there have been 19 separate investigations launched – the majority of them involved COVID-like illnesses that have been ruled out with further […]

Montgomery County councilmembers received the weekly COVID-19 update from Dr. Earl Stoddard and Dr. Travis Gayles on Tuesday during a virtual meeting. Key topics of discussion included: Plans to enhance ventilation at certain facilities to help with indoor airflow as we enter winter months Consideration of alcohol sales extension to midnight instead of 10:00 p.m. under […]

According to local health officials, the county continues to provide workshop services for non-public schools due to additional COVID-19 like illness experiences. Montgomery County Health Officer Dr. Travis Gayles says that more local private schools had to take coronavirus-related quarantine actions within the past week. He added that another non-public school met the criteria for […]

Some private schools in the county that started the school year with in-person learning are experiencing COVID-19 case related investigations, according to local health officials. On Wednesday, during a weekly virtual media briefing, Montgomery County Health Officer Dr. Travis Gayles spoke about the non-public schools linked to possible COVID-19 cases within the past week. “We […]

The first day of school is being pushed back a week at Bullis School in Potomac to Sept. 8. After two employees tested positive for COVID-19, it became necessary to quarantine members of the technology and facilities team, thus delaying opening day preparations, explained Christian G. Sullivan, Head of School, in a news post on […]

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich says the county still has not received any state guidance regarding the reopening of non-public schools. County leaders continue to stress that it’s not safe for schools to reopen with in-person learning amid the COVID-19 health crisis. While some private schools are already back in session, Montgomery County Public Schools […]

About 75 percent of the students at St. John’s Episcopal School in Olney plan to enter their classroom on the first day of school. The other 25 percent have opted to learn at home through virtual learning. The new school year for students in Pre-K through eighth grade will start on Sept. 8 with an […]