Bill Giving MD Schools Flexibility on Start Date Gains Traction in Assembly (Opposed by Governor)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I actually very happy with current calendar. It is much easier to plan ahead for summer. Nobody can study late in June or in early August. The problem is not start and end date. Problem is MCPS with ton of closed days. It is MCPS that is by purpose trying to twist parents' hands and make our life miserable with crazy schedule during the year and rediculous spring break.

Seriously? Why can’t anyone study in June or August? Schools have AC, no?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I actually very happy with current calendar. It is much easier to plan ahead for summer. Nobody can study late in June or in early August. The problem is not start and end date. Problem is MCPS with ton of closed days. It is MCPS that is by purpose trying to twist parents' hands and make our life miserable with crazy schedule during the year and rediculous spring break.

yet. randomly placed half days, full days off and then an Auber-conservative snow day philosophy.

I'm not a fan of the current calendar (Post Labor Day - June 15), but there are no randomly placed half days or full days off. They all serve a purpose.

[Anonymous]

I agree with year round also

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I actually very happy with current calendar. It is much easier to plan ahead for summer. Nobody can study late in June or in early August. The problem is not start and end date. Problem is MCPS with ton of closed days. It is MCPS that is by purpose trying to twist parents' hands and make our life miserable with crazy schedule during the year and rediculous spring break.

yet. randomly placed half days, full days off and then an Auber-conservative snow day philosophy.

MCPS would probably go back to scheduling 184 instructional days rather than 182. I am in favor of a little more cushion on snow days.

[Anonymous]

If they figured out how to consolidate all the half-days, they could probably cut the 1% Elrich wants with almost no impact.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If they figured out how to consolidate all the half-days, they could probably cut the 1% Elrich wants with almost no impact.

A half day is a day of school. If they "consolidated all the half days", whatever that means, then there would have to be school on the other days. How would that save money?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do not forget that our amazing busses do not have air conditioners and half schools have problems with air-conditioning even in May! The problem is MCPS not governor! Governor want to bring business and money to state.
Do you want higher taxes but school in summer? I do not.

You sound smart

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fingers crossed that this passes and we can have more buffer built into our schedule next year.

https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/schools/bill-giving-county-schools-flexibility-on-start-date-class-scheduling-supported/
Legislation introduced by Sen. Nancy King of Montgomery County, a former president and eight-year member of the county school board, and Prince George’s County Sen. Paul Pinsky would allow the state’s 24 local school boards to establish their own calendars.

Senate Bill 128, which was supported by education activists during a Wednesday committee hearing, would overturn an executive order from Gov. Larry Hogan requiring all schools to open after Labor Day.

Hogan’s 2016 order, which met with criticism, was made to promote small businesses through the holiday and “protect the traditional end of summer.”

The requirement has put a strain on school systems struggling to find a way to accommodate the order along with state mandates that students attend 180 days of classes without the school year extending past June 15.

Such is true in Montgomery County, where schools were originally scheduled to release for summer break June 13 this school year, but the calendar was extended Wednesday when schools were closed due to inclement weather. Because of state restrictions, any additional weather or emergency closures could have to be made up during spring break or teacher service days unless the state school board grants a waiver.

“We’ve really been struggling for the last two years because of this new calendar,” Montgomery County school board member Judy Docca said. “We always started in August, and now, if we need to make up time, there’s only so much we can do.”

Yes, please! Hogan is trying to cram way too much into the school year to the benefit of OC and the detriment of our kids. It's stressful, and they have to spend more time relearning w/ a longer summer. It's just too much to cram in with little respite for kids and teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's silly to even discuss this since the teachers union is definitely not buying into a year around school without massive pay increases which aren't in the budget.

It wouldn’t mean more working days. It just means the school year is spread out through the year and has longer breaks throughout. I knew school staff from Florida that did this and they said once everyone adjusted they really loved it. My kids would much prefer to be in school in August than in late September or May, when being outside is so lovely.

I'm w/ you.

[Anonymous]

Looks like the bill is moving in the full Senate tomorrow:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/democrats-revive-fight-with-hogan-over-starting-school-after-labor-day/2019/02/06/0bd1b624-2a1a-11e9-b011-d8500644dc98_story.html?utm_term=.6df3a61395ca

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Looks like the bill is moving in the full Senate tomorrow:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/democrats-revive-fight-with-hogan-over-starting-school-after-labor-day/2019/02/06/0bd1b624-2a1a-11e9-b011-d8500644dc98_story.html?utm_term=.6df3a61395ca

Yay!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looks like the bill is moving in the full Senate tomorrow:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/democrats-revive-fight-with-hogan-over-starting-school-after-labor-day/2019/02/06/0bd1b624-2a1a-11e9-b011-d8500644dc98_story.html?utm_term=.6df3a61395ca

Yay!

I'm in favor of this BUT I really hope they do not make changes to the 2019-20 calendar that is already approved and published. We have airline tickets to go on vacation out of the country at the end of August, and missing the first week of school would be a big problem (much worse than missing a late add-on last week of school). MCPS adopts a calendar early for a reason; it is so disruptive to change unexpectedly after that time, so hopefully any changes would be starting the following school year.

[Anonymous]

If you support this bill (SB 128 "County Boards of Education - School Year - Start and End Dates"), then e-mail your state senator this morning. The vote is today.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If I write to my legislator it will be to keep the current school calendar. I’m pretty happy about the way in which things are going. I don’t want my kid on a hot school bus or in a hot classroom.

Yes because your little snowflake might melt. I have two kids in MCPS. They did fine with the old schedule, and they would prefer longer breaks in between quarters. Gives teachers and students some breathing room in between quarters.

+1. It's 2019. How hot do you think a bus is? If the AC on a bus breaks, report it so that it can be fixed.

I'm for more and longer breaks during the school year. The holidays feel so rushed because we try to cram everything into 7-10 days. I'd rather have 2 full weeks for winter break, 2 full weeks for spring break, and 8 weeks or less of summer vacation.

[Anonymous]

I still say I would love an early August start date and be done by Memorial Day. More time for students to study for AP exams, getting students more time for instruction in line with national peers, and the bonus of nicer weather for camp or vacations.