MCPS students testify for more mental health programs, after 2022 budget approval
The Montgomery County Board of Education will provide law enforcement services with more money , despite recent testimonies for more mental health programs. (Pixabay)
The Montgomery County School Board of Education approved an increase in police services for the 2022 fiscal year budget on Thursday, as students testified for an increase in mental health programs.
In 2022, police services will have a million dollars more than they had in 2021, which was 281 million dollars. Police services still have 15% of the total salaries and wages of the total budget, with a 3% increase in supporting services from 2021 to 2022. Despite student pushback, police services are still granted more financial assistance within the budget, which had a 0.5% increase in total salary and wages.
Many Montgomery County citizens sat before the board, as President Brenda Wolff addressed the 2022 fiscal year school budget. Following a unanimous vote to begin the approval process, Paint Branch High School students addressed the board about how police officers negatively impact their learning environments.
Noura Oseguera, a junior and member of the United We Dream DMV, the largest youth-led immigrant group based out of DC, expressed her concerns of prejudice and racially motivated actions taken by police officers within the Montgomery County school system.
“As a hijabi Muslim woman of color, I wear my identity to school on a daily basis,” said Oseguera. “Students like me have long dealt with surveillance and profiling by law enforcement, instilling police presence in an environment meant to make students like me feel safe, [but] solely does the contrary.”
Jasmine Yubar, a senior and member of United We Dream DMV, discussed her own experiences with racial discrimination. She said that she couldn’t ignore the prejudices in these instances without putting herself into someone else’s shoes. She said that she imagined how much better her life might be if she had lighter skin.
“That's the reality of 73.2% of the student body. That's three-fourths of the student body who are Black, indigenous or people of color in MCPS,” said Yubar.
As the MCPS board nodded along, Yubar pleaded for the board to consider people of color and different religions as they advance and finalize their hefty 2 billion dollar school budget. She urged the board to follow through on their promise for better mental health and community support.
“I, alongside many others today, are asking you for the full removal of police from schools, investment in Crisis Response Training and investment in holistic student safety, physical, mental and emotional,” said Yubar
Montgomery County’s Chief Administrative Officer Richard Madeline Jr. said that “the county will explore whether additional federal funds could be used for mental health programming for students.”