MCPS drops 5% threshold for virtual learning

MCPS Interim Superintendent 
Monifa McKnight

Montgomery County Public Schools announced its latest coronavirus policy about-face this afternoon. After starting the spring semester with a 5% threshold for Covid-19 cases that would trigger a school to switch to virtual learning, eleven schools were forced to go online. But when more than 100 schools met the threshold days later, MCPS canceled a scheduled Thursday email update to parents. It then announced in the past hour that it is dropping the 5% threshold for virtual learning.

"Moving forward, MCPS and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will examine schools on a case-by-case basis to determine if any particular school needs to transition to virtual learning for a designated period of time," Interim Superintendent of Schools Monifa McKnight and Acting Chief Health Officer James Bridgers wrote in this afternoon's statement. "Factors considered will continue to include the number of students and staff who have tested positive; the number of students in quarantine; the number of staff absent for COVID-related reasons; and the level of spread of the virus in the school."

McKnight and Bridgers cited the fact that the state of Maryland does not call for a specific threshold to suspend in-class learning. Their statement did not explain why the threshold was adopted if not recommended by the state. It said the Thursday emails will resume next week. Take-home rapid test kits will also be distributed to all students and staff next week, the statement added. Students who test positive will have to isolate for 10 days from the date of the positive test.

Photo courtesy MCPS

What's new at Gaithersburg Square? (Photos)

Winter weather hasn't put a stop to the ongoing updates at Gaithersburg Square. The Federal Realty-owned retail center has activated the new fire pit near Lil' Cakes & Creamery and Ross. Nobody was gathered around the flames last night, but more likely at the grocery store stocking up for this morning's snowstorm. Also new is the permanent sign for the future &pizza.

Clarksburg Town Center developer seeks permission to swap approved condos for townhomes

CTC Development, Inc. is seeking permission from the Montgomery County Planning Board to swap an approved plan for 24 "manor home" condominium units in Clarksburg Town Center with a new plan for 12 townhomes on two lots. The new plan would reduce the number of affordable MPDU units from eight to seven. Planning commissioners will review the request at the board's meeting today, January 6, 2022. Staff is recommending approval of the new plan, with conditions.

Car stolen from Gaithersburg home

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a stolen vehicle in Gaithersburg near Laytonsville Sunday morning. The vehicle was taken from the driveway of a home in the 7300 block of Cliff Pine Drive, according to crime data. It is believed that the car was stolen sometime between 10:00 PM Saturday night, and 9:30 AM Sunday.

11 Montgomery County Public Schools switching to virtual learning for 2 weeks

Montgomery County Public Schools are closed today, but students at eleven schools won't be returning to the classroom anytime soon. MCPS announced this morning that the following schools are switching to virtual learning for two weeks, due to student coronavirus case numbers:

Cannon Road ES

Forest Knolls ES

Hallie Wells MS

Monocacy ES

North Chevy Chase ES

Roberto Clemente MS

Rock Terrace School

Rosemont ES

Seneca Valley HS

Sherwood ES

Waters Landing ES 

Armed robberies in Gaithersburg, Germantown

The new year started with a continuation of last year's violent crime surge in Montgomery County. An armed robbery was reported at a commercial parking lot in the unit block of E. Diamond Avenue in Gaithersburg last night at 7:18 PM, according to crime data. Gaithersburg police was the responding department.

About 90 minutes earlier, another armed robbery was reported in Germantown. Montgomery County police officers were called to the scene at a store in the 20900 block of Frederick Road at 5:44 PM.

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich tests positive for Covid-19

The omicron wave has hit the top of government in Montgomery County. County Executive Marc Elrich (D) announced Saturday that he has tested positive for Covid-19. Elrich had received two doses of an RNA vaccine, and a booster, as had many victims of the omicron coronavirus variant in recent weeks. He credited those shots for his relatively mild symptoms so far.

"Just feeling tired," was Elrich's characterization of his condition as of yesterday. In a statement, he encouraged everyone to get vaccinated and boosted. Elrich said he is isolating, and will continue to execute his duties from home.