Message from the Superintendent Regarding School Safety

October 16th, 2024

The following message was sent from Superintendent William J. Barnes to the HCPSS community on Oct. 16, 2024.

On Tuesday, the Howard High School community was shaken with the arrest of a student who is a suspect in a recent homicide in Columbia. Additionally, the Howard County Police Department (HCPD) reported that the suspect was found to have a loaded gun in his backpack.

This is an exceedingly frightening series of events, and I share many of the concerns and questions being expressed by stakeholders. The questions that are being received deserve answers, and we will be building a series of public Frequently Asked Questions to provide more clarity. Thank you to HCPD Chief Der and the officers who were on-site yesterday for being responsive and committed partners.

This week, our primary focus is to tend to the needs of Howard High School students and staff. They need answers to their most immediate questions and to feel a sense of security once again in their school. This week, I am working with my leadership team and our community partners at HCPD and Maryland Department of Juvenile Services to reflect on the events, decisions and actions that occurred leading up to yesterday.

In the weeks ahead, I will be engaging with our partners in the County Government and HCPD to collectively assess the current state of school safety and security across the county, and all possible ways we may be able to enhance security measures. I also commit to providing clarity on the ways that the school system and community members can work together towards our collective commitment for safe schools.

Additionally, I urge staff, parents, guardians, family members, and community members to continue to partner with me to seek solutions, and to remain vigilant about reporting suspicious behaviors and activities. Please remind your children that if they see something, to say something. If anyone becomes aware of a potential threat to students or staff in a school, please report that threat immediately to your school administrator or HCPD. Keeping our students and staff safe is a total team effort.

A safety plan and timely communications are essential components to successfully maintaining safe school communities, but it takes thoughtful and constant actions by all stakeholders and community partners to establish and maintain learning environments where students and staff are safe.

Thank you for being collaborative partners in this effort.