GERMANTOWN, Md. – Scott Smith, principal of Northwest High School in Germantown, has been placed on administrative leave as Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) investigates an undisclosed matter. Details surrounding his absence remain unclear, as district officials have not provided specific information.
Smith, who has been at the helm of Northwest High since 2021, was seen leaving the school on Wednesday with boxes being removed from the premises.
The school district has characterized the situation as a personnel issue, offering little information to the community.
READ MORE | Montgomery County high school principal placed on leave; reason unclear
During a recent Montgomery County School Board meeting, both Superintendent Dr. Thomas Taylor and board member Grace Rivera-Oven, who represents the district that includes Northwest High, refrained from commenting on the investigation or the lack of transparency regarding Smith’s leave.
Attempts to contact Smith at his home in Frederick County were unsuccessful.
A letter sent to the Northwest High community confirmed Smith’s leave, stating, “Mr. Scott Smith is currently on leave. We are committed to sharing more information regarding the length of Mr. Smith’s absence when available.”
What they’re saying:
The lack of communication from school officials has left families feeling uncertain. Parent Pedro Arguello expressed concern, stating, “The verbiage didn’t really say much in the community letter they sent out.” He noted that students are feeling “a little frazzled” and that he is waiting for further information from the school system.
Other parents have voiced their worries about school safety and the need for better communication. Parent Gene Davis remarked, “We send her here. She’s here for most of the day, so we’ve got to know that there’s a safe environment. If there’s something going on, we need to know about this as parents.” Davis emphasized the importance of understanding the situation for the safety of all students.
This leadership change comes on the heels of a security incident at Northwest High last month, where a gun was reported inside the school, linked to an armed robbery in a boys’ bathroom. It remains unclear if Smith’s leave is connected to that incident.
The Source: Information in this article is from Montgomery County Public School leaders and original FOX 5 reporting.
