2024 was a tumultuous year for Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS).
The school system continued to deal with the aftermath of an exposé of sexual harassment by a school principal who was promoted.
In June, a new superintendent took the helm. Dr. Thomas Taylor is a county native and Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School graduate who came from Stafford County Public Schools in Virginia.
Taylor took over following a resistant separation from the previous superintendent. It was in the midst of a contentious budget cycle that soon resulted in cutbacks, including the elimination of the virtual academy. Parents and teachers protested ahead of the budget vote.
The school board faced criticism from county councilmembers for potential layoffs.
Even school board members were not satisfied with the budget.
The school system grappled with hate and racism in school buildings. The previous school board president testified before Congress about antisemitism in school. And just this month, Wootton High School’s principal was placed on leave after another incident of racism at the school.
Also this year, parents continued legal efforts to restore an opt-out option for LGBT storybooks in school curriculum.
In August, MCM presented “MCPS: What Happened, What’s Next” as the new school year approached.
This month, school board members elected a new president and vice president. Julie Yang was named president and Grace Rivera-Oven was named vice president.
Looking ahead, the superintendent recently recommended a $3.61 billion operating budget for the next school year, which is an 8.97% increase over the current budget.
