October 21, 2021

Enhanced Safety at MCPS Athletic Events

Dear MCPS Community,

The Athletics programs at MCPS are designed to support and enhance the academic experience for our students and help build school and community spirit. Each week, our students participate in and attend hundreds of athletic contests, and they almost always demonstrate the respect and sportsmanship that we expect. Recently, there have been reports of altercations and incidences of disrespectful behavior at some of our contests. While these incidents involve a small number of students, they are entirely unacceptable and require us to consider some changes to ensure the safety and security of students, staff, and community members, especially at events where large crowds are expected. These changes may include:

• Increasing the presence of police officers;
• Increasing the number of MCPS security personnel, as well as school and central office administrative staff;
• Enhancing lighting where necessary;
• Possibly limiting the number of attendees, rescheduling events to weekend days, and/or changing event start times;
• Requiring student IDs to attend and requiring elementary and middle school students to be accompanied by a parent or guardian; and
• Potentially closing concession stands.

MCPS and county leadership will review each large event to determine the necessary safety measures and those will be communicated by the school. It is our hope that these measures will help to eliminate any future problems at athletic events. As a reminder, students can and will face disciplinary action as a result of poor or unsafe behavior at school events, including athletic contests. 

MCPS Athletics’ R.A.I.S.E. core values teach and reinforce respect and sportsmanship, academic excellence, integrity and character, spirited and safe competition, and equity and access. It is the responsibility of all of us to model appropriate behavior from students and adults who attend events at MCPS schools. We are reinforcing this message to our students at school and ask that you remind your children of these expectations before they attend any MCPS event.  

Montgomery County Public Schools.