Why doesn't MCPS include more than 1 snow day in the calendar?

[Anonymous]

For the last few years, MCPS only included 1 snow day in the calendar. Why don't they include more snow days? In the past, I think they had 3 snow days which is much more realistic given snowfall in this area.

Instead, it seems we've fallen into a pattern of having several snow days, and then MCPS adding ad hoc some June days at the end of the year, where they state no new instruction will take place because they know all the kids will be at summer camp anyway.

[Anonymous]

I know one of the days is taken by that unnecessary transition day!

We used to have a half day for orientation during preservice that didn't take up an instructional day. I can not figure out who decided this full day transition day was needed?

But that only accounts for this year. I'm not sure why MCPS doesn't include more snow days in their schedule anymore like other counties do.

[Anonymous]

We always had 3-4 days in New York. Not sure why Maryland only has one. That seems to not fit the climate pattern of recent years.

[Anonymous]

I think it's because we've had light winters for the last several years so they just got used to not needing many snow days. I always thought that it was foolish to have anything less than 4 snow days baked into the calendar but that's purely my observation as a parent. Not sure what the insider reasons are.

I do think there was also the pressure to continue to recognize more non-Christian holidays (Diwali, Lunar New Year) in addition to MCPS's already recognized Jewish holidays. Also, the teachers' union strongly demanded more half days or non-instructional days to catch up on grading and/or PD.

So I think that squeezed out all of the snow days that used to be baked into the calendar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know one of the days is taken by that unnecessary transition day!

We used to have a half day for orientation during preservice that didn't take up an instructional day. I can not figure out who decided this full day transition day was needed?

But that only accounts for this year. I'm not sure why MCPS doesn't include more snow days in their schedule anymore like other counties do.

Taylor decided it starting this past fall, and it's the plan for next fall too.

[Anonymous]

It's a ridiculous way to build a calendar in an area where a 4-5 inch snowfall can close school for multiple days. We need at least 3-4 days built into the calendar. Do away with the transition day and make some of the professional development days half days.

[Anonymous]

We used to have 184 days scheduled, with additional days at the end as snow days. Most years we only used one or two, and everyone wished school ended sooner (hated the 2days the following week pattern.) The couple of times we had huge storms, it was a state emergency and they waived making up extra days beyond the 4.

Then came Hogan and his mandate that schools start after Labor Day and end by 6/15. Some years it barely fit and end of quarter grading became half days, pd became half days. As part of that process they dropped extra days not mandated by law and got creative around where to put makeup days. After the assembly made a law giving start date decisions back to school systems and we were post pandemic, they never went back, partly because climate change has really switched weather patterns and partly because it’s less expensive to not open the buildings unnecessarily.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it's because we've had light winters for the last several years so they just got used to not needing many snow days. I always thought that it was foolish to have anything less than 4 snow days baked into the calendar but that's purely my observation as a parent. Not sure what the insider reasons are.

I do think there was also the pressure to continue to recognize more non-Christian holidays (Diwali, Lunar New Year) in addition to MCPS's already recognized Jewish holidays. Also, the teachers' union strongly demanded more half days or non-instructional days to catch up on grading and/or PD.

So I think that squeezed out all of the snow days that used to be baked into the calendar.

The PP is correct. I have one who's a HS senior, and one in college. When they started MCPs, there were 4 days included. We typically had more snowfall then + no Lunar New Year, Diwali, Eid, and Passover. Yes, I realize that all the previously mentioned days are not always off, but there has been a concerted effort to make them teacher work days.

Since my elder one started school, we always had Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur as days off.

MCPS can do what Loudoun County, VA does. There's the option to have a 9 week summer break vs a 10 week summer break. They get many days off during the school year & typically have more snow days too.

[Anonymous]

Because everyone complains about the school year starting "too early" or ending "too late" if they put more days in, so they make the year unreasonably short to avoid getting yelled at, even though we all know it will end up getting lengthened anyway due to snow days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it's because we've had light winters for the last several years so they just got used to not needing many snow days. I always thought that it was foolish to have anything less than 4 snow days baked into the calendar but that's purely my observation as a parent. Not sure what the insider reasons are.

I do think there was also the pressure to continue to recognize more non-Christian holidays (Diwali, Lunar New Year) in addition to MCPS's already recognized Jewish holidays. Also, the teachers' union strongly demanded more half days or non-instructional days to catch up on grading and/or PD.

So I think that squeezed out all of the snow days that used to be baked into the calendar.

The PP is correct. I have one who's a HS senior, and one in college. When they started MCPs, there were 4 days included. We typically had more snowfall then + no Lunar New Year, Diwali, Eid, and Passover. Yes, I realize that all the previously mentioned days are not always off, but there has been a concerted effort to make them teacher work days.

Since my elder one started school, we always had Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur as days off.

MCPS can do what Loudoun County, VA does. There's the option to have a 9 week summer break vs a 10 week summer break. They get many days off during the school year & typically have more snow days too.

VA counts minimum school hours for the year, not days, and Loudoun has a longer day than other counties, which gives them a ton of wiggle room. Not really comparable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it's because we've had light winters for the last several years so they just got used to not needing many snow days. I always thought that it was foolish to have anything less than 4 snow days baked into the calendar but that's purely my observation as a parent. Not sure what the insider reasons are.

I do think there was also the pressure to continue to recognize more non-Christian holidays (Diwali, Lunar New Year) in addition to MCPS's already recognized Jewish holidays. Also, the teachers' union strongly demanded more half days or non-instructional days to catch up on grading and/or PD.

So I think that squeezed out all of the snow days that used to be baked into the calendar.

The PP is correct. I have one who's a HS senior, and one in college. When they started MCPs, there were 4 days included. We typically had more snowfall then + no Lunar New Year, Diwali, Eid, and Passover. Yes, I realize that all the previously mentioned days are not always off, but there has been a concerted effort to make them teacher work days.

Since my elder one started school, we always had Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur as days off.

MCPS can do what Loudoun County, VA does. There's the option to have a 9 week summer break vs a 10 week summer break. They get many days off during the school year & typically have more snow days too.

I am Asian and didn’t see a lot of advocacy from communities to add Diwali and Lunar New year as MCPS holidays. That teachers wanted more grading/development days and could put them in the guise of recognizing additional holidays made it more palatable to MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We used to have 184 days scheduled, with additional days at the end as snow days. Most years we only used one or two, and everyone wished school ended sooner (hated the 2days the following week pattern.) The couple of times we had huge storms, it was a state emergency and they waived making up extra days beyond the 4.

Then came Hogan and his mandate that schools start after Labor Day and end by 6/15. Some years it barely fit and end of quarter grading became half days, pd became half days. As part of that process they dropped extra days not mandated by law and got creative around where to put makeup days. After the assembly made a law giving start date decisions back to school systems and we were post pandemic, they never went back, partly because climate change has really switched weather patterns and partly because it’s less expensive to not open the buildings unnecessarily.

Hogan and his Eastern shore tourism priorities are long gone. Just start school a week earlier in August. It’s good for kids in AP classes to get that extra week in before May exams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We used to have 184 days scheduled, with additional days at the end as snow days. Most years we only used one or two, and everyone wished school ended sooner (hated the 2days the following week pattern.) The couple of times we had huge storms, it was a state emergency and they waived making up extra days beyond the 4.

Then came Hogan and his mandate that schools start after Labor Day and end by 6/15. Some years it barely fit and end of quarter grading became half days, pd became half days. As part of that process they dropped extra days not mandated by law and got creative around where to put makeup days. After the assembly made a law giving start date decisions back to school systems and we were post pandemic, they never went back, partly because climate change has really switched weather patterns and partly because it’s less expensive to not open the buildings unnecessarily.

Hogan and his Eastern shore tourism priorities are long gone. Just start school a week earlier in August. It’s good for kids in AP classes to get that extra week in before May exams.

I agree, but unfortunately I doubt people in this county are willing to tolerate starting a little earlier in August. Did you hear how much people complained about starting one whole day earlier this year than last year? Now imagine if someone told them school had to start on-- *gasp*-- August 20th? The horror!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We used to have 184 days scheduled, with additional days at the end as snow days. Most years we only used one or two, and everyone wished school ended sooner (hated the 2days the following week pattern.) The couple of times we had huge storms, it was a state emergency and they waived making up extra days beyond the 4.

Then came Hogan and his mandate that schools start after Labor Day and end by 6/15. Some years it barely fit and end of quarter grading became half days, pd became half days. As part of that process they dropped extra days not mandated by law and got creative around where to put makeup days. After the assembly made a law giving start date decisions back to school systems and we were post pandemic, they never went back, partly because climate change has really switched weather patterns and partly because it’s less expensive to not open the buildings unnecessarily.

Hogan and his Eastern shore tourism priorities are long gone. Just start school a week earlier in August. It’s good for kids in AP classes to get that extra week in before May exams.

I agree, but unfortunately I doubt people in this county are willing to tolerate starting a little earlier in August. Did you hear how much people complained about starting one whole day earlier this year than last year? Now imagine if someone told them school had to start on-- *gasp*-- August 20th? The horror!

I don't see any evidence for that. Most parents in MCPS can't take off 9 weeks of holidays from their jobs. Maybe the summer camp lobby complains, and maybe the MCPS teachers complain, but not the parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We used to have 184 days scheduled, with additional days at the end as snow days. Most years we only used one or two, and everyone wished school ended sooner (hated the 2days the following week pattern.) The couple of times we had huge storms, it was a state emergency and they waived making up extra days beyond the 4.

Then came Hogan and his mandate that schools start after Labor Day and end by 6/15. Some years it barely fit and end of quarter grading became half days, pd became half days. As part of that process they dropped extra days not mandated by law and got creative around where to put makeup days. After the assembly made a law giving start date decisions back to school systems and we were post pandemic, they never went back, partly because climate change has really switched weather patterns and partly because it’s less expensive to not open the buildings unnecessarily.

Hogan and his Eastern shore tourism priorities are long gone. Just start school a week earlier in August. It’s good for kids in AP classes to get that extra week in before May exams.

I agree, but unfortunately I doubt people in this county are willing to tolerate starting a little earlier in August. Did you hear how much people complained about starting one whole day earlier this year than last year? Now imagine if someone told them school had to start on-- *gasp*-- August 20th? The horror!

I don't see any evidence for that. Most parents in MCPS can't take off 9 weeks of holidays from their jobs. Maybe the summer camp lobby complains, and maybe the MCPS teachers complain, but not the parents.

+1. This is not something most parents would complain about. A lot of Virginia already starts earlier than MCPS.

But on a different thread a teacher said “if you want to take away one of my 9 weeks of summer holiday, you better pay me more.” The teachers are better with this fiction that there’s only one snow day a year in MoCo because then there aren’t 180 days of actual teaching time built into the calendar.