MCPS Delayed AI Weapons Screening Contract for Eight Months

District took eight months to release Vault AI agreement

Montgomery County Public Schools leadership is facing scrutiny after the district took roughly eight months to disclose a contract for an AI-powered weapons screening pilot program in high schools. Superintendent Dr. Thomas Taylor signed the agreement with Vault AI on November 4, 2025, but the 33-page contract wasn't released until July 23.

The document only surfaced after Janice Sartucci, an advocate with the Parents Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland, filed a Maryland Public Information Act request and later escalated the matter to a state ombudsman. Sartucci's initial February request was met with a response from MCPS Deputy Chief of Communications Chris Cram stating there were "no responsive documents" related to Vault AI and characterizing the 30-day pilot as a "no-cost agreement."

After Sartucci involved the Maryland Public Information Act ombudsman in April, the school system eventually provided the contract months later. Cram acknowledged in a note that the earlier information was incorrect and expressed regret for the error.

Why it matters

The delayed disclosure raises questions about how school districts handle transparency obligations when deploying emerging AI surveillance technologies that affect student privacy. As more schools explore AI-based security tools, the incident highlights the need for clear protocols around public disclosure and parent notification before implementation.

Superintendent defends district's response

When questioned at a school ribbon-cutting event Friday, Dr. Taylor said he wasn't familiar with the specific MPIA request but emphasized that the district is evaluating various technologies and will share findings once evaluations are complete.

Addressing concerns about student privacy and parent notification, Taylor stated that the district held a parent meeting and sent correspondence to families before the pilot program. "We have cameras in all of our schools," he noted, adding that he believes the district has fulfilled every MPIA request to its fullest extent.

The school board president indicated the board hasn't yet examined the matter but expects it to be addressed at next Thursday's meeting.

District defends transparency record

In a written statement, Cram defended the district's handling of the request, saying the initial response was based on incorrect information from the office responsible for searching records. He emphasized that once the error was identified, the district acknowledged it plainly and provided the responsive records.

Cram argued it would be inaccurate to suggest MCPS withheld the agreement until the ombudsman compelled action, noting that Sartucci's decision to involve the ombudsman added time to the resolution process. He characterized the incident as an error rather than evidence of a "serious transparency issue," pointing to the district's acknowledgment and correction of the mistake.

The district handles thousands of public information requests across a large school system, Cram noted, and while not every response will be error-free, transparency is measured by whether an organization acknowledges mistakes, corrects them, and provides the requested records.

These details were first reported by FOX 5 DC.