Background on the Incident
Surveillance footage obtained by Fox 45 provides new insights into the removal of Dr. Bash Fon, a 76-year-old physician, from a Baltimore County School Board meeting. The incident, which occurred on July 9, involved Fon being escorted out of the meeting for allegedly violating board policy by standing while recording a video.
The footage, which does not include audio, shows Dr. Fon in the hallway after being removed from the meeting and interacting with key figures from the Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS) administration. This video evidence has led to growing concerns and questions about the circumstances surrounding Fon’s removal and the enforcement of board policies.
Events Leading to the Removal
Dr. Bash Fon attended the Baltimore County School Board meeting on July 9, during which he stood up to record a video. According to the school district, Fon violated board policy, which prohibits standing during the meeting. This rule, however, is reportedly not always enforced uniformly, as Fon and others have claimed that people frequently stand during these meetings without facing repercussions.
The situation escalated when Fon was approached and removed from the meeting. He later stated that he was being targeted by the district leadership, arguing that the enforcement of the standing policy was inconsistent and selectively applied.
Surveillance Footage and Contradictory Accounts
Fox 45 obtained surveillance footage that sheds light on what happened after Fon was removed from the boardroom. The video shows Fon in the hallway outside the boardroom, where he is seen speaking with Mildred Charlie Green, the Chief of Staff for BCPS, moments after he was removed. The footage does not capture audio, so the content of their conversation remains unknown. However, it is clear from the video that Green engaged with Fon, which contradicts the statement later made by BCPS Superintendent Dr. Mariam Rogers.
In a written response to Fon, Dr. Rogers claimed that the Chief of Staff did not engage with Fon and that the security guard who escorted him out did not instruct him to leave the building. This statement directly contradicts what is seen in the surveillance footage. The video shows Green leaving the boardroom and speaking with Fon in the hallway. After their brief interaction, Fon is seen shrugging his shoulders and eventually leaving the building, as captured by another camera.
Responses and Reactions
Dr. Fon, feeling that his civil rights were violated by being removed from the meeting, sought recourse by writing letters to the Inspector General for Education and the school system. However, the responses he received were not favorable.
The Inspector General’s office stated that it did not have the statutory authority to pursue the case, suggesting that Fon seek legal counsel. Meanwhile, the reply from BCPS Superintendent Dr. Rogers suggested that Fon’s statements about the incident were not truthful, a claim that is now being scrutinized in light of the surveillance footage.
BCPS has maintained its position that Fon’s account of the incident is false. In a statement to Fox 45, the district said it would not comment further on the matter until the news outlet provided a clarification. The footage, however, raises significant questions about the accuracy of the school system’s narrative and the treatment of Fon during the meeting.
Implications and Next Steps
The controversy surrounding Dr. Fon’s removal has sparked discussions about accountability and transparency within the Baltimore County Public Schools system. Dr. Fon, who has expressed his strong belief in public education, argues that the incident reflects a larger issue of accountability within the school district. With BCPS being the 22nd largest school system in the United States and managing a multi-billion dollar budget, the implications of such an incident are far-reaching.
Dr. Fon plans to attend the next in-person board meeting, scheduled for the first time since the July 9 incident, where he intends to sign up for public comment. Fox 45 has committed to continuing its coverage of the situation, highlighting the importance of public accountability and the ongoing questions surrounding the enforcement of board policies.
As this story develops, the focus remains on the actions of BCPS officials and whether the surveillance footage will prompt further investigation into the circumstances of Dr. Fon’s removal. The case underscores the need for clear and consistent enforcement of policies, as well as the importance of transparency in public institutes.
