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 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 […]

After a week-long back and forth over private schools, Montgomery County has backed down.  On Friday, County Health Officer Dr. Travis Gayles rescinded his order to keep private schools virtual until at least Oct. 1. The announcement comes after the state health department said on Thursday that it is policy that private schools can’t be […]

Gov. Larry Hogan announced on Twitter that he’s issued “an amended emergency order” that allows private and independent schools to set their own reopening plan. I have issued an amended emergency order ensuring that local schools and school systems retain the primary authority to determine when to safely reopen their facilities. My full statement: pic.twitter.com/DGcF5EBxx6 […]

Gov. Larry Hogan took to Twitter Saturday to announce that he “strongly disagree[s] with Montgomery County’s decision to mandate the closure of private and parochial schools.” The announcement comes after Montgomery County Health Officer Dr. Travis Gayles issued a directive Friday, ordering private and independent schools to remain closed through Oct. 1. (The county will […]

Montgomery County Health Officer Dr. Travis Gayles issued a directive Friday ordering private and independent schools in the county to remain closed for in-person instruction through Oct. 1. The announcement was made Friday evening in a Montgomery County news release, explaining the decision intends to “protect the health and safety of Montgomery County residents as well as parents, students, […]

A fifth-grade student who attended Sidwell Friends School was killed in the Sri Lanka bombings on Sunday, according to school officials. WJLA was first to publish the letter Mamadou Guèye, principal of Sidwell Friends’ upper school, emailed home to middle school parents. In the email, Guèye confirmed Kieran Shafritz de Zoysa died in the Easter […]