2026-2027 calendar updates

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Survey is launched mcpsmd.info/calendaradjustments

Corrected link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe6dfSGZ9aNwxX0ZKJvs-4P2MpWltJMRG5a8Y0KrPPpRTA1PQ/viewform?usp=send_form

Everyone should go put their input into the survey. It probably won’t make a difference but make it clear they should get rid of the random holidays, not start earlier!!

They aren't random. They are tied to specific religious observances.

Fine, random was a poor word choice on my part. But the fact is for most of the holidays, only a very small portion of the school population is observing them and I say that as a member of one of those minority religions. I’d much rather not mess with the start of school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if this proposal is to pressure the union to give up their grading days (switch them to half days) to avoid them having to start earlier?

This got asked and Taylor’s response was basically that it would have to be negotiated but this is the only option within the constraints we have now

Right but I'm pretty sure this is just him playing a game of chicken with the unions. "Agree to cut back your grading/planning or we'll make you start work a week earlier."

Otherwise there's no good reason why they would have picked starting the school year earlier over shortenu winter or spring break. Starting early is obviously worse (on short notice, that is-- I think it may be the better option in the long term, but it's ridiculous for him to say they aren't recommending cutting back on breaks because people have already made plans, when obviously August is much sooner and many more people have already made plans around that.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The superintendent’s recommendation is to start school earlier. They’re refusing to take holidays. I hate it here. (Listening to the board now)

OMG

If Thomas Taylor messes with my beach trip he is dead to me

Don’t cancel your beach trip. If they go through with this there will be so many absences that first week.

Yeah, this. And a lot of them will be teachers.

[Anonymous]

Why in the world aren't they giving up Transition Day??! It doesn't count as a school day and kids do not need a full day to "transition". It's worthless - the Pre-Service week half day orientation was fine. We had it for decades.

[Anonymous]

I cannot believe they didn't touch the religious holidays and took the worst of the three options they presented -- starting school earlier. This is terrible. These people are clowns.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:12/23 is proposed as a makeup day.

We never need a makeup day that early. Ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait...so did anything actually come of this meeting today?? Can someone fill me in?

It’s happening as we speak.

No vote -- just the presentation. Let your voice be heard or it will be rubber-stamped at the next meeting in 2 weeks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if this proposal is to pressure the union to give up their grading days (switch them to half days) to avoid them having to start earlier?

This got asked and Taylor’s response was basically that it would have to be negotiated but this is the only option within the constraints we have now

Right but I'm pretty sure this is just him playing a game of chicken with the unions. "Agree to cut back your grading/planning or we'll make you start work a week earlier."

Otherwise there's no good reason why they would have picked starting the school year earlier over shortenu winter or spring break. Starting early is obviously worse (on short notice, that is-- I think it may be the better option in the long term, but it's ridiculous for him to say they aren't recommending cutting back on breaks because people have already made plans, when obviously August is much sooner and many more people have already made plans around that.)

I hope you are right, but I fear you are not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I cannot believe they didn't touch the religious holidays and took the worst of the three options they presented -- starting school earlier. This is terrible. These people are clowns.

It is very much giving we want mcea to give up something in exchange. They probably want to cut the number of PD/Grading days. But something will have to give.

[Anonymous]

As a teacher, they can have the PD days. Make them a half day or a full day. I’d rather be teaching than sitting in county designed PD. Quarter planning days are actually valuable to us though. The transition day? That can go too.
However, spread that Google Form out and get the feedback. I doubt it will do much good, but a lack of response just makes it easier for them to justify their actions

[Anonymous]

This is so stupid. All they have to do to be in compliance with MSDE while starting on 8/24 (8/17 for teachers) as planned is to drop the transition day and turn any one day in the second semester (like a spring break day, grading day, or holiday/professional day) into a makeup day they'll actually use.

But Taylor likes to assert things confidently and assume they'll trust he's right.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is so stupid. All they have to do to be in compliance with MSDE while starting on 8/24 (8/17 for teachers) as planned is to drop the transition day and turn any one day in the second semester (like a spring break day, grading day, or holiday/professional day) into a makeup day they'll actually use.

But Taylor likes to assert things confidently and assume they'll trust he's right.

Or if they're so in love with the transition day, then pick two days in spring semester to be makeup days. Totally doable, and far less disruptive than this "start a week earlier with no notice" crap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is so stupid. All they have to do to be in compliance with MSDE while starting on 8/24 (8/17 for teachers) as planned is to drop the transition day and turn any one day in the second semester (like a spring break day, grading day, or holiday/professional day) into a makeup day they'll actually use.

But Taylor likes to assert things confidently and assume they'll trust he's right.

Or if they're so in love with the transition day, then pick two days in spring semester to be makeup days. Totally doable, and far less disruptive than this "start a week earlier with no notice" crap.

Couldn’t they also remove the November 9 holiday, since Diwali is actually celebrated on Sunday, November 8 this year?

[Anonymous]

What were the other options?

Seriously, get rid of transition and PD. Trust professionals to do their own professional development in areas that that choose. I’ve taken some wonderful PD but never once as an MCPS requirement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What were the other options?

Seriously, get rid of transition and PD. Trust professionals to do their own professional development in areas that that choose. I’ve taken some wonderful PD but never once as an MCPS requirement.

The three options are in the survey but essentially use the religious holidays, shorten winter or spring break, or start early.

FWIW I think the state mandates a certain number of PD hours and topics, so not sure they can get rid of that. The grading days are only mandated by the union contract.