MCSP School Counselors and Nurses: Let's KEEP Them!

montgomeryschoolsmd.org/boe/about/contact/

Dear Members of the MCPS Board of Education,

Let's do much better than Texas. I urge you not to approve cuts to student wellbeing positions such as social workers, school psychologists, therapeutic counselors, college and career navigators, and other staff who help students succeed in MCPS. Instead, cuts should be made to the 28 new elementary school security guard positions and other new positions or initiatives that are not essential to student wellbeing.

After the 2022 school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, there were "no well-researched, pragmatic policy changes around limiting assault rifles, regulating the hyper-destructive expanding bullets that ripped children’s bodies apart, and increasing mental health support — things that could actually stop shootings like in Uvalde, which was carried out by a troubled 18-year-old.
"Texas school districts instead poured billions of dollars into stationing police at every public school campus in the state. The results, as a New York Times report published this week found, has been an horrific spate of violent police abuse against children in schools across the state."

Sources: The Instercept and NYT
https://theintercept.com/2026/05/29/uvalde-texas-schools-police-violence

If MCPS must make difficult budget choices, student wellbeing should be protected. Students need access to mental health support, trusted adults, and services that help them stay engaged in school.

We were making progress, with more school nurses and more counselors in our schools. Please protect student support and wraparound services in the FY27 budget.

Sincerely,

Steven Sellers Lapham (Parent of MCPS graduate; GHS)
Gaithersburg, MD 20879

Resources: silverspringjustice.wordpress.com/
Notes:
montgomerycountymd.gov/news/montgomery-county-council-statement-mass-shooting-robb-elementary-school-uvalde-texas-0