NBC Washington interviewed Montgomery County Council Vice President Will Jawando in his capacity as chair of the Education and Culture Committee following the shooting at Thomas S. Wootton High School in Rockville on February 9, 2026, in which a 16-year-old student was shot by a classmate.
“I have skin in the game, my kids are in the school system right now. Trust me, the only thing I want for them to be is to be cared for and safe, to be learning.”
— Will Jawando
Jawando, a father of four children in Montgomery County Public Schools, expressed openness to exploring weapons detection systems while calling for a comprehensive approach to school safety. He emphasized that no single solution is sufficient and that the county must pursue a strategy that includes law enforcement alongside restorative justice practices that address the root causes of school violence.
“We have to have a comprehensive strategy that includes law enforcement, but also has some of these other pieces.”
— Will Jawando
Jawando also noted that the county must carefully evaluate the effectiveness and cost of proposed security measures, stating that he wants to improve and look at anything that can help create a safer school system for every student in Montgomery County.