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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Senate bill passed today with enough votes to override a veto.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/md-senate-votes-to-overturn-post-labor-day-start-hogan-vows-public-referendum/2019/02/07/2153fbc0-2a91-11e9-984d-9b8fba003e81_story.html?utm_term=.9751655b4ae0

Yay! Down with Hogan’s stupid calendar. Hopefully we can get a real spring break in the near future.

The problem is that the MoCo school board wants to start in midAugust so they are just as extreme as the Gov in the other direction. If I have to pick one extreme version I much prefer after Labor Day. If we had a school board with half an ounce of common sense I would support the bill, but unfortunately that isn’t the case.

What's extreme about starting in mid-August? Lots of schools start in mid-August.

Also, do you disagree with the principle that local school boards -- not the governor -- should have control over the calendars for their districts?

Lots and of schools start after Labor Day so I don’t see your point.

I don’t have a philosophical opinion about whether it should be the Gov or local school board making the decision. I feel strongly about not starting in midAugust.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Senate bill passed today with enough votes to override a veto.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/md-senate-votes-to-overturn-post-labor-day-start-hogan-vows-public-referendum/2019/02/07/2153fbc0-2a91-11e9-984d-9b8fba003e81_story.html?utm_term=.9751655b4ae0

Yay! Down with Hogan’s stupid calendar. Hopefully we can get a real spring break in the near future.

The problem is that the MoCo school board wants to start in midAugust so they are just as extreme as the Gov in the other direction. If I have to pick one extreme version I much prefer after Labor Day. If we had a school board with half an ounce of common sense I would support the bill, but unfortunately that isn’t the case.

What's extreme about starting in mid-August? Lots of schools start in mid-August.

Also, do you disagree with the principle that local school boards -- not the governor -- should have control over the calendars for their districts?

Lots and of schools start after Labor Day so I don’t see your point.

I don’t have a philosophical opinion about whether it should be the Gov or local school board making the decision. I feel strongly about not starting in midAugust.

Starting after Labor Day isn't extreme. Lots of schools do it.

Starting in mid-August isn't extreme. Lots of schools do it.

I think that the local school board should make the decision, based on the needs of the local school district, instead of the governor, based on the needs of the Ocean City chamber of commerce.

[Anonymous]

I like the calendar as is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not opposed to the start date after Labor Day, in fact, I consider it quite nice. I am also cognizant of the rest of the state of MD needing business revenues and as a resident of MD, I am happy to do my part. But if MCPS goes back to starting school in August I hope that they allow for a mid-winter break in February along with spring break. This would allow younger students to rest and older students to visit more colleges or spend time with family. I am not opposed to school ending in June after the 15th.

Fat chance.

They'll simply add more "professional days" randomly as one-offs. Mcps has never had the winter breaks that other states have. We've had Christmas break, spring break, a bunch of religious holidays (Jewish and Muslim), and tons of random professional days.

[Anonymous]

The governor has already said he will fight any effort to change the calendar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The governor has already said he will fight any effort to change the calendar.

Yes, but there's a supermajority in the General Assembly to override his veto.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Senate bill passed today with enough votes to override a veto.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/md-senate-votes-to-overturn-post-labor-day-start-hogan-vows-public-referendum/2019/02/07/2153fbc0-2a91-11e9-984d-9b8fba003e81_story.html?utm_term=.9751655b4ae0

Yay! Down with Hogan’s stupid calendar. Hopefully we can get a real spring break in the near future.

The problem is that the MoCo school board wants to start in midAugust so they are just as extreme as the Gov in the other direction. If I have to pick one extreme version I much prefer after Labor Day. If we had a school board with half an ounce of common sense I would support the bill, but unfortunately that isn’t the case.

What's extreme about starting in mid-August? Lots of schools start in mid-August.

Also, do you disagree with the principle that local school boards -- not the governor -- should have control over the calendars for their districts?

Lots and of schools start after Labor Day so I don’t see your point.

I don’t have a philosophical opinion about whether it should be the Gov or local school board making the decision. I feel strongly about not starting in midAugust.

Starting after Labor Day isn't extreme. Lots of schools do it.

Starting in mid-August isn't extreme. Lots of schools do it.

I think that the local school board should make the decision, based on the needs of the local school district, instead of the governor, based on the needs of the Ocean City chamber of commerce.

+1. DCPS starts in the third week of August. Many schools in the South start in early August. For kids who take APs in May and currently spend the month after twiddling their thumbs, this is a good thing.

[Anonymous]

I don't think a handful of AP students should drive the calendar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think a handful of AP students should drive the calendar.

My kids are in elementary school and I’d rather have them start in August so we can have a proper spring break again. This year’s schedule sucks. Kids need breaks during the year. Many school districts have a week of winter break around February and a week of spring break in April. We have 3 days in April for McPS.

[Anonymous]

In the case of MD, I believe its more appropriate for the calendar to be set at the state level. MD already centralizes rather than distributes educational policy more so than other states. By only allowing county based school districts and not allowing city, township or independent districts I just don't think the argument that this should be the local school board's decision holds water. In addition, MD already dictates certain days off at the state level so there has never been a strong local school boards should have more power platform in MD.

I've seen other districts handle professional days much better by positioning them on a Friday before a S-S-M holiday so families can have a 4 day weekend rather than a 3 day weekend. MoCo's calendar and spring break is not short because of the Governor's mid-June to after labor rule. It is short because MoCo insists on having many professional , religious and half days throughout the year. Instead of religous holidays, MCPS could simply put in place a policy that these days would be an excused absent for students of that religion.

Parent teacher conference days in ES could be handled better by increasing the teacher work week (with additional pay) to stay after school for one hour for 5 days and come in before school for one hour for 5 days. This would give back two full days off for elementary school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think a handful of AP students should drive the calendar.

My kids are in elementary school and I’d rather have them start in August so we can have a proper spring break again. This year’s schedule sucks. Kids need breaks during the year. Many school districts have a week of winter break around February and a week of spring break in April. We have 3 days in April for McPS.

+1
DCPS adorbs this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think a handful of AP students should drive the calendar.

My kids are in elementary school and I’d rather have them start in August so we can have a proper spring break again. This year’s schedule sucks. Kids need breaks during the year. Many school districts have a week of winter break around February and a week of spring break in April. We have 3 days in April for McPS.

+1
DCPS adorbs this.

Oops — DCPS does this

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think a handful of AP students should drive the calendar.

2/3 of MCPS students take at least one AP test in high school.

[Anonymous]

I do hope this takes effect and we can go back to an earlier school start date. I mean even if VA finally gave in and started opening before Labor Day....

If your kids are involved in Fall HS sports, post Labor Day opening means nothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, and swetting upset kids with no airconditioner on the bus in the middle of August. Forget Labor day vacation for family.
We cannot go even on spring brake. Do you know why? Because that stupid thing is in the middle of the quarter, and if you go for long vacation HS are guaranteed to fail quarter. Through in this AP exams in early May and you would know that Spring break for HS is a joke.

I’ll take my kids sweating on the bus if it means they’ll be able to spell and write clearly to better make their argument.