Press Releases - County Council

Statement from Council President Stewart and Vice President Jawando on Office of Inspector General's Review of MCPS Background Screening Office

For Immediate Release: Monday, August 4, 2025

From the Offices of Council President Kate Stewart and Vice President Will Jawando

Today the Montgomery County Office of the Inspector General (OIG) issued Report 26-01, Review of MCPS Background Screening Office. Council President Kate Stewart and Vice President Will Jawando released the following statement about the report calling for immediate action and scheduling an upcoming oversight meeting on Sept. 26 in the Council's Audit Committee.

“The safety and wellbeing of students, educators, and staff is a top priority for the Council and Montgomery County Public Schools. We are deeply alarmed and concerned by the latest OIG report which found that the criminal histories of more than 12,000 MCPS employees are not being monitored and 4,900 individuals, who may have access to students, have not received Child Protective Services screenings. Additionally, some contractors and volunteers began work before their required screenings were completed. This is unacceptable, and the urgency with which these issues must be corrected cannot be overstated.

“Mandatory background checks for school employees and contractors are an essential tool to protect student and staff safety and reinforce public trust in our school system. MCPS is responsible for taking all appropriate actions to safeguard students, teachers, administrators, and support staff within our school community. Leadership is committed to this goal; however, clear policies and procedures must be implemented to ensure compliance.

“The apparent lack of coordination between relevant local and state entities is incredibly frustrating. The report reveals a culture of siloed work instead of coordination and competence that our students and their families deserve. We must address the apparent lack of coordination among agencies including Maryland’s Department of Health and Human Services and the County’s Child Welfare Services that led to the gaps in screening that could put our students and staff at risk. This was a systemic failure, and there must be collective accountability.

“We appreciate the work of Inspector General Megan Limarzi and her team for bringing this important issue to light and providing the public with an impartial evaluation of the MCPS Background Screening Office. The report's recommendations provide immediate steps and a road map for our school system to effectively address the critical deficiencies identified in the background screening process.

“The Council's Audit Committee will conduct oversight hearings starting on Sept. 26 with Montgomery County Board of Education members, Superintendent Thomas Taylor, and other responsible parties to review the steps MCPS is taking to remedy the issues outlined in the OIG report. Subsequent Education and Culture meetings will be scheduled in the fall.

“Additionally, we will be requesting a written update from Superintendent Taylor before the start of the school year on immediate remedial action taken and benchmarks for the future. Throughout this process, we will continue working with MCPS leadership to ensure that identified deficiencies are addressed in a timely and comprehensive manner. Our MCPS students, employees, and their families deserve nothing less than immediate action to correct this troubling and alarming gap in making sure our schools are safe places for learning.”

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Release ID: 25-273
Media Contact: Cecily Thorne 301-910-0610, David L. Kunes 240-350-5104