Why was the SSWAC established? SSWAC was established by the Calvert Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) in May 2024 via BOCC Resolution 09-24 in response to an increasing number of serious complaints regarding the safety and well-being of students, faculty and support staff in Calvert County Public Schools.
Does the SSWAC have authority to take complaints about safety issues? SSWAC was formed to develop and propose safety and well-being practice and policy recommendations to the Calvert Board of County Commissioners. Beyond being an advisory body which develops recommendations, SSWAC does not have the authority to take complaints or enforce issues regarding safety and well-being incidents in schools.
How long will the Committee be active? The committee will remain active until its final report is delivered to the BOCC. Currently, the committee is projected to complete its final report in November 2025. However, this timeline is subject to change.
Does SSWAC report directly to the BOCC or will recommendations get shared with the Calvert County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) and/or Board of Education (BOE)? SSWAC was established through Resolution 09-24. The resolution outlines that the Committee serves in an advisory capacity to the BOCC and is responsible for developing and submitting recommendations to the BOCC. While this defines the Committee's authority, key community partners will be kept informed and involved throughout the committee's work. Additionally, several community partners have representatives on the committee, including the Health Department, the CCSO and the Maryland State Police. The Superintendent of CCPS, along with union representatives and CCPS staff, also participate on the committee.
School Resource Officers (SROs) are mandated, yet some schools still lack one. What could be the potential consequences of not having an SRO available in these schools? The Safe to Learn Act requires that each public school have either an SRO or an Adequate Coverage Plan. When creating and passing the Safe to Learn Act of 2018, legislators recognized that meeting this requirement could be challenging for law enforcement and local education agencies. As a result, the law includes the option for an adequate coverage plan. Currently, all 24 local education agencies are in compliance with the law, using a combination of assigned SROs and adequate coverage plans.