Dr. Martirano Stresses Safe Environments Free of Sexual Harassment and Assault

December 14th, 2017

Interim Superintendent Michael Martirano on December 14, 2017, issued the following statement:

I am greatly disturbed every day by the public reports of sexual harassment and assault around our country. It is a frightening reminder of the world we live in where this type of behavior has gone unchecked for so many years. This is a predatory form of bullying with tremendous dangers and will not be ignored in the Howard County Public School System.

Anyone can be a victim of sexual harassment or assault. As a father, a man of high moral character and an educator for over 30 years, I view this world through the lens of my children and the 56,000 students I am entrusted to protect here in Howard County. As the interim superintendent of an organization with nearly 9,000 full-time employees, it is also my responsibility to protect our staff.

It is incumbent upon us, as educators, to properly train and empower our students and staff to stop sexual harassment and assault. Preventing inappropriate behaviors requires everyone to have the knowledge and skills to be upstanders who intervene and support a positive school climate for all.

I want to encourage every person in HCPSS to speak out against sexual harassment and assault and to report it. I will stand by your side to put an end to the harassment you are experiencing.

Howard County has gone a long way by advancing very specific language in Board of Education Policy 1020, Sexual Discrimination, which details the behavioral expectations of students and staff as well as processes for reporting unwanted inappropriate acts of harassment or assault. This spring, a committee will be convened to review the policy and find opportunities to strengthen preventative and response measures for the school system. I endorse stronger language in the policy and support the critical role of the Title IX Coordinator in responding to complaints.

So to our students, I ask you to seek out a trusted adult to report harassment or assault. To our parents, I encourage you to have these hard discussions with your children about what constitutes harassment and to empower them to speak up. To our staff, please, talk to a trusted colleague or contact Human Resources. If you are uncomfortable reaching out to a colleague, please do not hesitate to contact me directly. It is unacceptable behavior and we will protect every single person – staff or student – who has been harmed.

We strive every day to create a safe learning and working environment in Howard County. I am proud of the work we do to help and empower each other and our children.