Snow This Weekend - School Next Week?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone remember that one year in the 90s(probably 96 because of the Blizzard) where they extended the school day by like 20 minutes every day for the last like 2 months?

That’s actually genius, but I bet the pushback nowadays would be enormous

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:The make up days are:
October 17
November 3
January 26
March 20
April 15
June 18
June 22-26

I find this fascinating for a few reasons. I think Taylor picked more strategically this year. Two are in Fall and you can’t retroactively be expected to use them. January 26 is obviously a wash in this particular storm. He didn’t touch Feb 17, which was an option, nor did he touch spring break, so that is safe. I think he also got the BOE to vote something about if we are in a state of emergency at the last meeting. I think this is a game of chess. He will make March 20 and April 15 half days (and could consider making March 19 and April 14 also half days so teachers get the same professional development and grading hours). Then he will ask for a waiver for the rest under the state of emergency and multi-day snow event situation. If we get a future storm with more days off, we might be in trouble but this one may squeak by without extending the year.

They can't get a waiver unless they use all the remaining days, which includes the ones in June.

This is just simply not true. They have issued waivers in the past. Yes that’s what’s supposed to happen but they also have discretion to issue one even if the days are not all used.

The law was changed. That is why their waiver was denied in 2025.

Here it is. It includes the following: "(b) The local school system has modified its calendar by scheduling school on the make-up days provided in the original calendar and by extending the school year 3 days beyond the previously scheduled closing date."

https://dsd.maryland.gov/regulations/Pages/13A.02.01.04.aspx

This is why Maryland law is just horrible! Adding days in June are useless and just shorten an already shortened summer. Virginia and various other states get it FAR easier!

They would need to start by adding the contingency days before June. MCPS should start by using the March and April days.

If you are just referring to March 20 and April 15 I have no problem, if it includes all off days in March and April like spring break then absolutely NOT!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone remember that one year in the 90s(probably 96 because of the Blizzard) where they extended the school day by like 20 minutes every day for the last like 2 months?

Oh man I was in high school in NoVA in 2002-2003 when this happened there. It was dreadful. I think it was shortly after this that they decided to allow minutes to count in Virginia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone remember that one year in the 90s(probably 96 because of the Blizzard) where they extended the school day by like 20 minutes every day for the last like 2 months?

That’s actually genius, but I bet the pushback nowadays would be enormous

Besides being ineffective educationally,it doesn't work as an alternative to using make-up days.

It really isn't complicated. We need at least 185 scheduled days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone remember that one year in the 90s(probably 96 because of the Blizzard) where they extended the school day by like 20 minutes every day for the last like 2 months?

That’s actually genius, but I bet the pushback nowadays would be enormous

I am so glad you mentioned it. I remember it and no one else I know does so they act like I imagined it.

[Anonymous]

We should just start earlier. First day of school in mid August, not late. That way, we can keep all of our existing non-instructional days.

Build in 4 snow days at the very end.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone remember that one year in the 90s(probably 96 because of the Blizzard) where they extended the school day by like 20 minutes every day for the last like 2 months?

That’s actually genius, but I bet the pushback nowadays would be enormous

Besides being ineffective educationally,it doesn't work as an alternative to using make-up days.

It really isn't complicated. We need at least 185 scheduled days.

I think it happened in VA not MD

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We should just start earlier. First day of school in mid August, not late. That way, we can keep all of our existing non-instructional days.

Build in 4 snow days at the very end.

August is hot, and they start early enough as they are starting a week earlier next year (2 weeks before Labor Day which never happened before) due to the extra religious holidays.
Starting earlier shortens summer, same with ending later. Nothing accomplished towards saving summer by doing that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone remember that one year in the 90s(probably 96 because of the Blizzard) where they extended the school day by like 20 minutes every day for the last like 2 months?

That’s actually genius, but I bet the pushback nowadays would be enormous

Besides being ineffective educationally,it doesn't work as an alternative to using make-up days.

It really isn't complicated. We need at least 185 scheduled days.

Massachusetts does it this way but it can lead to a June 29 or 30 last day of school if all five extra days are needed. While Massachusetts schools often start later and have three breaks instead of two, they don't have as many religious holidays and don't take a day off for grading after every quarter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought if we’re in a state of emergency, then there can be a waiver granted.

That was the old ways. It only applies if you make an effort to make up the days, but can’t.

+1. The state is requiring MCPS to actually use the contingency days. That's the whole point of having them.

It's one thing for non-state of emergency closures but having to make up state of emergency closures is disgusting!

Everyone knows we get snow. If MCPS isn't willing to even try to open after snow, it needs much more than 1 snow day. This is blatantly refusing to prepare.

This is the drum I've been banging for years. I've begrudgingly accepted this area can't handle snowstorms. But knowing this, we should prepare for that apparent DMV fact of life and build in some slack. 1 snow day is administrative malpractice. And stop putting contingency days in the fall. We never use them and then are forced to add useless contingency days at the end of the year. And sorry, the transition day should not have taken away a school day for everyone else.

They don’t even use the spring contingency days, even though they are after the snow days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone remember that one year in the 90s(probably 96 because of the Blizzard) where they extended the school day by like 20 minutes every day for the last like 2 months?

That’s actually genius, but I bet the pushback nowadays would be enormous

Besides being ineffective educationally,it doesn't work as an alternative to using make-up days.

It really isn't complicated. We need at least 185 scheduled days.

+1. Or they should create more contingency days Feb-May and actually use them. Otherwise they will simply need to keep extending the school year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone remember that one year in the 90s(probably 96 because of the Blizzard) where they extended the school day by like 20 minutes every day for the last like 2 months?

That’s actually genius, but I bet the pushback nowadays would be enormous

Besides being ineffective educationally,it doesn't work as an alternative to using make-up days.

It really isn't complicated. We need at least 185 scheduled days.

I think it happened in VA not MD

It happened in MoCo. I was in elementary school and we stayed in school until almost 4 PM because of it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone remember that one year in the 90s(probably 96 because of the Blizzard) where they extended the school day by like 20 minutes every day for the last like 2 months?

That’s actually genius, but I bet the pushback nowadays would be enormous

Besides being ineffective educationally,it doesn't work as an alternative to using make-up days.

It really isn't complicated. We need at least 185 scheduled days.

+1. Or they should create more contingency days Feb-May and actually use them. Otherwise they will simply need to keep extending the school year.

People complain whatever they do. If they use a contingency day, me any kids do not show up and they cannot teach new material.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone remember that one year in the 90s(probably 96 because of the Blizzard) where they extended the school day by like 20 minutes every day for the last like 2 months?

That’s actually genius, but I bet the pushback nowadays would be enormous

Besides being ineffective educationally,it doesn't work as an alternative to using make-up days.

It really isn't complicated. We need at least 185 scheduled days.

Massachusetts does it this way but it can lead to a June 29 or 30 last day of school if all five extra days are needed. While Massachusetts schools often start later and have three breaks instead of two, they don't have as many religious holidays and don't take a day off for grading after every quarter.

I liked the Massachusetts way a lot when we were there. Our elementary schools also have one short day a week. 😀

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We should just start earlier. First day of school in mid August, not late. That way, we can keep all of our existing non-instructional days.

Build in 4 snow days at the very end.

August is hot, and they start early enough as they are starting a week earlier next year (2 weeks before Labor Day which never happened before) due to the extra religious holidays.
Starting earlier shortens summer, same with ending later. Nothing accomplished towards saving summer by doing that.

We can fix the AC in schools.

The problem is not shortening summer. 6 weeks is enough. The problem is the uncertainty about make up days.