A recent report by the Montgomery County, Maryland, Office of the Inspector General has revealed significant shortcomings in the employee screening process within the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) system, which serves over 160,000 students. The investigation highlighted that more than 12,000 employees have outdated criminal background checks, and over 4,900 have not been screened by the county’s Child Protective Services (CPS).
Inspector General Megan Davey Limarzi’s report pointed out critical lapses, such as some volunteers and contractors commencing work with “unsupervised access to students” before their background checks were finalized. Furthermore, it was found that MCPS lacks a structured process to ensure all volunteers complete training regarding child abuse and neglect. The findings indicated that MCPS continues to monitor the criminal histories of former employees but does not have a formal protocol for addressing negative findings during background checks.
Among the recommendations made by the OIG, immediate action is advised to address the existing backlog in criminal history monitoring for employees. The report emphasizes that it is essential for the school system to conduct background checks before contractors and volunteers begin work if they have unsupervised access to students.
Montgomery County Public Schools Superintendent Thomas Taylor acknowledged the “urgent and unacceptable gaps” in the hiring process but took issue with the report’s rigor and the perceived mischaracterizations regarding CPS reporting responsibilities. Taylor stated that the school system lacks the necessary access to data for conducting CPS screenings, which he suggested limits their ability to address the backlog.
In response, Limarzi affirmed that the OIG had never withheld results or impeded MCPS’s ability to act on the issues highlighted. The school system has since implemented a “real-time cross-agency” clearance tracker to ensure that no new hires begin work without the necessary background checks and CPS clearance. Additionally, MCPS has transitioned to a computer-based system for CPS checks, significantly reducing processing times from several weeks to just a few days.
Montgomery County Council President Kate Stewart expressed concern over the lapses in the background check process, underscoring the importance of maintaining safety in schools. She also indicated her confidence in the integrity of the Inspector General’s report and mentioned that a work session will be held to discuss the findings further.
These proactive steps taken by MCPS in response to the OIG report, particularly the implementation of a more efficient tracking system, serve as a hopeful development in enhancing the safety and security of students and staff within the school system.