Montgomery County Public School’s close-lipped official policy in personnel matters is increasingly perceived as unaccountable.
With signs saying “Orwell Called, He Wants His School Back” and “Truth,” more than one hundred students at Blacksburg High School staged a sit-in on Monday protesting the lack of transparency by the Montgomery County Public School system The demonstration follows last week’s sudden and unexplained removal of Principal Brian Kitts, barely three weeks before the end of the semester.
Kitts’ removal comes a month after the peremptory dismissal of a teacher, Bradley Kraft, after he discussed his own mental health issues with students following a school-wide mental health awareness event.
Students and parents attended an April school board meeting to voice their opinions of Kraft’s removal and concerns about transparency of the administration’s veiled decision-making.
Blacksburg High School students met with Superintendent Mark Miear to discuss communication between the administration and the community.
“We are working to address the concerns from the students, including the creation of a communication committee to determine how we can improve in these areas,” Montgomery County Public Schools public information spokesperson, Brenda Drake said.
Brian Kitts was slated to become director of student services with a targeted focus on school safety on July 1, there was no information forthcoming on plans to fill that position.
—Liz Kirchner
