The county council will not require school system officials to testify under oath during a meeting Thursday about a recently-released report that found deficiencies with how Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) handles complaints.
“This is not intended to be a witch hunt,” County Council President Andrew Friedson said while discussing the upcoming meeting during a media briefing Monday. The county inspector general as well as leadership from the school board and MCPS are expected to attend.
Last week, Councilmembers Evan Glass and Dawn Luedtke wrote a letter to Friedson requesting the council use its authority to use oaths on officials who may testify before the council Thursday.
Friedson said he decided — based on consensus of colleagues — against the move. He said it would be unprecedented and thinks it would do more harm than good.
“I actually think they’ll be less forthcoming and forthright if they’re facing threats from us, essentially, of fines and of other punitive actions including even jail time,” Friedson said.
“It is my view that this hearing on Thursday and all of our actions related to these issues need to be substantive and not performative,” he said.
