As the site is up for sale, District 5 council member Wala Blegay and County Executive Aisha Braveboy said the land’s redevelopment is an opportunity to improve the county’s economic growth.

“We are excited about the redevelopment of the 500-acre Six Flags site,” Braveboy said at a press conference Thursday. “We know that the next development project that will be there will be a year-round project that will generate thousands of jobs and opportunities for Prince Georgeians and beyond.”

Six Flags chief executive Richard Zimmerman said in a May news release the company closed the Maryland location because it no longer fit with its long-term growth plan and selling the property would produce more income than continuing operations.

[As Six Flags’ Maryland location closes shop, longtime visitors say goodbye]

Blegay told The Diamondback potential buyers placed bids in August on the site, and its current owners are expected to make their final decision in January.

She envisions the site becoming a commercial destination like the National Harbor in Oxon, with retail, entertainment and sports options for residents. Blegay added she has already spoken to prospective developers about her ideas for the land.

“Most of the top bidders did already reach out to my office and get an idea of what I wanted,” Blegay said. “They seem to be on board and very open and so I’m positive that whoever comes out would be somebody that we can work with.”

Blegay said the park generates about $3 million in tax revenue for the county. She sees the site having the capability to bring in similar funds to what the National Harbor does at $73 million.

[Maryland sues Trump administration over blocking FBI headquarters move to Greenbelt]

Upper Marlboro resident Frederick Tutman said the suggestion for another large shopping center in the area is not sustainable or beneficial.

“The idea that what the county needs is more destinations for people to actually go and shop, which is absurd,” Tutman said. “People need other things too. They need nature’s infrastructure, not just the built universe.”

Tutman, a local environmental activist who also serves on the council’s infrastructure planning task force, told The Diamondback he is concerned the land will be transformed into more residential housing. He explained that this would lead to additional traffic and not adequately address the county’s financial challenges.

Landover resident Taylor Frazier McCollum told The Diamondback she likes the idea of developing the land to offer additional entertainment, shopping and other activities for residents.

But Frazier McCollum added that she hopes to see more community amenities with natural trails, fields and other green space.

PGCPS announced on Oct. 29 that it would add the hot meal program in certain schools, replacing the cold bag meals previously provided. The school district is also now offering free breakfast to more schools this year. PGCPS said these programs would particularly benefit families who are struggling as the government shutdown enters its 38th day.

Prince George’s County is home to about 70,000 federal workers and contractors, many of whom are being furloughed. Uncertainty over federal funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program could affect about 11 percent of county residents who depend on food assistance.

“This expansion comes at a time when families are feeling stretched,” interim superintendent Shawn Joseph wrote in the news release. “By adding new hot supper options and expanding free breakfast, we’re helping more families manage through uncertain times.”

[Prince George’s County group suggests policy changes, victim support to stop gun violence]

Mary Kirkland, PGCPS’ food and nutrition services director, told The Diamondback that the hot meal service is currently available at about 10 schools but the district is receiving additional requests from others who also want to participate.

Schools are eligible for the hot meal program if more than 50 percent of students receive free and reduced price meals and have at least 75 students in after school programs, according to the news release.

“The most concern that people may have right now is like, ‘OK, I know my child can go to school, they can get breakfast, they can get lunch. But what happens between lunch and the next day when they come back for breakfast?’” Kirkland said. “This supper program helps bridge that gap.”

Kirkland said funding for all after school meals comes from the federal child and adult food care program. She said the school system can choose to provide hot or cold meals using these funds.

PGCPS also expanded its free breakfast program to include 23 more schools this year, meaning a total of 115 schools throughout the county now offer free breakfast to students. This program is funded by Maryland Meals for Achievement, a state program that reimburses schools to help them provide free breakfast. A school is eligible for the program if at least 40 percent of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals.

[Prince George’s County food banks feeling pressure from high demand, loss of SNAP benefits]

In a statement to local superintendents on Oct. 9, Maryland state superintendent of schools Carey Wright wrote there is a possibility that federal school meal funding could be impacted by the shutdown.

She wrote if the shutdown continues through November, the Maryland State Department of Education will seek funding from the state to pay for meal programs. But school systems may be asked to rely on their own finances to support meal services if the shutdown continues into December.

As of now, Kirkland said she is not concerned about a loss of federal funding for meal services.

“We are all working together to ensure that we provide the best for our students,” Kirkland said. “From a food nutrition standpoint, from an academic standpoint and just overall.”

Mary Klatko, the federal and state legislative chairman for the Maryland School Nutrition Association, told The Diamondback that meal programs such as the one in PGCPS can help fill the food gap some students may experience during the shutdown.

“I know everybody is in a panic about the SNAP program but as far as the students, we are getting paid, even in the shutdown, for [school] meals,” Klatko said. “The school food service program is doing everything it can to try to make sure that students get enough food.”

The county had the second highest number of firearm-related deaths in Maryland between January 2015 and September 2025, according to a state dashboard. Youth violations in county gun-related incidents increased by more than 200 percent between 2020 and 2023, according to the workgroup’s report.

“I look forward to the recommendations that come out of this task force actually coming to fruition,” said District 7 council member Krystal Oriadha, the workgroup’s co-chair. “We do taskforces and we do workgroups, but the most important thing is that we actualize them.”

The county council established the workgroup in 2023, which met monthly to discuss potential solutions for a rise in gun violence, specifically among young people.

[Here’s where to get free food assistance in Prince George’s County]

The council’s health, human services and public safety committee director Sandra Eubanks said the group identified four areas to focus on when submitting their recommendations.“Implementing these strategies will require continued partnership among county agencies, community organizations and residents to address the root causes of gun violence and support those impacted,” Eubanks said.

Here are some recommendations the council made under each area.

Programs and initiatives

The group recommended multiple initiatives aimed to limit youth engagement with guns. The workgroup found that factors like social media, easy firearm access and peer pressure contribute to more young people interacting with guns.

The council proposed a school-based violence prevention programs that would teach conflict resolution, emotional regulation, and non-violent communication in school curricula, according to the report.

During the workgroup’s final meeting in June, Oriadha said she schools should consider introducing violence prevention curriculum as early as elementary school because she has seen that students in middle school are already having challenges with the conflict.

“Sometimes we’re starting a little bit too old to have the biggest impact,” Oraidha said.

Victim services

The report includes initiatives that advocate better support for victims of gun violence.
This includes the expansion of a state compensation program to cover mental health care, relocation expenses and lost wages for victims of gun violence.

The report also recommends the establishment of trauma recovery centers in neighborhoods with high rates of gun violence to provide resources like medical care, counseling and legal assistance.

Policy and legislative changes

The workgroup proposed multiple state and county level legislative changes to address gun violence.

At the county level, the group recommended the establishment of a gun violence protection office to oversee communication with different county agencies and improve accountability for gun violence prevention initiatives.
The report also advocates for the removal of all firearms from people who are under protective orders, which would be a change at the state level. Currently, guns are only confiscated if the owner is bound by an extreme risk protection order, according to the report.

[Prince George’s County executive confirms new public safety officials]

Elana Belon-Butler, the county’s director of family services, said she supports this proposal because of a high number of domestic violence reports within the county.

The county filed about 5,000 protection orders and 46 extreme risk protection orders in 2024, according to the report.

Mental health diversion impact

The group also recommended increasing access to trauma-informed mental health services in schools, especially in areas with higher risk youth populations.

Tyreese McAllister, a mental health professional and part of the workgroup, said interventions for youth involvement with gun violence should be made mandatory to more effectively address the problem.

“We’re missing an opportunity to really work with a young person because not all young people have a gun because they want to do a crime,” McAllister said. “Some of them have it because everybody else has it and they want to protect themselves and maybe they don’t know any other way.”

But now, the increased demand from furloughed federal employees and the looming loss of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits from the government shutdown have disrupted food bank operations across the state.

The Landover ministry is considering giving out lower quantities of food to each recipient to feed more people.

“I think it’s just [about] being mindful that [there are] a lot of people in need,” Oliver Carter, the ministry’s senior pastor, said. “We can only do so much.”

A notice published on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s website said the government shutdown will stop nationwide distribution of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, commonly referred to as food stamps, on Nov. 1. This means the about 11 percent of Prince George’s County residents who rely on food assistance benefits must find other ways to put food on the table.

[Gov. Wes Moore issues $10M to support food banks ahead of SNAP benefits pause]

Food banks have already seen an increase in recipients from furloughed federal workers, as the government enters its second month of the shutdown.

“It’s horrendous. People rely on these benefits,” District 3 Prince George’s County Council member Eric Olson said. “We already have a lot of food insecurity in our community and this is just cruel.”

Olson said he is working to inform his constituents about food distribution resources available in the county.

On Thursday, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore declared a state of emergency ahead of the halt in SNAP benefits. He said $10 million in funds will be distributed to food banks across the state to help them provide more assistance to people in need.

Michele Gray, the treasurer and volunteer coordinator at Fort Washington Food Pantry, said the pantry is preparing for more people by placing a higher order with the Capital Area Food Bank, who it partners with. She added the pantry has gotten additional donations from other organizations in the area.

Passion and Compassion is an organization based in Prince George’s County that recovers produce that would have gone to waste and distributes it to food pantries in the area. Operations manager Kyle Slye said he expects even more people to seek out food assistance because of the loss of federal benefits.

“I believe that this is actually going to be the tipping point for more people to be coming out to these distributions,” Slye said. “A lot of people are not government employees but a lot of people rely on government assistance programs such as SNAP.”

[Here’s what to know about the nationwide pause in SNAP benefits]

To compensate for higher demand, Slye said the organization is planning to establish additional pop-up distributions in higher-need neighborhoods.

New Home Baptist Church assistant administrator Gerald Tillman told The Diamondback he has been sharing a list of food distribution organizations compiled by his county council member to people who have called for help. While the organization does host food giveaways at its site in Landover once a month, he said it runs out quickly.

Tillman said during food distribution last week, the organization’s October giveaway and the first since the shutdown began, it ran out of food packages in half the time as usual.

“The faith based churches and organizations are out here, and we are working together to try to provide the best service, whether that’s food, clothes, whatever it might be,” Tillman said.

About 680,000 Maryland residents who rely on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, commonly known as food stamps, will not receive food assistance because of the government shutdown, according to a notice on the U.S. Department of Agriculture website.

During a press conference at Anne Arundel County Foodbank, Moore said this funding will help food banks that are facing increased demand as a result of the loss of SNAP benefits and federal furloughs.

In an earlier statement Friday, Moore said Maryland is unable to supplement SNAP’s federal funding using its state funds because Trump’s administration has not committed to reimbursing these expenses.

[Here’s what to know about the nationwide pause in SNAP benefits]

The emergency grant funding will instead come from Maryland’s Fiscal Responsibility Fund, according to a state news release, which holds excess tax revenue that can pay for projects not allocated in the state budget.

Moore also condemned President Donald Trump for the government’s prolonged shutdown and for not issuing emergency federal funding to distribute SNAP benefits.

“The money has been appropriated. They are choosing not to distribute it,” Moore said. “This is heartless, this is cruel and this is unforgivable.”

This announcement comes as Maryland and 24 other states joined a lawsuit filed Tuesday against the USDA for their suspension of SNAP benefits. The lawsuit urges the agriculture department to use contingency funds to finance the federal food assistance program.

Moore said the decision to declare a state of emergency was “not made lightly” and Maryland officials will continue to monitor the situation.

“This is an ongoing pledge that I and we are making to the people of the state of Maryland,” Moore said. “We refuse to abandon you. We refuse to leave you behind.”

Soon after being elected in June, Braveboy appointed eight people to lead key county offices, including Prince George’s County police, fire and homeland security departments.

Here’s a look at the public safety officials part of Braveboy’s administration.

George Nader – police chief

Since beginning his work as acting police chief in June, Nader contributed to a 34 percent reduction in homicides and more than 56 percent reduction car jackings, Braveboy said earlier this month.

Nader has worked in law enforcement for 32 years, previously serving as the assistant police chief for the Metro Transit Police Department. He also worked in the Prince George’s County Police Department for more than two decades, where he held multiple high ranking positions.

As police chief, Nader aims to improve staffing, youth engagement and collaboration with local police departments in the county.

“My biggest goal is to provide the best public safety service we can and that’s through partnership,” Nader said.

[Meet the new Prince George’s County senior officials]

Thelmetria Michaelides – fire chief

Michaelides, who is the first African American female bomb technician in the state, was confirmed to be the county’s fire chief.

She began working in the Prince George’s County Fire Department as a dispatcher in 1987 and served in multiple EMT and paramedic roles before retiring in 2013. She also served as Braveboy’s community affairs director while she was state’s attorney.

“I have done all these jobs in the fire services and I’ve done that because I wanted to prove myself, not only to me but to others,” Michaelides told The Diamondback.

Michaelides said that she hopes to encourage more young people to become involved in the fire department. She also said she hopes to address the mental health needs of the department’s staff.

[Prince George’s County Council confirms controversial pick to head environment department]

Katina Gomez – Director of homeland security

Gomez is Prince George’s County’s director of homeland security, which serves as the “information hub” during emergency situations, she told The Diamondback.

Most recently, Gomez served as a deputy chief in the Prince George’s County Police Department, where she was the highest ranking female officer.

Gomez said she hopes to improve salaries for 911 dispatchers, as they are considered some of the lowest paid in the state. She also said she wants to improve the department’s communication with residents and local first response services.

“We all take these careers to serve and I’m all about service,” Gomez said. “So my biggest message to the residents…[is] what can we do to better serve you?”

Braveboy appointed multiple people to head county offices responsible for public safety, the environment and finances. Many of the newly confirmed leaders are long-time residents of the county.

Here’s a look at some of Braveboy’s administration.

Maxene Bardwell — Chief administrative officer

Bardwell, who has 25 years of auditing experience, is set to serve as Prince George’s County’s chief administrative officer. As second in command under Braveboy, her primary responsibility is to oversee the county’s departments.

Most recently, Bardwell worked as an internal audit manager for the Montgomery County government.

“I don’t take it for granted as the second in command of this county,” Bardwell said at the council’s government operations and fiscal policy committee on Sept. 11. “I would make sure that the mission, vision and values that we plan to implement are carried out through the respective agencies of Prince George’s County government.”

Linda Allen — Director of finance

Allen will serve as the finance director. She will oversee the county’s taxes and ensure the government is using its funds properly.

Allen has worked for the county since 2005 and has risen through the ranks of the finance department, most recently serving as its deputy director, Braveboy said during the council meeting on Tuesday.

Allen said she aims to focus on building the county’s financial resilience by maintaining the county’s savings, managing debt and pursuing investments.

[Prince George’s County Council revises plan to help laid-off federal workers]

Alice Williams — Procurement office director

Williams, who has 38 years of experience in acquisitions at the U.S. Department of Defense, will now serve as the director of the office of procurement.

This office oversees the purchasing of goods, services and construction for the county using public funding.

“My commitment is to ensure that every procurement decision reflects integrity, fairness, excellence and that every contract awarded contributes to the economic growth and prosperity of this county,” Williams said at the council meeting on Tuesday.

Vernard Wright — Information technology office director

Wright is returning to county government to serve as the director of the office of information technology, a position he held from 2010-2017, he told The Diamondback.

In addition to this position, he currently serves as the chief executive for an AI threat prevention company. He also worked as the director of technology for Hillary Clinton’s Senate re-election and presidential campaigns.

Wright said he hopes to create a “tech ecosystem” within the county to diminish its reliance on federal jobs. He said he wants to expand opportunities for local businesses and students who want to work in technology.

“You can hire anyone who can keep the switches, servers and routers running,” Wright said. “But the goal really is to make sure that we are a destination of technology.”

[Prince George’s County Council confirms controversial pick to head environment department]

Samuel Moki – Director of the environment department

Moki — who holds six academic degrees, including a doctorate degree in political science — is the director of the county’s environment department.

A controversial pick from Braveboy, Moki worked in the department from 2006 to 2014. But he was fired from his role as an associate director in the department after county officials determined he did not properly carry out its stormwater management program, court records from Moki’s 2016 appeal of the decision read.

In a statement to The Diamondback, Moki wrote he is committed to protecting the environment by improving waste management, reducing pollution and beautifying the area.

“Prince George’s County provided the environment that nurtured my growth — both professionally and personally,” Moki wrote. “Serving here isn’t just a job; it’s truly my life’s calling.”

County Executive Aisha Braveboy nominated Moki and seven others after her election in June to serve as leaders for multiple county offices overseeing public safety, county finances and the environment. While the rest of the confirmations moved forward unanimously, Moki’s confirmation passed in an 8-2 vote.

District 3 council member Eric Olson and District 1 council member Thomas Dernoga voted against his confirmation, but said they hope to see his work improve the county.

Concerns about Moki’s appointment stem from his 2014 termination from the same department for “gross negligence”. County officials determined that he did not properly carry out the county’s stormwater management program, something he was responsible for as an associate director in the department, according to court documents from Moki’s 2016 appeal from the decision. This decision was upheld by a county circuit court and a state appellate court.

[3 Prince George’s County Council members reflect on African heritage, community progress]

In an August news release affirming her support for Moki, Braveboy acknowledged that the county was fined up to $177,000 by the Environmental Protection Agency because it did not fully comply with storm sewer system permit requirements. However, she said multiple neighboring Maryland counties have been fined for similar violations.

In the statement, Braveboy said Moki’s previous experience within the department and his five academic degrees, including a doctorate degree in political science, make him fit for the role.

“Dr. Moki’s record, credentials, and vision for the future of our environment speak louder than the past unfortunate employment actions taken against him,” Braveboy said.

During Tuesday’s meeting, Braveboy said Moki has produced “visual, measurable improvements” to the community, since beginning his work as acting director of the department in June.

She said he contributed to $31 million in cost savings related to the county’s storm water management projects and coordinated the beautification division’s work to address the county’s backlogged 311 system, which allows residents to request government services such as road repairs or litter removal.

About 45 community members spoke about their views on Moki’s appointment at Tuesday’s meeting. About 10 of them were in opposition to his confirmation.

Derrick Coley, a deputy director at the county’s environment department, said he has seen “dramatic improvements” in morale amongst staff members under Moki’s leadership.

“What I see in Dr. Moki’s character as a leader for our agency is about the ability to have a clear, clear vision and the ability to touch individuals and empower them to be their very best,” Coley said. “He is committed to environmental stewardship and protection.”

Michael Bloom, a resident of Berwyn Heights, voiced his frustration about the nomination.

“The fact that a man guilty of gross negligence and dishonesty by the personnel board and the appellate court of Maryland twice is sitting here before this council is an utter travesty,” Bloom said.

Some residents were also concerned about the people voicing their support for Moki, as many of them were his subordinates at the department or close family members and friends.

[Aisha Braveboy shares progress from her first 100 days as Prince George’s County executive]

Taylor Frazier McCollum, a Landover resident, said it alarms her that people working under Moki were testifying for his confirmation.

Staci Hartwell echoed this and noted that no environmental organizations spoke in support of his nomination during the council’s transportation, infrastructure, energy and environment committee meeting on Oct. 9.

“Rehiring someone who once failed this department undermines the integrity, demoralizes staff [and] erodes public trust,” Hartwell said. “I urge you to reject this appointment and choose competence and accountability over convenience and political pressure.”

District 6 council member Wala Blegay thanked Braveboy for “believing” in the African immigrant community by appointing Moki. She also credited Moki for helping address storm water issues in her district, after having difficulties with the previous administration.

“I’m not just voting for him because … he’s an African immigrant, I’m supporting him because I have answers already for the community,” Blegay, who is the daughter of African immigrants, said. “Today, the agency is finally working with us to get the solutions, so I do appreciate him.”

While conducting his vote, council chair Edward Burroughs III addressed concerns about a lack of accountability from the county government, saying Braveboy prioritized transparency by holding a council vote on the appointment, even when it was not required.

Dernoga, who voted against the appointment, said he gave more thought to Moki’s appointment than all of the other council members combined.

“I’ve looked at the arguments on both sides and I appreciate very much that Dr. Moki says he’ll work with those citizens and groups that oppose his appointment,” Dernoga said “I am very hopeful that you will prove your opponents wrong.”

But in 2022, Oriadha was sworn in to represent District 7 wearing traditional African clothing. She was elected to the council alongside two other daughters of African immigrants.

The three council members’ shared cultural background helps create a “sense of family” between them, Oriadha said.

Oriadha, Wala Blegay and Wanika Fisher all told The Diamondback that their positions on the council reflect growing inclusion of immigrants in the community.

“A decade ago … it would be less likely that the three of us would be serving [together],” Oriadha said. “Times are changing. People’s minds are evolving.”

Maryland has the fourth largest African immigrant population in the country according to the American Immigration Council. This population plays a fundamental role in Maryland communities, with African immigrants owning more than 40 percent of businesses in the state.

Blegay, who represents District 6, told The Diamondback that her background has driven her to focus more on including the perspectives of African community members.

When she first became involved in politics, Blegay said she noticed few other Africans involved in community activism. While running for the council, Blegay made an effort to improve community engagement by meeting with African community leaders.

“I think having three daughters of African immigrants reminds people that African immigrants are very much part of the community and should be included,” Blegay said.

[Aisha Braveboy shares progress from her first 100 days as Prince George’s County executive]

Blegay said her parents, who immigrated from Liberia and Nigeria, were very involved in the African community while she was growing up and often brought her along to events and meetings.

She said her family’s involvement in the African community growing up is what inspired her to become a council member.

Fisher, who represents District 2, said her family’s activism during the apartheid in South Africa drove her to become involved in politics. Fisher’s mother, who is a South African of Indian descent, left the country during the height of the apartheid struggle.

Her mother and Nigerian father met in New York, which is where she grew up. She said her parents’ interracial marriage is a motivator for her because she knows she would likely not be here today without the legalization of interracial marriages.

“A lot of people had to fight for justice for me to even exist,” Fisher said. “That’s really what drives me to do what I do every day.”

While attending the University of Maryland, Fisher said she was engaged in the community surrounding College Park and tutored kids in Langley Park, an area she now represents.

“I loved Prince George’s County,” Fisher said. “Coming from another state, I was like ‘Wow, there’s like a thriving Black middle class here. There’s an upcoming African middle class here.’”

Oriadha said she initially engaged in politics through national campaigns. She was not involved locally until President Donald Trump’s first election in 2016.

“[I] wanted a break from national politics and decided to get involved locally,” Oriadha said. “I felt like that was the first line of defense that we had given the president at that time.”

Oriadha spent most of her childhood in Texas with her mom — who was from Kansas City — and her Kenyan father.

Oriadha’s experience as the daughter of an African immigrant motivated her to provide a voice to people who could not speak for themselves. Witnessing her father almost be deported as a child has made her more compassionate toward the people she represents, she said.

[Prince George’s County Council revises plan to help laid-off federal workers]

Blegay said that working with others who have an understanding of the immigrant experience has helped promote inclusion within the Prince George’s County community.

“They’re able to easily address some of the ignorance that has gone through communities about immigrants,” she said. “We are able to together … each address the misconceptions that are out there.”

All three council members said they are concerned about Trump’s immigration crackdown amidst increased U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests and deportations.

As of 2023, 24.5 percent of Prince George’s County’s population was born outside of the U.S., according to Data USA. The county has the second highest foreign born population in the state.

Blegay said that while the council does not have the authority to stop ICE, they have worked to provide resources to support concerned families. Multiple council members hosted events to inform community members about their immigration rights.

Oriadha said she hopes the country moves toward celebrating immigration, rather than rejecting it.

“I think the story of immigrants is one of bravery and strength and family and love … That’s usually at the core of every decision that an immigrant makes to come to this country,” Oriadha said.

During that school year, PGCPS had about 240 special education staffing vacancies — more than double the number of vacancies than the next-highest school district. That vacancy data and an increase in complaints about the school district’s special education services led the department to put PGCPS under corrective action.

PGCPS serves about 133,000 students total and is the second-largest school system in the state. Baltimore City Public Schools followed with 105 vacancies. The state’s largest school district, Montgomery County, had about 90 vacancies for special education staff positions.

The state education department can put school systems under corrective action if it finds that a school district violates a state or federal regulation. School districts are then required to address their violations to prevent a recurrence in the future.

While the school district has a plan to improve its special education services, president of the Prince George’s County Educators’ Association Donna Christy said she is frustrated the school system did not do more to address its shortcomings before getting to this point.

“The director of special education has had years, not months, years to address the special education staffing crisis,” Christy said at the Sept. 25 education board meeting. “She has known that vacancies were worsening and she has done nothing meaningful to prevent them.”

[Aisha Braveboy shares progress from her first 100 days as Prince George’s County executive]

Federal and state laws require public schools to provide free and suitable education for all students with disabilities through age 21. These services are provided through individualized education programs.

PGCPS serves about 17,000 students with individualized education programs, PGCPS’s associate superintendent for special education Trinell Bowman said during an education board meeting on Aug. 21.

Michele Clarke, a special education teacher at Kenmoor Early Childhood Center who spoke at the Sept. 25 board meeting, told The Diamondback that the high number of vacancies has increased case loads for special educators, making her job more stressful.

“There’s a lot of paperwork with special education, so the larger your caseload gets, the harder it is to manage,” Clarke said.

During the 2024-2025 school year, the Maryland education department received 131 complaints about PGCPS’s special education services, which was a 65 percent increase in complaints from the previous year. Despite the increase, Bowman stressed that 35 of last year’s complaints were deemed not to be violations.

The most common complaints were about individualized education programs not being implemented properly because of the staff vacancies and that the school system did not fill out program documents in a timely manner, according to Bowman’s presentation.

“I want you to know that our team sees this as an opportunity to get better and to continue the trajectory of success that we have set out with our special and strategic plan,” Bowman said.

As part of the plan, Bowman said school districts will receive a guide to help ensure they comply with program timelines. Additionally, principals will need to fill out monthly checklist to ensure their schools adhere to special education guidelines.

The district also plans to provide additional training and on-the-ground support to schools, Bowman said.

To fill staffing vacancies, the county is outsourcing employees from other agencies. But contracts come with additional fees for the school system and means these jobs will not be represented by the teachers’ labor union.

Clarke said she is concerned whether outsourcing will bring in qualified staff.

“Why aren’t they working in a school system where your benefits and pay would probably be better than working for a contractor?” Clarke said. “I’m wondering how qualified they would be.”

[Prince George’s County couple hosts local walks, plans to open running specialty store]

Christy said she wishes the school system found ways to attract more special educators while teachers were negotiating their contract. The school system came to a tentative agreement with the union in July before finalizing the contract in September.

The fact that that the school system was under corrective action at the time of the negotiations was not public information, Christy said.

PGCPS wrote in a statement to The Diamondback on Monday that members of the current administration “cannot confirm or deny” if this was disclosed to PGCEA because this phase of contract negotiations occurred under the administration of previous superintendent Millard House II.

Christy said the lack of transparency from House’s administration led PGCEA members to conduct their vote of no confidence in June.

“They could have brought to the negotiations table that they had this issue that they needed to address with some urgency,” Christy said. “But they didn’t do that.”

Despite Clarke’s concerns about outsourcing, she said this year was the first time since before the COVID-19 pandemic that her school’s pre-K classes have been fully staffed.

“It seems as if they do have a better grasp on hiring people this school year than they did last year or the last couple years,” Clarke said. “I hope this is a positive trend that will continue because we need the right people doing the right job.”