Montgomery County Public Schools students could lose some of their spring break to snow make-up days under the drafted school calendar for next year.
The proposed schedule for the 2017-2018 school year would close schools from March 26 through April 2, but would set aside the first two days of spring vacation as potential instructional days if winter weather forces closures earlier in the year, according to a draft released by MCPS Superintendent Jack Smith.
Using spring break days to catch up on lost class time will likely be unpopular with parents, teachers and students, school board President Michael Durso predicted on Friday. Historically, the system has tacked on the make-up days to the end of the school year.
However, Gov. Larry Hogan’s recent mandate that schools open after Labor Day and close by June 15 has put local officials in a bind, Durso said.
“We’re kind of stuck,” he said.
Smith’s calendar plan targets a total of seven dates—March 26 and 27 and June 15 through 21—to make up for any emergency closings. Durso said he’s not sure if the school officials would use up the June dates first and only infringe on spring break as a last resort or vice versa. The sequencing will likely come up for discussion on Tuesday, when the school board considers Smith’s drafted calendar, he said.
Durso and other board members have been critical of Hogan’s order on post-Labor Day school starts, arguing that class calendars should remain the purview of local leaders. The Republican governor issued his August executive order with the rationale that it would promote tourism and boost the state’s economy.
Montgomery County officials briefly considered applying for an exemption from Hogan’s mandate, but found the school system likely couldn’t meet the waiver criteria, according to schools spokesman Derek Turner. The school board in November voted to begin classes the Tuesday after Labor Day, on Sept. 5, 2017, and end them June 15, 2018.
In a memo to the school board, Smith predicted an even tougher time crafting future school calendars.in election years or when Labor Day falls later in the month and further narrows the state-imposed timeframe for classes.
