BCPS Plan Calls for Remote Learning Until Jan. 29


Baltimore County Public School released their Reopening Plan for Fall 2020. The proposal is expected to be voted by the Board of Education tonight.
Under the plan, the start of the school year would still start on Tuesday, Sept. 8 but the year will start virtually for everyone for the first two quarters until Friday, Jan. 29.

According to the draft, the amount of online class time for this remote learning will increase compared to the remote learning in the spring as schools will follow a bell schedule. Students would receive two to 3.5 hours of class time each day and would have up to three hours for independent work.

If better safety measures are in place for COVID-19 in January, a hybrid learning environment would start in the second semester where a student would receive in-person instruction at the school for a few days a week on a rotating basis.

Parents and students would still have the option of full-time remote learning in the second semester. The draft of the plan is pictured below

High School Sports Still Hoping for Season


The end of July and early August means that the start of the school year is not far away and the start of the fall sports season is even closer.

This year there is a different feel as no one knows what is in store for the 2020-21 school year with COVID-19. However; high schools are still preparing for a fall sports season.

The Parkville High School Athletic Boosters Club reported that their fall season which includes Football, Boys/Girls Soccer, Volleyball, Cross Country, Cheer and Badminton was set to start with practices on Aug. 12.

Parkville Athletic Director Jeff Markle told EastBaltco News that no official decision has been made on the fall sports season but Parkville and all schools are preparing to start practice in August.

“I was told to gear up for an Aug 12th start date since the state made a comment back in June that everything would start on Aug 12th and that has not changed,” Markle said. “I think the start may be delayed, but we are still awaiting word.”

Kenwood head football coach Derrick Krumholtz said he too is hoping and preparing for a season and is hoping that his players will be ready if there is a season. Krumholtz explained that his staff has been allowed zero in-person contact with students.

“We have been in communication with them all spring and summer in order to drive home the point that it is their responsibility to continue to find ways to work out and stay in shape,” Krumholtz said to EastBaltco News.

“If/When practice starts, we have to commit almost all of our time to install and game planning, we won’t have time to set aside for ‘conditioning’ they need to do that on their own.”

The Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association listed a roadmap to the return of sports on July 7 with training regulations during this COVID period. That is roadmap expected to be updated as we get closer to Aug. 12.

Local rec. youth football is still set to have a season, but CCBC Essex had their fall sports seasons canceled.

Many school districts throughout the state has decided to continue remote learning until January. There is speculation that Baltimore County Public Schools will also have remote learning in the fall. Could that jeopardize the fall sports season?

“I have no idea if athletics can continue if we are in a virtual setting. I assume that would be up to BCPS and the State,” Markle said.

BCPS Could Make School Decision on Tuesday


The Board of Education of Baltimore County will meet virtually on Tuesday, July 21 at 5 p.m. There is speculation that the meeting will result in an announcement about the upcoming school year.

Many neighboring school districts have announced that their students will learn online until January. BCPS has not announced an official decision yet.

The board will then meet in closed session as permitted by law.
The school system is committed to accessible communication with its stakeholders.

Accordingly, all Board of Education meetings are live-streamed and can be viewed on the BCPS website, or on BCPS-TV (Comcast Xfinity channel 73, Verizon FiOS channel 34).

Two Injured in Overlea Shooting Overnight


An early Sunday morning shooting in Overlea injured one adult and a juvenile victim.

Officers were called to the 4900 block of Hazelwood Avenue at 1:29 a.m. for a shooting.

One adult man suffered a gunshot wound to the lower body and a juvenile male victim suffered a life-threatening gunshot wound to the upper body. Both were transported to area hospitals for treatment.

Detectives from the Baltimore County Police Violent Crimes Unit are investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting and ask anyone who may have additional information to call 410-307-2020. Callers may remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward when submitting tips through Metro Crime Stoppers.

Man Shot in Parkville Parking Lot Saturday


Baltimore County Police are investigating a robbery and shooting in Parkville Saturday morning.

On July 18, 2020, at 3:30 a.m. officers responded to the 7100 block of Darlington Drive in Parkville for a robbery. The victims said they were on the parking lot of the Dubai Hookah Lounge when two suspects approached them and robbed them.

During the robbery, a suspect shot one of the victims who ran toward a neighborhood and called 911. The shooting victim was transported to a local hospital and has been treated and released. This is an on-going investigation.

Police are asking anyone with information on this crime to contact detectives from the Baltimore County Police Violent Crimes Unit at 410-307-2020. Callers may remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward when submitting tips through Metro Crime Stoppers.

CCBC Essex Fall Sports Delayed Until Spring


The National Junior College Athletic Association announced that all fall sports will be delayed until the spring season. That means CCBC Essex will not have a sports season this fall until spring.

“Our greatest focus is and always has been providing the best opportunities for our student-athletes,” stated Dr. Christopher Parker, NJCAA President & CEO.

“Through a unified effort from our Presidential Advisory Council, the Board of Regents, and leadership staff, our most recent plan of action provides a path that keeps our student-athletes competing at the highest level with proper safety measures in place. As we move forward as an association, we will continue to provide opportunities for our student-athletes, coaches, and all those involved with the NJCAA to be safe and successful.”

CCBC Dundalk does not have any fall sports but CCBC Essex is the home to Men’s and Women’s soccer, Men’s and Women’s Cross Country and Women’s Volleyball during the fall. These sports are now slated to the spring season with baseball, lacrosse and other sports.

Towson University and UMBC announced their schools would not participate in fall seasons after a decision was made from their respective conferences.

Archdiocese Releases Statement for Catholic Schools


The Archdiocese of Baltimore Catholic Schools made an announcement about their plan for the 2020-21 school year.

The Planning Ahead Task Force for Catholic Schools has been working diligently to develop a comprehensive plan to ensure the safe return of our faculty and staff on Aug. 24 and our students on Aug. 31st for instruction five days per week.

The Task Force is receiving technical assistance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to inform our plans to SAFELY return to in-person instruction for the start of the 2020-2021 school year.

Although most school facilities will be able to accommodate all students for five day, in-person instruction while safely social distancing; some schools, due to their size, will incorporate a “blend” of in-person and remote learning that maximizes in-person instruction.

Families who do not feel comfortable returning their child(ren) to in-person instruction will be able to have their child(ren) participate remotely from home. Detailed reopening procedures will be finalized and shared by July 24.

Overlea Rec. Cancels 2020 Soccer Season


Overlea Rec. Council announced that their soccer program will not be having a season this fall.

“Overlea Soccer will not be having a Fall 2020 Recreational Soccer Program due to COVID 19. Some Rec Councils are still going to attempt to have a season and still play in the EASL League at Eastern Regional Park,” said a statement in an email to parents.

“If you are still interested in playing soccer in the Fall please see the list of Rec Councils in the EASL League. We are not positive that all of the Rec Councils are still attempting to have a Fall Season.”

The Overlea Rec. Council explained that this was going to be tough season with all the COVID regulations. Here is a list of the reason why the reason was made.

1. Liability for lawsuits to the Council, Board members, Program Coordinators, Coaches

2. Expecting Volunteers to keep contact logs of who comes to practice/ wearing masks at games for spectators

3. Parents who have underlying issues feeling forced to sign their child up to play so their child does not miss out playing

4. If season gets canceled – Overlea is not capable of sending out refunds again.

5. If 1 child on the team test Positive – All players would have to be quarantined for 2 weeks and test negative before coming back. (This would be the policy of Overlea Soccer – following CDC best practices)

6. NJCAA – Junior Colleges – Moved Fall Soccer to Spring – No Fall Soccer

7. Multiple College Fall Athletics have been cancelled already – Conferences Canceled – CACC, NJCAA, Patriot League, and MEAC are just a few that affect several colleges in our area.

No official word has been made for all rec. programs in Baltimore County. East Baltco News reported that Youth Football is hoping to hold a season.

Parkville Man Wanted in Towsontown Robbery


Baltimore County detectives have obtained an arrest warrant for the suspect wanted in robbing four juveniles as they walked out of Towson Town Center around 6:30 p.m. on July 9. Seneca Rice, 34 years old, from the 1800 block of Wycliffe Road in Parkville is charged with four counts of robbery, one count second-degree assault and various theft charges. He is currently in custody in Baltimore City on unrelated charges. A detainer will be issued until Baltimore City has concluded their investigation.

The July 9 incident occurred as the juveniles walked out of the side entrance of the mall near Fairmount Avenue and were confronted by the suspect. During the confrontation, the suspect had a knife on his belt as he demanded the juveniles’ backpacks and personal items. At one point, the suspect grabbed the back of one of the victims to prevent him from leaving. The suspect used bias slurs towards the victims during the robbery. The victims gave the suspect their personal items and he fled the area.

Detectives were able to interview witnesses and gather evidence that led them to identifying suspect Rice. Detectives shared this information with Baltimore City and they advised he was in custody for an unrelated crime.

This is an ongoing investigation.