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Tag: will jawando

  • ‘We have to stand with the community’: Montgomery Co. leaders introduce bills to limit immigration enforcement – WTOP News

    Montgomery County Council members Will Jawando and Kristin Mink are proposing bills to limit U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement access to county facilities and bar the use of masks by law enforcement.

    Montgomery County Council members Will Jawando and Kristin Mink are proposing bills to limit U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement access to county facilities and bar the use of masks by law enforcement.

    Mink is introducing the “County Values Act” which, she told WTOP, builds on existing state law.

    Referring to ICE’s ability to carry out enforcement at certain locations, she said the state’s existing legislation “established that a judicial warrant requirement must be used at certain sensitive locations which were defined by the state as places like schools, libraries, et cetera.”

    Mink’s bill expands on that state legislation to include the judicial warrant requirement at all county facilities, including recreation centers.

    Asked about the language in the bill that refers to nonpublic areas, Mink explained that would be any part of a county facility where residents are required to sign in to use a space, or to show ID to prove they’re a county resident and therefore have access to a space.

    For example, she said, at a recreation or aquatic facility, “to get into the pool area, there’s a process, right? That’s not just open for anybody to walk in.”

    “We need to make sure that all of our county staff know, that wherever they are, whatever building they’re in,” they do not need to let ICE agents or officers in without a judicial warrant, Mink said. “And they can get legal support on the phone right away to review that.”

    Mink said county council members have heard from residents — including U.S. citizens — who are concerned about immigration enforcement efforts in their neighborhoods.

    “We have to stand with the community,” she said. “In this moment, as a county, we have to be able to look back and say that we did every single thing that we could possibly do … from the terrorism that is being wrought upon us.”

    Mink’s bill would also deny ICE access to county parking garages, parking lots and county-owned vacant lots.

    Council member Jawando will also be introducing a bill — the “Unmask ICE Act” — that would prohibit law enforcement from wearing masks, with some exceptions.

    Law enforcement “are not to wear masks in our community,” Jawando said. “And our law enforcement already doesn’t wear masks, but this would be codifying that practice.”

    Asked about whether the ban on face coverings on agents and officers in law enforcement could stand up to legal challenge, Jawando said, “The state of California and … LA County passed this legislation. It’s being challenged by the Trump administration. I suspect they may challenge this one in court as well, and I’m happy to have that debate.”

    The bills will be introduced at Tuesday’s council session. The lawmakers plan a news conference later that day to discuss details and introduce supporters of the bills.

    WTOP has reached out to ICE for comment on the proposed legislation.

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    © 2026 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

    Kate Ryan

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  • ‘No bells and whistles’: Montgomery Co. Council education chair on school spending plan – WTOP News

    Montgomery County Council member Will Jawando echoed previous comments by the county’s school superintendent Thomas Taylor, that the district’s FY 2027 operating budget is not loaded down with extras but is geared to keep the school system running.

    Montgomery County Council member Will Jawando echoed previous comments by the county’s school superintendent Thomas Taylor that the district’s fiscal 2027 operating budget is not loaded down with extras, but is geared toward keeping the school system running.

    “There’s no bells and whistles here, this is educator funding, it’s to help reduce class size a little bit,” Jawando, who chairs the county’s Education and Culture Committee, said of the nearly $3.8 billion spending plan.

    At the same time, Jawando said in an interview with WTOP, the budget plan continues funding “things like counselors, school psychologists, some of the mental health service supports that our students need.”

    Noting that the budget proposed by Taylor cuts staff at the school system’s central office, saving a potential $11.5 million, Jawando said, “It shows a continued commitment to shifting resources back into the classroom.”

    Jawando, who is running for county executive, also said student test scores are up slightly, “not where we want them to be, but you don’t get more with less, and our educators are working really hard.”

    The council has the authority to approve the school budget when it votes on the spending plan in May.

    The almost $4 billion budget plan comes in a year when county and state budgets are tight, but Jawando said, “I don’t think there’s an option for us not to fund the school budget” at the requested level.

    At his recent weekly briefing with reporters, Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich said, “I’m optimistic that we’re going to be able to fully fund the budget.”

    Jawando, who pointed out he’s a father of four, said the school system plays a critical role in the county’s ability to attract residents.

    “As a former MCPS student myself, it is the reason people move here. We have to keep moving in the right direction.”

    Parent groups and students themselves have focused on proposed changes to school boundaries and the state of school facilities in recent public comment portions of school board meetings.

    “The school system also has been addressing legacy issues, such as the maintenance of our buildings,” Jawando said.

    There have been complaints of mold, failing fire alarms and spotty heat and air quality functions at a number of schools. Sherwood High School recently canceled classes after broken sprinklers caused flooding in the school, damaging at least 12 classrooms.

    Regarding the backlog of work needed at schools across the county, Jawando noted there are 211 schools, and according to data from MCPS, more than half those are 25 years old.

    “We’re in a really unique and difficult situation,” Jawando said, regarding the work needed on aging school facilities, “but that’s when I think we can be most innovative and figure out ways to handle this multiyear problem. It’s not going to happen overnight.”

    Superintendent Taylor’s proposed fiscal 2027 budget will be the subject of a work session at the Board of Education on Jan. 6.

    A series of budget hearings will follow before the county executive releases his proposed budget recommendations in March and the county council begins its work on the spending plans with a final vote in May.

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    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

    Kate Ryan

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  • Montgomery County executive candidates weigh in on economic development, aging schools – WTOP News

    Candidates for Montgomery County executive staked their positions on issues ranging from economic development and housing affordability to aging public school infrastructure during a Saturday forum.

    This article was written by WTOP’s news partner Bethesda Today and republished with permission. Sign up for Bethesda Today’s free email subscription today.

    Candidates for Montgomery County executive staked their positions on issues ranging from economic development and housing affordability to aging public school infrastructure during a Saturday forum organized by the Montgomery County Civic Federation.

    The forum at Newport Mill Middle School in Kensington was open to everyone who has filed as a candidate for county executive in 2026, including County Council Vice President Will Jawando (D-At-large), Councilmembers Evan Glass (D-At-large) and Andrew Friedson (D-Dist. 1), and project manager Mithun Banerjee of Silver Spring, also a Democrat.

    Marc Elrich, the current county executive, cannot seek the Democratic nomination in 2026 due to term limits.

    Read more at Bethesda Magazine.

    Thomas Robertson

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  • Montgomery County Council celebrates African Heritage Month – WTOP News

    The Montgomery County Council is celebrating African Heritage Month as part of the county’s drive to “work toward being an inclusive community.”

    When Maryland’s Gov. Wes Moore proclaimed September African Heritage Month in 2024, he said it was a time to mark the “significant contributions of African immigrants to the state’s cultural, social and economic landscape.”

    In Montgomery County, which has commemorated African Heritage Month for more than a decade, County Council President Kate Stewart said, “Over 16% of the overall immigrant population in our county is from Africa,” and celebrating that is part of the county’s drive to “work toward being an inclusive and welcoming community.”

    At Tuesday’s council meeting, where officials celebrated Moore’s proclamation, Council member Will Jawando talked about his own roots.

    “My father came here from Nigeria in 1970, and I carry that part of my identity with me every day” Jawando said.

    The African immigrant population has grown statewide in Maryland. In Baltimore, Cindy Ogide, whose own roots are in the Ivory Coast, works as the health and human services manager for CASA, a national immigrant advocacy organization.

    Asked what she wishes people knew about Africa, Ogide said they should be aware that it’s a continent, not a country.

    “It’s a continent of 54 diverse countries, culture and tribes,” Ogide said.

    It’s not uncommon for people to stumble over African names, whether it’s at a public meeting where speakers are being introduced, or in private settings. In each case, Ogide urged people not to hesitate to ask how to pronounce a name.

    And Ogide said people of African descent shouldn’t be shy about offering a correct pronunciation, “because it is part of who we are and it has a meaning, so we should be proud of it.”

    Ogide mentioned the incredible diversity of languages, cultures and foods in Africa.

    Asked about the signature dish of Ivory Coast, she didn’t hesitate to describe achecke, or attiéké, granulated cassava.

    “It’s often served with grilled fish, and also some fried plantain on the side with a little bit of tomato stew,” and some onions and tomatoes as well, she said.

    “When you say you’re from the Ivory Coast, that’s the number one thing people ask, like, ‘Do you got some achecke?’ It’s the best, I can even taste it in my mouth right now,” she told WTOP, laughing.

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    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

    Kate Ryan

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  • Montgomery Co. Council passes $7 billion budget, criticizes proposed school cuts – WTOP News

    Montgomery Co. Council passes $7 billion budget, criticizes proposed school cuts – WTOP News

    The Montgomery County Council has approved a $7.1 billion budget that included funding on the same day teachers urged the school board to avoid cutting up to 300 positions.

    The Montgomery County Council has approved a $7.1 billion budget that included funding on the same day teachers urged the school board to avoid cutting up to 300 positions.

    According to a statement from the Montgomery County Education Association, which represents teachers and school staff, the Montgomery County Board of Education called for a reduction in force.

    The MCEA statement said the group “vigorously rejects this ill-conceived plan” and said that the membership was “shocked to learn of MCPS’ plan for layoffs and the cancellation of new contracts.”

    Montgomery County Council President Andrew Friedson noted that the council approved funding 99.2% of the school system’s budget request.

    Montgomery County Councilmember Evan Glass blasted the school board during the council voting session Thursday, saying that the council had been deliberating on budget plans for months.

    Referring to the school board, which started its Thursday meeting with a closed-door session, Glass complained about the timing of the move.

    “And they’re giving us information now of their decision? Shame on them. Blindsiding us, blindsiding our educators, blindsiding the entire community,” Glass said.

    Councilmember Kristin Mink — who, along with Councilmember Will Jawando, abstained from voting on the school board budget — repeated her own concerns that the council needed to increase funding to schools.

    Mink said it was clear from earlier deliberations that the school planned some belt-tightening measures.

    “I know there are concerns out there about whether or not — is this really real, or is this crying wolf,” Mink said. She added that the cuts could damage the school system’s hiring efforts “for years and years to come.”

    “No teachers are going to come to Montgomery County if they know that your contract could be broken” or that new hires could see job offers rescinded, Mink concluded.

    ‘More support, not less’

    Jawando, who heads the council’s Education and Culture Committee, said 143 teachers could be fired, while 177 teachers offered contracts could see them rescinded.

    “If you take those numbers together, that’s 320 teachers,” Jawando said. “The bottom line is that a significant number of teachers will be gone.”

    Referring to the cuts, Jawando said we “can’t let this happen.”

    “One thing I’m clear on is our students need more, not less,” he said. “Our teachers need more support, not less.”

    During the school board meeting on Thursday, Jennifer Martin, current president of MCEA, urged the board to meet with them to discuss alternatives to layoffs and cancelled contracts, prompting dozens of MCEA members in the audience to stand and applaud.

    “To our staff, I want to say, we do not make these decisions easily and they are not our first choice,” school board president Karla Silvestre said at the Thursday meeting.

    ‘Difficult decisions that may be necessary’

    On Friday, after WTOP asked for comment from a member of the school board, Liliana Lopez, Communications Director for the Board of Education, included a link to a “community message” from Interim Superintendent Monique Felder and Board President Karla Silvestre.

    “We have previously shared with County Council members, our employee bargaining unit associations and our community partners the difficult decisions that may be necessary to address the significant financial constraints our county is facing,” the joint statement said.

    “Lately, there has been public discussion about $13.7 million in contractual services that were not itemized in a list given to County Council and the employee bargaining unit associations’ leadership. The list was intended to share information about major contracts and present examples of major contracts by budget category.”

    MCPS didn’t include specific information on the number of positions that could be affected by the ongoing budget concerns.

    The school board meets on July 11 to approve its budget.

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    © 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

    Kate Ryan

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  • School safety comes into focus in Montgomery Co. after arrest of student accused of planning shooting – WTOP News

    School safety comes into focus in Montgomery Co. after arrest of student accused of planning shooting – WTOP News

    The coordination between law enforcement and school officials in Montgomery County — along with the initial report from a witness — was credited for averting a potential catastrophe after an 18-year-old student was charged with making a threat of mass violence targeting Wootton High School in Rockville.

    The coordination between law enforcement and school officials in Montgomery County — along with the initial report from a witness — was credited for averting a potential catastrophe after an 18-year-old student was charged with making a threat of mass violence targeting Wootton High School in Rockville, Maryland.

    The incident came a week after Montgomery County Public Schools heard from student school board member Sami Saeed who urged the board to move faster on school safety. At that meeting, Saeed cited his own survey of students and said that many felt nothing was being done to deal with their concerns about safety in their own schools.

    During a news conference regarding the arrest of 18-year-old Alex Ye, Montgomery County Police Chief Marcus Jones was asked if he believed that school resource officers (SROs) should be brought back.

    Jones said, “Our officers are committed to being in those schools when needed and being visible when required.”

    After the news conference, Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy told WTOP he had never supported removing SROs from the schools. He said he currently gets messages from parents and community members detailing fights and even videos taken by students inside schools.

    “I can’t help but believe that some of the violent attacks that we’re seeing in our schools that are being photographed by other kids — and these are pretty vicious attacks — would not occur if a police officer was on school property,” he said.

    At the same news conference, Montgomery County Council member Will Jawando, who heads the council’s Public Safety Committee, said he doesn’t see the need to restore SROs.

    He said that police haven’t disappeared from schools under the community engagement officers (CEO) model. “I see our CEOs active in the schools.” The difference with the new model, Jawando said, is “they’re not patrolling the hallways, they’re not there all day. But if there’s an issue, they’re right there.”

    On Friday, Kennedy High School Principal Vickie Adamson sent a letter home to parents explaining that a trespasser had entered the school during lunch and “brandished a knife.” According to Adamson’s letter, security disarmed the trespasser, and the school’s CEO was “already on school grounds, and security quickly alerted her to the situation.”

    In 2021, the SRO program, which placed officers in a single school full-time, was eliminated.

    Under the current program, the CEOs are assigned to a single high school cluster, have access to a workspace and respond “when called upon by the school leadership,” according to a Montgomery County Public Schools survey on the topic.

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    © 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

    Kate Ryan

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