The Carroll County Board of Education has released a formal statement defending its unanimous vote Wednesday to eliminate the overnight component of Outdoor School, disclosing for the first time a specific security incident at the Hashawa Environmental Appreciation Center that the board says contributed to its decision.
The statement describes an individual who appeared to be under the influence of an unknown substance entering the Hashawa property during the night while students were present. The person accessed a vehicle on the grounds and attempted to enter buildings before a staff member intervened. The individual was later found to have an active arrest warrant.
Why the board says schools are different
In the statement, the board pushed back on the comparison some parents have made between Outdoor School and other school-sponsored overnight activities.
"The difference is that our schools have controlled access, security measures, alarm systems, trained staff, and significantly more adult supervision," the statement reads. "The Outdoor School site does not provide those same protections during overnight hours."
The board also posed a pointed hypothetical: "If this exact supervision model were proposed today for the first time — 6th graders sleeping overnight in cabins supervised primarily by high school students, on unfenced public property, with a single adult overnight — we would never approve it."
During Wednesday's meeting, attorney Edmund O'Meally of PK Law had outlined similar structural concerns, including the site's lack of perimeter fencing, poor cellular service, and longer emergency response times. He also cited the Maryland Child Victims Act, which eliminated the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse claims, as a significant source of legal exposure for the school system.
What the board says is staying
The board emphasized in its statement that Outdoor School, as an educational program, is not being eliminated; only the residential component is. "Students will continue to benefit from the environmental education, teamwork, and hands-on learning experiences that have made the program so valuable," the statement reads.
Superintendent Dr. Cynthia McCabe's plan calls for a pause in 2026–27 while staff redesigns the program as a day experience, with full implementation targeting seventh graders beginning in 2027–28. Board President Steve Whistler directed both the Community Advisory Council and the Curriculum Council to participate in shaping the new program.
Parents say the process fell short
Community pushback has centered on the Board’s decision-making process. Parents at the meeting said the agenda item gave no indication a vote would be taken, and that supporting documents were not made available in advance.
The board acknowledged the public’s reaction in its statement: "As a Board, we understand the disappointment this decision has caused." But it stopped short of addressing the timeline or notice concerns directly, saying only that some details about safety vulnerabilities could not be aired publicly.
"We would much rather endure criticism for prioritizing student safety than explaining to a parent why their child was injured, assaulted, or worse because we failed to act after warning signs were presented to us," the statement reads.
The next Carroll County Board of Education meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, July 15, at 5 p.m. at 125 North Court Street, Westminster.
Full statement from the Carroll County Board of Education:
At last night’s Board of Education meeting, the Board voted to discontinue the overnight portion of Outdoor School.
We recognize and appreciate the tremendous educational value Outdoor School has provided students for more than 50 years. This was not a decision about the quality of the program or funding. It was a decision about student safety.
The reality is that the school system does not own or control the Outdoor School property. The site is located within a public park. There is no perimeter fence. There is no dedicated overnight security. Cell phone reception is non-existent or poor at best. There are no law enforcement officers assigned to the site overnight. Emergency response is not immediate. And there are not enough certified educators present during overnight hours to provide the level of supervision expected in today's environment.
Although we are unable to talk about most cases because they involve minors, one concerning incident involved an individual who appeared to be under the influence of an unknown substance who entered the property during the night. He accessed a vehicle and tried to gain access to buildings. Thankfully, he was unable to enter the facilities and a staff member intervened before the situation escalated further. It was later determined the individual had an existing warrant.
Some have asked, "What if this had happened at school?" The difference is that our schools have controlled access, security measures, alarm systems, trained staff, and significantly more adult supervision. The Outdoor School site does not provide those same protections during overnight hours.
As a Board, we understand the disappointment this decision has caused. Traditions matter. Memories matter. But no tradition is more important than the safety and security of our children.
If maintaining a 50-year tradition requires us to accept risks that we would never tolerate at one of our schools, then it is time to make a difficult but responsible decision.
We would much rather endure criticism for prioritizing student safety than explaining to a parent why their child was injured, assaulted, or worse because we failed to act after warning signs were presented to us.
Outdoor School will continue. Students will continue to benefit from the environmental education, teamwork, and hands-on learning experiences that have made the program so valuable. What is changing is the overnight component – not our commitment to providing meaningful educational opportunities.
If this exact supervision model were proposed today for the first time – 6th graders sleeping overnight in cabins supervised primarily by high school students, on unfenced public property, with a single adult overnight – we would never approve it.
When it comes to our children, safety must come first.
Photo: from CCPS Outdoor School website