Worcester County, MD - Worcester County State's Attorney Kris Heiser and Worcester County Sheriff Matt Crisafulli are fed up and they are demanding change, mainly when it comes to the Worcester County Board of Education and the ability to protect the children and staff of the Worcester County School system.

As many will recall, in October of 2023, Eastern Shore Undercover made a post on our social media platforms about Worcester County State's Attorney Kris Heiser and Worcester County Sheriff Matt Crisafulli's concern over school safety, and disappointment with the Worcester County Board of Education's failure to act, to resolve issues that the two highest ranking law enforcement officials in Worcester County made them aware of.

Today, in Worcester County, we found ourselves in a press conference, where both Heiser and Crisafulli, spoke to a room full of media, explaining the genuine concern for the safety of not only the students but also the staff in Worcester County Schools, and also the lack of cooperation they are receiving from Worcester County Board of Education. .

The stark truth is that the crumbling state of safety in Worcester County's public schools is no secret. It's a conversation too often hushed or submerged under a sea of bureaucratic jargon and political calculations. 

In the face of increasing instances of physical attacks on staff and students, and a disturbing rise in dangerous incidents such as weapons and drugs, a veil of secrecy thickens around our school system. Heiser stated today that crime in our schools is increasing at an alarming rate.  

Yet, the voices of Heiser and Crisafulli appear to be ignored and lost in the ominous silence from the Worcester County Board of Education.  What we have here, without the sugar coating it, is an obvious failure to secure an environment where learning should safely thrive, and as Heiser said in the press conference, "No child should be afraid to go to school and no parent should be afraid to send their kid to school".

We are not talking solely about high school students, this also affects those in elementary and middle school.  In information obtained from the Worcester County Board of Education, stats show that 55% of physical attacks against students last year, happened in middle schools, along with 72% of fights took place in middle schools. 

What does that say for our future? The Board of Education has said this is a priority however, as Worcester County Sheriff Matt Crisafulli stated, "You cannot say something is a priority, and then not move on suggested safety solutions". 

In addition to the safety of our students, our educators and staff must also be protected.  Teachers are being assaulted in Worcester County Schools at an alarming rate. Sheriff Crisafulli said, "Every person who works in Worcester County Public Schools deserves better.  The time for denial is over".  

To further grasp the divide between the Worcester County Board of Education and the Law Enforcement entities in Worcester County, the concern was made about what is being reported, and what is being swept under the rug. All crimes in the school are NOT being reported, and that makes it very difficult for accountability among those involved in causing these issues.  

It's an undeniable truth that any society flourishes when its members feel safe and secure, and it is no different in the school system.  Kids will achieve more and learn at a faster rate if they aren't sidetracked by concerns over being assaulted, being targets of bullying, weapons, drugs, peer pressure... and the list goes on and on. 

During the opening statements by Heiser and Crisafulli in the press conference, a video was shown of multiple fights in the schools, some of which were just horrific to watch, and even more heartwrenching to listen to.

I requested a copy of the video to share with the community, attached HERE. The faces have been blurred to protect the identity of the students involved. 

Amid the lack of cooperation from the Worcester County Board of Education, Heiser and Crisafulli have remained firm in their stance, advocating for the safety and well-being of Worcester County students and staff.

This strong community-minded approach is what makes Heiser and Crisafulli's voices so powerful and compelling - they are not just speaking out for themselves, they are doing this for the constituents that elected them to do so.

The very men and women entrusted with the protection of our communities are raising a collective alarm that should resonate in the deepest corners of every household in Worcester County.  Heiser stated today that two mass casualty incidents were prevented in the last 5 years in Worcester County, yet changes are not being made to prevent the next one.

Citizens of Worcester County are left to query the very foundations of our Board of Education when they ponder why governing bodies, seemingly designed to nurture our children's potential, shrink back from ensuring their basic safety. 

Heiser and Crisafulli stated that following the initial response in October, they were meeting with the Board of Education and during that time, no meaningful action has been taken.  Finally, the Worcester County Schools Superintendent refused to attend the last meeting, which was basically the final straw and has left Heiser and Crisafulli with setting up their own conferences and making the community aware of these issues.   

Heiser and Crisafulli aren't simply questioning the current state of affairs; they're demanding action, and giving recommendations to correct the issues. Heiser and Crisafulli both agree that the top priority should be to hire a Chief Of Schools Safety Officer, which would be an executive-level position exclusively responsible for school safety. 

If those with the authority to shape policy for our schools, the Board of Education, casually disregard the warnings of the two highest-ranking law enforcement officials, Heiser and Crisafulli, it's a deplorable display of negligence at best. 

This shouldn't be looked at as pointing fingers and placing blame. It's about coming together to find solutions and take necessary steps toward ensuring the safety of our children. According to Heiser, you are far more likely to be assaulted in a Worcester County School than any other location in Worcester County!

Heiser made it abundantly clear that today's meeting was not directed toward the staff of the schools, this is 100% directed at the Worcester County Board of Education.  Heiser wanted to make everyone aware that she, and Sheriff Crisafulli, are very thankful for the efforts made by the staff with the limited resources available to them.  

Eastern Shore Undercover firmly stands alongside Heiser and Crisafulli on this, lending an authoritative voice to the call for change. But it's not just up to them or the law enforcement agencies; it's on all of us - parents, teachers, students, and citizens alike - to demand better and to work towards creating a safer environment for all parties involved, students, staff, teachers, etc.

Let us not ignore this pressing issue any longer, but instead, come together as a united force to protect the future of our community - our children. This is what Heiser and Crisafulli are asking for, a request that should be common sense but for whatever reason, it is just being ignored, basically out of sight, out of mind.

With a catalog of solutions offered to the Board of Education from both Heiser and Crisafulli, as exhaustive as any, it's clear that hiding behind misdirection and lackadaisical avoidance is an unacceptable luxury.

To shun the enactment of a sex offender registrant policy, whistleblower protections, parental notifications of crimes, and enhancements that ought to be the bare minimum in the arsenal to safeguard our children's well-being is nothing short of a callous betrayal of trust.

The recommendations are there, however, when you have a Board of Education turning a blind eye to implement those recommended changes, it leaves every student and every family in jeopardy of the next act.... the next fight..... the next injury.... or worse, the potential for mass casualty.  That is not fear-mongering, that is real life and what is to come. 

These recommendations aren't for minor incidents, these are for major issues within the school system, and the bottom line is our children and teachers are not safe.

Our children and those who guide them through the mazes of education are not merely statistics on a spreadsheet or photographs on a website. They are the beating heart of our future. We cannot, in good conscience, allow them to be abandoned by those who claim to work in their best interests, but are failing to act to secure their safety.

We must rally against this complacency, organize our dissent, and deliver a message as resounding as it is unified - safety in our schools is paramount, it is non-negotiable, and it is achievable with the cooperation and proactive efforts of all invested parties.

For in the silent hallways and during the serene moments of learning, the truth echoes - our children deserve nothing less than our fiercest advocacy and unrelenting protection, which it was obvious today, that Heiser and Crisafulli both stand for.  Unfortunately, it does not appear to be the same stance as the Worcester County Board of Education.