Hogan's calendar and the above-normal winter forecast

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hogan forced this upon everyone. He will grant waivers if any districts end up with too many snow days. This is such a nonissue. I'm willing to bet my right arm that nobody will cut into spring break even if we end up with a gazillion snow days. People---including teachers and principals and bus drivers---will be away on spring break. Stop worrying.

I wonder how you know this.

Politics 101. This guy knows he infuriated many parents and the teachers union by pushing his agenda to change the calendar. It was a risk. He cannot let it backfire. The governor has traditionally granted waivers in the past. Of course he will if it comes to it next year when the alternative is a political mess that will paint him in a very bad light in the press.

This is a feature, not a bug, for him politically. Plus, as far as I can tell, he likes poking MCPS. So I don't share your opinion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm only seeing a very wet and cold November predicted by the Farmer's Almanac. The rest doesn't look very concerning at all, although it's probably completely inaccurate.
https://www.almanac.com/weather/longrange/DC/Washington.

I also noticed a link to Doug Kammerer's "colder than normal" winter forecast for last year, which was completely wrong.

That said, I think cramming the school year in between Labor Day and June 15 just for the sake of Ocean City businesses is insane and short-sighted.

I agree. School calendar decisions should not be based on what businesses in Ocean City want. It's only a matter of time before we have a bad winter again- if it's not this year it could be next year.

[Anonymous]

People seem to forget that Martin O'Malley was for this change (he just ran out of time in the legislative calendar), and the MSEA was totally on board for it when it was "his idea" .

Now that Hogan does it- going back to a post Labor day start like we all had when we were kids- they go up in arms about it. Blatantly political.

Also- why did MCPS *ADD preservice days when the kids are going back later? Makes no sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People seem to forget that Martin O'Malley was for this change (he just ran out of time in the legislative calendar), and the MSEA was totally on board for it when it was "his idea" .

Now that Hogan does it- going back to a post Labor day start like we all had when we were kids- they go up in arms about it. Blatantly political.

Also- why did MCPS *ADD preservice days when the kids are going back later? Makes no sense.

Uh, yeah, key point why many are not happy. O'Malley was working through proper channels while Hogan issued an executive order. One was collaborative, one not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People seem to forget that Martin O'Malley was for this change (he just ran out of time in the legislative calendar), and the MSEA was totally on board for it when it was "his idea" .

Now that Hogan does it- going back to a post Labor day start like we all had when we were kids- they go up in arms about it. Blatantly political.

Also- why did MCPS *ADD preservice days when the kids are going back later? Makes no sense.

I believe they added preservice days because the teachers' contract requires a certain number of professional days. Since they can't fit them all in between Labor Day and June 15, they had to move some to preservice days instead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People seem to forget that Martin O'Malley was for this change (he just ran out of time in the legislative calendar), and the MSEA was totally on board for it when it was "his idea" .

Now that Hogan does it- going back to a post Labor day start like we all had when we were kids- they go up in arms about it. Blatantly political.

Also- why did MCPS *ADD preservice days when the kids are going back later? Makes no sense.

We who? I didn't have it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People seem to forget that Martin O'Malley was for this change (he just ran out of time in the legislative calendar), and the MSEA was totally on board for it when it was "his idea" .

Now that Hogan does it- going back to a post Labor day start like we all had when we were kids- they go up in arms about it. Blatantly political.

Also- why did MCPS *ADD preservice days when the kids are going back later? Makes no sense.

I believe they added preservice days because the teachers' contract requires a certain number of professional days. Since they can't fit them all in between Labor Day and June 15, they had to move some to preservice days instead.

I think this was Hogan's point -- to force the professional days before school. Teachers are more likely to show up and it is easier, IMO, to plan for the days. This year might have been hard, but I think you will see more MoCo summer options going later into August next year and after if the calendar remains stable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I think this was Hogan's point -- to force the professional days before school. Teachers are more likely to show up and it is easier, IMO, to plan for the days. This year might have been hard, but I think you will see more MoCo summer options going later into August next year and after if the calendar remains stable.

Staffed by whom? Not college kids. They're going back to school themselves.

Hogan's point was to benefit the Ocean City economy.

[Anonymous]

Ocean City is a dump- I wasn't going there before, I'm not going now either.

[Anonymous]

Just read a quote from an OC hotel manager. He confirmed higher attendance this year and higher rates to go with them. Good for businesses but not so great for tourists who will might look to other states to spend their dollars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People seem to forget that Martin O'Malley was for this change (he just ran out of time in the legislative calendar), and the MSEA was totally on board for it when it was "his idea" .

Now that Hogan does it- going back to a post Labor day start like we all had when we were kids- they go up in arms about it. Blatantly political.

Also- why did MCPS *ADD preservice days when the kids are going back later? Makes no sense.

I believe they added preservice days because the teachers' contract requires a certain number of professional days. Since they can't fit them all in between Labor Day and June 15, they had to move some to preservice days instead.

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm only seeing a very wet and cold November predicted by the Farmer's Almanac. The rest doesn't look very concerning at all, although it's probably completely inaccurate.
https://www.almanac.com/weather/longrange/DC/Washington.

I also noticed a link to Doug Kammerer's "colder than normal" winter forecast for last year, which was completely wrong.

That said, I think cramming the school year in between Labor Day and June 15 just for the sake of Ocean City businesses is insane and short-sighted.

I agree. School calendar decisions should not be based on what businesses in Ocean City want. It's only a matter of time before we have a bad winter again- if it's not this year it could be next year.

Agreed. I don't like the emphasis on children's being more valuable as consumers than as students.

I have a feeling this is going to change for next year though given all the backlash

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People seem to forget that Martin O'Malley was for this change (he just ran out of time in the legislative calendar), and the MSEA was totally on board for it when it was "his idea" .

Now that Hogan does it- going back to a post Labor day start like we all had when we were kids- they go up in arms about it. Blatantly political.

Also- why did MCPS *ADD preservice days when the kids are going back later? Makes no sense.

Mcps requires that teachers have a certain amount of professional development days and since the condensed calendar does not allow for full days off they had to be tacked onto the beginning of the year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hogan forced this upon everyone. He will grant waivers if any districts end up with too many snow days. This is such a nonissue. I'm willing to bet my right arm that nobody will cut into spring break even if we end up with a gazillion snow days. People---including teachers and principals and bus drivers---will be away on spring break. Stop worrying.

I wonder how you know this.

Politics 101. This guy knows he infuriated many parents and the teachers union by pushing his agenda to change the calendar. It was a risk. He cannot let it backfire. The governor has traditionally granted waivers in the past. Of course he will if it comes to it next year when the alternative is a political mess that will paint him in a very bad light in the press.

This is a feature, not a bug, for him politically. Plus, as far as I can tell, he likes poking MCPS. So I don't share your opinion.

He does like poking MoCo (not just mcps), but he really can't single us out by refusing a waiver to us and granting them to other counties. Trust me, waivers will be granted if they are needed. Enjoy your spring break trip.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People seem to forget that Martin O'Malley was for this change (he just ran out of time in the legislative calendar), and the MSEA was totally on board for it when it was "his idea" .

Now that Hogan does it- going back to a post Labor day start like we all had when we were kids- they go up in arms about it. Blatantly political.

Also- why did MCPS *ADD preservice days when the kids are going back later? Makes no sense.

Mcps requires that teachers have a certain amount of professional development days and since the condensed calendar does not allow for full days off they had to be tacked onto the beginning of the year.

MCPS doesn't require the professional days. The teacher's union does.