8-26-2024 4:50am

NEW SCHOOL RULES

County Executive Olszewski to Join BCPS and Baltimore County Police to Announce New School Bus Safety Program

WHO: Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski,Baltimore County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Myriam RogersBaltimore County Police Chief Robert McCulloughWHAT:County Executive Olszewski will join BCPS Superintendent Dr. Myriam Rogers and BCoPD Chief Robert McCullough to announce the launch of a new school bus camera safety program.

WHEN: Monday, August 26, 2024 at 9:15 a.m.

WHERE:Timonium Elementary School 2001 Eastridge Rd.Timonium, MD 21093

BCPS Debuts New Cell Phone Rules, Security Measures, Therapy Services

New rules are coming to Baltimore County schools this year. There's also upgraded security and more mental health resources. cell phone rules are coming to Baltimore County schools this year. There's also upgraded security and more mental health resources.

Baltimore County Public Schools students will have new cell phone rules, extra security and more mental health support when they return on Monday.

Students at 16 schools will keep their phones in clear pouches during class this year, WYPR reported.

WYPR said these schools volunteered to participate in the $15,000 trial run, which will compare before-and-after cell phone discipline data:

Towson High School
Lansdowne High School
Lansdowne Middle School
Loch Raven Technical Academy
Patapsco High School & Center for the Arts
Sparrows Point High School
New Town High School
Deep Creek Middle School
Franklin Middle School
Holabird STEM/Middle School
Pine Grove Middle School
Sollers Point Technical High School
Perry Hall High School
Hereford High School
Parkville High School
General John Stricker Middle School

"Smartphones and school time simply do not mix," BCPS Superintendent Myriam Rogers said at a Tuesday press conference announcing the pilot program, according to WYPR. "At the very basic level, if you are focused on technology in the classroom, you're not focused on the teacher and the learning that needs to occur there."

Schools also upgraded their security recently.

BCPS installed an open gate detection system this summer for use at high school games and at the county's two alternative schools, WMAR reported.

WMAR said the school system also launched Omnilert, a 7,000-camera system using artificial intelligence to identify guns in or outside buildings.

"Society has changed," Rogers said, according to WMAR. "We need to have extra layers of support, we want students to just feel like students and enjoy their school experience ... Omnilert is one of those tools that allows us to do that."

The Baltimore Sun reported that Omnilert cost $2.6 million.

Rogers said the system is using state money to contract eight mental health firms to provide therapy and other resources to over 100 schools, The Sun reported.

The Sun said BCPS will also continue its two-year, $1.8 million contract with Talkspace, a free therapy messaging app for students 13 and older.

The Sun said BCPS also hired six more athletic trainers, bringing it to 18 full-time trainers for its 24 athletic programs.