For Immediate Release: Friday, August 26, 2016
Montgomery County Councilmember
Craig Rice to be featured guest
on ‘Tuned In’ Radio America show
At 2:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 26, on WACA 1540 AM, topics will include Council’s commitment to education, closing the achievement gap, and
school bus safety
ROCKVILLE, Md., August 26, 2016—Montgomery County Councilmember Craig Rice, who chairs the Council’s Education Committee, will be the featured guest at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 26, on En Sintonía con el Concejo del Condado de Montgomery (Tuned In with the Montgomery County Council), a weekly show on Radio America (WACA 1540 AM). The show will focus on education issues including the Council’s “Education First” budget and closing the achievement gap. Councilmember Rice will also discuss school bus safety.
Since Monday, Aug. 29, marks the first day of school for students in the County, Councilmember Rice will provide listeners with information about the Council’s budget decisions that will provide additional resources in the classroom this year. He will also discuss the community partnerships that are essential for expanding educational opportunities for students such as Achieving College Excellence and Success (ACES) and Excel Beyond the Bell.
ACES is a partnership with Montgomery College, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), and the Universities at Shady Grove. This program “supports students and provides a seamless path to a bachelor’s degree” using coaches that provide test preparation, tutoring, and assistance with college and financial aid applications.
The Excel Beyond the Bell program is a partnership with Montgomery County’s Recreation Department, Montgomery County Public Schools, and the Montgomery County Collaboration Council for Children, Youth and Families. This program provides students with recreational and social programs, academic support, nutritious meals, and bus transportation.
Another topic that Councilmember Rice will discuss is school bus safety. In March 2012 the Council enacted legislation enabling the County to implement school bus safety cameras. The purpose of the cameras on school buses is to monitor and enforce violations where vehicles pass a stopped school bus that has its flashing signals activated and stop sign and stop arm extended. The camera-generated fine for such a violation is $125.
Even with the school bus cameras, the Police Department reports that, “There were 713 violations recorded last school semester, despite an active public education campaign to make sure that drivers understood the laws pertaining to stopping for school buses.” Councilmember Rice has pushed for higher fines for motorist who fail to obey traffic laws and pass stopped school buses.
The Montgomery County Council and Radio America have entered into a partnership that provides the Latino community with key information on issues and programs. The partnership also provides a forum for residents to express views and ask questions. The partnership includes the weekly one- hour show each Friday on the Washington Region’s most popular Spanish language station. The Aug. 26 show will be hosted by Andrea Sarralde.
Each week, the show features guests talking about important issues before the Council and occasionally the show provides information about programs offered by the County to help residents.
In addition to the radio broadcast, the show can be heard via the Internet at: http://radioamerica.net/en-vivo/ . Video links with a summary of the show are available each week at the County Council's newly-redesigned, mobile friendly web site at: www.montgomerycountymd.gov/council .
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Release ID: 16-261