2026-2027 calendar updates

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ugh. I know so many people (including us) that have travel plans the 3rd week of August. What is the point of putting out a calendar if we can't rely on it?!? Fortunately we don't have flights booked yet, but I know 7 families who are supposed to be out of the country! And since I have to get my work time off approved in advance that's the week I got, and it's unlikely I'll be able to switch, so I guess we're just not going on vacation this summer if they do this.

It would clearly be less disruptive at this point to take back some holidays (including Easter Monday), and even though every person I've spoken too is in favor of that approach versus moving the start date this year, I doubt the Board will have the guts to do it.

Any calendar change is disruptive. People just disagree on what is more disruptive.

I can't imagine anyone could argue with a straight face that starting the year several days earlier with less than 4 months notice is less disruptive than saying "for spring break, 11 months in the future, we will switch a couple of those days to possible makeup days if there's a lot of snow days.".

People would also complain if you shortened spring break. As others have pointed out, the makeup days are disproportionately allocated in the fall and early winter before we have any snow. MCPS isn't suddenly adding makeup days in the spring that you can use.

To me, starting earlier in August is the least disruptive. Obviously, people have a diversity of opinions on this topic.

How is it the least disruptive? It is only a few months away, when most people have already made plans of some type for that week, and it is also a huge deal for kids to miss the first few days of school (both for them themselves, and for the class as a whole.) It is also extremely hard on teachers who get no break after summer school and may already have committed to jobs during that week that will now be preservice week, and school staff who have barely any time to get the building ready after summer school.

Other options are much longer in the future, when many fewer people have plans. And if they do have plans, missing those days is much less consequential and disruptive than missing the first week of school for kids, or missing preservice for teachers.

This isn't even close. It's a slam dunk. The only way anyone could think starting early is less disruptive is if it's easier for you personally and you're unable to see past the end of your nose.

You seem to have mistaken your opinion on what is disruptive for yourself as representative of the entire MCPS community. Some people are happy to have their kids go back to school earlier in August. Not every MCPS family is flying back from Europe or Asia that week.

Sorry that your vacation plans may be messed up, but you're pretty narrow-minded if you can't see that others have different situations than you.

Some people prefer starting earlier. Others do not.

That does not change the fact that the early start is incredibly disruptive for a significant number of staff, students, and families in a way that none of the other changes would be.

It's not about who prefers what. It's about what is a doable change and what is an incredibly problematic change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ugh. I know so many people (including us) that have travel plans the 3rd week of August. What is the point of putting out a calendar if we can't rely on it?!? Fortunately we don't have flights booked yet, but I know 7 families who are supposed to be out of the country! And since I have to get my work time off approved in advance that's the week I got, and it's unlikely I'll be able to switch, so I guess we're just not going on vacation this summer if they do this.

It would clearly be less disruptive at this point to take back some holidays (including Easter Monday), and even though every person I've spoken too is in favor of that approach versus moving the start date this year, I doubt the Board will have the guts to do it.

Any calendar change is disruptive. People just disagree on what is more disruptive.

I can't imagine anyone could argue with a straight face that starting the year several days earlier with less than 4 months notice is less disruptive than saying "for spring break, 11 months in the future, we will switch a couple of those days to possible makeup days if there's a lot of snow days.".

People would also complain if you shortened spring break. As others have pointed out, the makeup days are disproportionately allocated in the fall and early winter before we have any snow. MCPS isn't suddenly adding makeup days in the spring that you can use.

To me, starting earlier in August is the least disruptive. Obviously, people have a diversity of opinions on this topic.

How is it the least disruptive? It is only a few months away, when most people have already made plans of some type for that week, and it is also a huge deal for kids to miss the first few days of school (both for them themselves, and for the class as a whole.) It is also extremely hard on teachers who get no break after summer school and may already have committed to jobs during that week that will now be preservice week, and school staff who have barely any time to get the building ready after summer school.

Other options are much longer in the future, when many fewer people have plans. And if they do have plans, missing those days is much less consequential and disruptive than missing the first week of school for kids, or missing preservice for teachers.

This isn't even close. It's a slam dunk. The only way anyone could think starting early is less disruptive is if it's easier for you personally and you're unable to see past the end of your nose.

You seem to have mistaken your opinion on what is disruptive for yourself as representative of the entire MCPS community. Some people are happy to have their kids go back to school earlier in August. Not every MCPS family is flying back from Europe or Asia that week.

Sorry that your vacation plans may be messed up, but you're pretty narrow-minded if you can't see that others have different situations than you.

Some people prefer starting earlier. Others do not.

That does not change the fact that the early start is incredibly disruptive for a significant number of staff, students, and families in a way that none of the other changes would be.

It's not about who prefers what. It's about what is a doable change and what is an incredibly problematic change.

+1million

I'm happy to have the debate about starting earlier in August for 2027-2028 when we can all plan around that date. For this year? It is far too late to make that change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ugh. I know so many people (including us) that have travel plans the 3rd week of August. What is the point of putting out a calendar if we can't rely on it?!? Fortunately we don't have flights booked yet, but I know 7 families who are supposed to be out of the country! And since I have to get my work time off approved in advance that's the week I got, and it's unlikely I'll be able to switch, so I guess we're just not going on vacation this summer if they do this.

It would clearly be less disruptive at this point to take back some holidays (including Easter Monday), and even though every person I've spoken too is in favor of that approach versus moving the start date this year, I doubt the Board will have the guts to do it.

Any calendar change is disruptive. People just disagree on what is more disruptive.

I can't imagine anyone could argue with a straight face that starting the year several days earlier with less than 4 months notice is less disruptive than saying "for spring break, 11 months in the future, we will switch a couple of those days to possible makeup days if there's a lot of snow days.".

People would also complain if you shortened spring break. As others have pointed out, the makeup days are disproportionately allocated in the fall and early winter before we have any snow. MCPS isn't suddenly adding makeup days in the spring that you can use.

To me, starting earlier in August is the least disruptive. Obviously, people have a diversity of opinions on this topic.

How is it the least disruptive? It is only a few months away, when most people have already made plans of some type for that week, and it is also a huge deal for kids to miss the first few days of school (both for them themselves, and for the class as a whole.) It is also extremely hard on teachers who get no break after summer school and may already have committed to jobs during that week that will now be preservice week, and school staff who have barely any time to get the building ready after summer school.

Other options are much longer in the future, when many fewer people have plans. And if they do have plans, missing those days is much less consequential and disruptive than missing the first week of school for kids, or missing preservice for teachers.

This isn't even close. It's a slam dunk. The only way anyone could think starting early is less disruptive is if it's easier for you personally and you're unable to see past the end of your nose.

You seem to have mistaken your opinion on what is disruptive for yourself as representative of the entire MCPS community. Some people are happy to have their kids go back to school earlier in August. Not every MCPS family is flying back from Europe or Asia that week.

Sorry that your vacation plans may be messed up, but you're pretty narrow-minded if you can't see that others have different situations than you.

Some people prefer starting earlier. Others do not.

That does not change the fact that the early start is incredibly disruptive for a significant number of staff, students, and families in a way that none of the other changes would be.

It's not about who prefers what. It's about what is a doable change and what is an incredibly problematic change.

An "incredibly problematic change" is your opinion-not a fact. You have 4 months to adjust to the new calendar. That's a lot more notice than parents get when MCPS decides to keep schools closed 1 week after a snowstorm ends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ugh. I know so many people (including us) that have travel plans the 3rd week of August. What is the point of putting out a calendar if we can't rely on it?!? Fortunately we don't have flights booked yet, but I know 7 families who are supposed to be out of the country! And since I have to get my work time off approved in advance that's the week I got, and it's unlikely I'll be able to switch, so I guess we're just not going on vacation this summer if they do this.

It would clearly be less disruptive at this point to take back some holidays (including Easter Monday), and even though every person I've spoken too is in favor of that approach versus moving the start date this year, I doubt the Board will have the guts to do it.

Any calendar change is disruptive. People just disagree on what is more disruptive.

I can't imagine anyone could argue with a straight face that starting the year several days earlier with less than 4 months notice is less disruptive than saying "for spring break, 11 months in the future, we will switch a couple of those days to possible makeup days if there's a lot of snow days.".

People would also complain if you shortened spring break. As others have pointed out, the makeup days are disproportionately allocated in the fall and early winter before we have any snow. MCPS isn't suddenly adding makeup days in the spring that you can use.

To me, starting earlier in August is the least disruptive. Obviously, people have a diversity of opinions on this topic.

How is it the least disruptive? It is only a few months away, when most people have already made plans of some type for that week, and it is also a huge deal for kids to miss the first few days of school (both for them themselves, and for the class as a whole.) It is also extremely hard on teachers who get no break after summer school and may already have committed to jobs during that week that will now be preservice week, and school staff who have barely any time to get the building ready after summer school.

Other options are much longer in the future, when many fewer people have plans. And if they do have plans, missing those days is much less consequential and disruptive than missing the first week of school for kids, or missing preservice for teachers.

This isn't even close. It's a slam dunk. The only way anyone could think starting early is less disruptive is if it's easier for you personally and you're unable to see past the end of your nose.

You seem to have mistaken your opinion on what is disruptive for yourself as representative of the entire MCPS community. Some people are happy to have their kids go back to school earlier in August. Not every MCPS family is flying back from Europe or Asia that week.

Sorry that your vacation plans may be messed up, but you're pretty narrow-minded if you can't see that others have different situations than you.

Some people prefer starting earlier. Others do not.

That does not change the fact that the early start is incredibly disruptive for a significant number of staff, students, and families in a way that none of the other changes would be.

It's not about who prefers what. It's about what is a doable change and what is an incredibly problematic change.

An "incredibly problematic change" is your opinion-not a fact. You have 4 months to adjust to the new calendar. That's a lot more notice than parents get when MCPS decides to keep schools closed 1 week after a snowstorm ends.

Typically parents aren't going to have nonrefundable travel, PTO, camps, etc. due to a weather emergency. This is an unnecessary expense and burden for MoCo at large.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ugh. I know so many people (including us) that have travel plans the 3rd week of August. What is the point of putting out a calendar if we can't rely on it?!? Fortunately we don't have flights booked yet, but I know 7 families who are supposed to be out of the country! And since I have to get my work time off approved in advance that's the week I got, and it's unlikely I'll be able to switch, so I guess we're just not going on vacation this summer if they do this.

It would clearly be less disruptive at this point to take back some holidays (including Easter Monday), and even though every person I've spoken too is in favor of that approach versus moving the start date this year, I doubt the Board will have the guts to do it.

Any calendar change is disruptive. People just disagree on what is more disruptive.

I can't imagine anyone could argue with a straight face that starting the year several days earlier with less than 4 months notice is less disruptive than saying "for spring break, 11 months in the future, we will switch a couple of those days to possible makeup days if there's a lot of snow days.".

People would also complain if you shortened spring break. As others have pointed out, the makeup days are disproportionately allocated in the fall and early winter before we have any snow. MCPS isn't suddenly adding makeup days in the spring that you can use.

To me, starting earlier in August is the least disruptive. Obviously, people have a diversity of opinions on this topic.

How is it the least disruptive? It is only a few months away, when most people have already made plans of some type for that week, and it is also a huge deal for kids to miss the first few days of school (both for them themselves, and for the class as a whole.) It is also extremely hard on teachers who get no break after summer school and may already have committed to jobs during that week that will now be preservice week, and school staff who have barely any time to get the building ready after summer school.

Other options are much longer in the future, when many fewer people have plans. And if they do have plans, missing those days is much less consequential and disruptive than missing the first week of school for kids, or missing preservice for teachers.

This isn't even close. It's a slam dunk. The only way anyone could think starting early is less disruptive is if it's easier for you personally and you're unable to see past the end of your nose.

You seem to have mistaken your opinion on what is disruptive for yourself as representative of the entire MCPS community. Some people are happy to have their kids go back to school earlier in August. Not every MCPS family is flying back from Europe or Asia that week.

Sorry that your vacation plans may be messed up, but you're pretty narrow-minded if you can't see that others have different situations than you.

Some people prefer starting earlier. Others do not.

That does not change the fact that the early start is incredibly disruptive for a significant number of staff, students, and families in a way that none of the other changes would be.

It's not about who prefers what. It's about what is a doable change and what is an incredibly problematic change.

An "incredibly problematic change" is your opinion-not a fact. You have 4 months to adjust to the new calendar. That's a lot more notice than parents get when MCPS decides to keep schools closed 1 week after a snowstorm ends.

Typically parents aren't going to have nonrefundable travel, PTO, camps, etc. due to a weather emergency. This is an unnecessary expense and burden for MoCo at large.

Typical MCPS parents aren't going to have expensive travel plans and camps late in August. You're talking about a niche of well-off families. Many are going to be happy to have their kids back in school earlier so they can go to work (I know I am.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ugh. I know so many people (including us) that have travel plans the 3rd week of August. What is the point of putting out a calendar if we can't rely on it?!? Fortunately we don't have flights booked yet, but I know 7 families who are supposed to be out of the country! And since I have to get my work time off approved in advance that's the week I got, and it's unlikely I'll be able to switch, so I guess we're just not going on vacation this summer if they do this.

It would clearly be less disruptive at this point to take back some holidays (including Easter Monday), and even though every person I've spoken too is in favor of that approach versus moving the start date this year, I doubt the Board will have the guts to do it.

Any calendar change is disruptive. People just disagree on what is more disruptive.

I can't imagine anyone could argue with a straight face that starting the year several days earlier with less than 4 months notice is less disruptive than saying "for spring break, 11 months in the future, we will switch a couple of those days to possible makeup days if there's a lot of snow days.".

People would also complain if you shortened spring break. As others have pointed out, the makeup days are disproportionately allocated in the fall and early winter before we have any snow. MCPS isn't suddenly adding makeup days in the spring that you can use.

To me, starting earlier in August is the least disruptive. Obviously, people have a diversity of opinions on this topic.

How is it the least disruptive? It is only a few months away, when most people have already made plans of some type for that week, and it is also a huge deal for kids to miss the first few days of school (both for them themselves, and for the class as a whole.) It is also extremely hard on teachers who get no break after summer school and may already have committed to jobs during that week that will now be preservice week, and school staff who have barely any time to get the building ready after summer school.

Other options are much longer in the future, when many fewer people have plans. And if they do have plans, missing those days is much less consequential and disruptive than missing the first week of school for kids, or missing preservice for teachers.

This isn't even close. It's a slam dunk. The only way anyone could think starting early is less disruptive is if it's easier for you personally and you're unable to see past the end of your nose.

You seem to have mistaken your opinion on what is disruptive for yourself as representative of the entire MCPS community. Some people are happy to have their kids go back to school earlier in August. Not every MCPS family is flying back from Europe or Asia that week.

Sorry that your vacation plans may be messed up, but you're pretty narrow-minded if you can't see that others have different situations than you.

Some people prefer starting earlier. Others do not.

That does not change the fact that the early start is incredibly disruptive for a significant number of staff, students, and families in a way that none of the other changes would be.

It's not about who prefers what. It's about what is a doable change and what is an incredibly problematic change.

An "incredibly problematic change" is your opinion-not a fact. You have 4 months to adjust to the new calendar. That's a lot more notice than parents get when MCPS decides to keep schools closed 1 week after a snowstorm ends.

Typically parents aren't going to have nonrefundable travel, PTO, camps, etc. due to a weather emergency. This is an unnecessary expense and burden for MoCo at large.

Are you dense? Weather emergency causes huge childcare issues for parents who have to shell out for extra childcare, emergency camps or backup daycare or who have to take off from work to manage these unexpected schedule changes. Teachers this year lucked out with 3 extra vacation days added because of the waiver on instructional days to be provided--and they may have to start the school year early and pay to change some of their plans.

That's life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ugh. I know so many people (including us) that have travel plans the 3rd week of August. What is the point of putting out a calendar if we can't rely on it?!? Fortunately we don't have flights booked yet, but I know 7 families who are supposed to be out of the country! And since I have to get my work time off approved in advance that's the week I got, and it's unlikely I'll be able to switch, so I guess we're just not going on vacation this summer if they do this.

It would clearly be less disruptive at this point to take back some holidays (including Easter Monday), and even though every person I've spoken too is in favor of that approach versus moving the start date this year, I doubt the Board will have the guts to do it.

Any calendar change is disruptive. People just disagree on what is more disruptive.

I can't imagine anyone could argue with a straight face that starting the year several days earlier with less than 4 months notice is less disruptive than saying "for spring break, 11 months in the future, we will switch a couple of those days to possible makeup days if there's a lot of snow days.".

People would also complain if you shortened spring break. As others have pointed out, the makeup days are disproportionately allocated in the fall and early winter before we have any snow. MCPS isn't suddenly adding makeup days in the spring that you can use.

To me, starting earlier in August is the least disruptive. Obviously, people have a diversity of opinions on this topic.

How is it the least disruptive? It is only a few months away, when most people have already made plans of some type for that week, and it is also a huge deal for kids to miss the first few days of school (both for them themselves, and for the class as a whole.) It is also extremely hard on teachers who get no break after summer school and may already have committed to jobs during that week that will now be preservice week, and school staff who have barely any time to get the building ready after summer school.

Other options are much longer in the future, when many fewer people have plans. And if they do have plans, missing those days is much less consequential and disruptive than missing the first week of school for kids, or missing preservice for teachers.

This isn't even close. It's a slam dunk. The only way anyone could think starting early is less disruptive is if it's easier for you personally and you're unable to see past the end of your nose.

You seem to have mistaken your opinion on what is disruptive for yourself as representative of the entire MCPS community. Some people are happy to have their kids go back to school earlier in August. Not every MCPS family is flying back from Europe or Asia that week.

Sorry that your vacation plans may be messed up, but you're pretty narrow-minded if you can't see that others have different situations than you.

Some people prefer starting earlier. Others do not.

That does not change the fact that the early start is incredibly disruptive for a significant number of staff, students, and families in a way that none of the other changes would be.

It's not about who prefers what. It's about what is a doable change and what is an incredibly problematic change.

An "incredibly problematic change" is your opinion-not a fact. You have 4 months to adjust to the new calendar. That's a lot more notice than parents get when MCPS decides to keep schools closed 1 week after a snowstorm ends.

Typically parents aren't going to have nonrefundable travel, PTO, camps, etc. due to a weather emergency. This is an unnecessary expense and burden for MoCo at large.

Are you dense? Weather emergency causes huge childcare issues for parents who have to shell out for extra childcare, emergency camps or backup daycare or who have to take off from work to manage these unexpected schedule changes. Teachers this year lucked out with 3 extra vacation days added because of the waiver on instructional days to be provided--and they may have to start the school year early and pay to change some of their plans.

That's life.

There's a huge difference between something not in anyone's control (the weather) and a self-inflicted harm like shifting the calendar after everyone has already made plans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ugh. I know so many people (including us) that have travel plans the 3rd week of August. What is the point of putting out a calendar if we can't rely on it?!? Fortunately we don't have flights booked yet, but I know 7 families who are supposed to be out of the country! And since I have to get my work time off approved in advance that's the week I got, and it's unlikely I'll be able to switch, so I guess we're just not going on vacation this summer if they do this.

It would clearly be less disruptive at this point to take back some holidays (including Easter Monday), and even though every person I've spoken too is in favor of that approach versus moving the start date this year, I doubt the Board will have the guts to do it.

Any calendar change is disruptive. People just disagree on what is more disruptive.

I can't imagine anyone could argue with a straight face that starting the year several days earlier with less than 4 months notice is less disruptive than saying "for spring break, 11 months in the future, we will switch a couple of those days to possible makeup days if there's a lot of snow days.".

People would also complain if you shortened spring break. As others have pointed out, the makeup days are disproportionately allocated in the fall and early winter before we have any snow. MCPS isn't suddenly adding makeup days in the spring that you can use.

To me, starting earlier in August is the least disruptive. Obviously, people have a diversity of opinions on this topic.

How is it the least disruptive? It is only a few months away, when most people have already made plans of some type for that week, and it is also a huge deal for kids to miss the first few days of school (both for them themselves, and for the class as a whole.) It is also extremely hard on teachers who get no break after summer school and may already have committed to jobs during that week that will now be preservice week, and school staff who have barely any time to get the building ready after summer school.

Other options are much longer in the future, when many fewer people have plans. And if they do have plans, missing those days is much less consequential and disruptive than missing the first week of school for kids, or missing preservice for teachers.

This isn't even close. It's a slam dunk. The only way anyone could think starting early is less disruptive is if it's easier for you personally and you're unable to see past the end of your nose.

You seem to have mistaken your opinion on what is disruptive for yourself as representative of the entire MCPS community. Some people are happy to have their kids go back to school earlier in August. Not every MCPS family is flying back from Europe or Asia that week.

Sorry that your vacation plans may be messed up, but you're pretty narrow-minded if you can't see that others have different situations than you.

Some people prefer starting earlier. Others do not.

That does not change the fact that the early start is incredibly disruptive for a significant number of staff, students, and families in a way that none of the other changes would be.

It's not about who prefers what. It's about what is a doable change and what is an incredibly problematic change.

An "incredibly problematic change" is your opinion-not a fact. You have 4 months to adjust to the new calendar. That's a lot more notice than parents get when MCPS decides to keep schools closed 1 week after a snowstorm ends.

No, it is a fact. Lots of teachers have jobs running through what will become preservice week, or their only week of vacation the whole year slotted for that week. If they get screwed over this way, I'm sure many of them will start bailing for other districts ASAP. None of the other options hold a candle to that in terms of disruption.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ugh. I know so many people (including us) that have travel plans the 3rd week of August. What is the point of putting out a calendar if we can't rely on it?!? Fortunately we don't have flights booked yet, but I know 7 families who are supposed to be out of the country! And since I have to get my work time off approved in advance that's the week I got, and it's unlikely I'll be able to switch, so I guess we're just not going on vacation this summer if they do this.

It would clearly be less disruptive at this point to take back some holidays (including Easter Monday), and even though every person I've spoken too is in favor of that approach versus moving the start date this year, I doubt the Board will have the guts to do it.

Any calendar change is disruptive. People just disagree on what is more disruptive.

I can't imagine anyone could argue with a straight face that starting the year several days earlier with less than 4 months notice is less disruptive than saying "for spring break, 11 months in the future, we will switch a couple of those days to possible makeup days if there's a lot of snow days.".

People would also complain if you shortened spring break. As others have pointed out, the makeup days are disproportionately allocated in the fall and early winter before we have any snow. MCPS isn't suddenly adding makeup days in the spring that you can use.

To me, starting earlier in August is the least disruptive. Obviously, people have a diversity of opinions on this topic.

How is it the least disruptive? It is only a few months away, when most people have already made plans of some type for that week, and it is also a huge deal for kids to miss the first few days of school (both for them themselves, and for the class as a whole.) It is also extremely hard on teachers who get no break after summer school and may already have committed to jobs during that week that will now be preservice week, and school staff who have barely any time to get the building ready after summer school.

Other options are much longer in the future, when many fewer people have plans. And if they do have plans, missing those days is much less consequential and disruptive than missing the first week of school for kids, or missing preservice for teachers.

This isn't even close. It's a slam dunk. The only way anyone could think starting early is less disruptive is if it's easier for you personally and you're unable to see past the end of your nose.

You seem to have mistaken your opinion on what is disruptive for yourself as representative of the entire MCPS community. Some people are happy to have their kids go back to school earlier in August. Not every MCPS family is flying back from Europe or Asia that week.

Sorry that your vacation plans may be messed up, but you're pretty narrow-minded if you can't see that others have different situations than you.

Some people prefer starting earlier. Others do not.

That does not change the fact that the early start is incredibly disruptive for a significant number of staff, students, and families in a way that none of the other changes would be.

It's not about who prefers what. It's about what is a doable change and what is an incredibly problematic change.

An "incredibly problematic change" is your opinion-not a fact. You have 4 months to adjust to the new calendar. That's a lot more notice than parents get when MCPS decides to keep schools closed 1 week after a snowstorm ends.

Typically parents aren't going to have nonrefundable travel, PTO, camps, etc. due to a weather emergency. This is an unnecessary expense and burden for MoCo at large.

Typical MCPS parents aren't going to have expensive travel plans and camps late in August. You're talking about a niche of well-off families. Many are going to be happy to have their kids back in school earlier so they can go to work (I know I am.)

Actually MOST MCPS parents have expensive travel plans, camp plans, etc. It doesn't make someone rich by going to the shore. It also doesn't magically make non-refundable, refundable. Good for you for not properly planning your summer- the rest of us actually did. No, I don't need to worry about my kid starting earlier because I based my summer on the calendar approved in December. You sound like you're always just planning to wing it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ugh. I know so many people (including us) that have travel plans the 3rd week of August. What is the point of putting out a calendar if we can't rely on it?!? Fortunately we don't have flights booked yet, but I know 7 families who are supposed to be out of the country! And since I have to get my work time off approved in advance that's the week I got, and it's unlikely I'll be able to switch, so I guess we're just not going on vacation this summer if they do this.

It would clearly be less disruptive at this point to take back some holidays (including Easter Monday), and even though every person I've spoken too is in favor of that approach versus moving the start date this year, I doubt the Board will have the guts to do it.

Any calendar change is disruptive. People just disagree on what is more disruptive.

I can't imagine anyone could argue with a straight face that starting the year several days earlier with less than 4 months notice is less disruptive than saying "for spring break, 11 months in the future, we will switch a couple of those days to possible makeup days if there's a lot of snow days.".

People would also complain if you shortened spring break. As others have pointed out, the makeup days are disproportionately allocated in the fall and early winter before we have any snow. MCPS isn't suddenly adding makeup days in the spring that you can use.

To me, starting earlier in August is the least disruptive. Obviously, people have a diversity of opinions on this topic.

How is it the least disruptive? It is only a few months away, when most people have already made plans of some type for that week, and it is also a huge deal for kids to miss the first few days of school (both for them themselves, and for the class as a whole.) It is also extremely hard on teachers who get no break after summer school and may already have committed to jobs during that week that will now be preservice week, and school staff who have barely any time to get the building ready after summer school.

Other options are much longer in the future, when many fewer people have plans. And if they do have plans, missing those days is much less consequential and disruptive than missing the first week of school for kids, or missing preservice for teachers.

This isn't even close. It's a slam dunk. The only way anyone could think starting early is less disruptive is if it's easier for you personally and you're unable to see past the end of your nose.

You seem to have mistaken your opinion on what is disruptive for yourself as representative of the entire MCPS community. Some people are happy to have their kids go back to school earlier in August. Not every MCPS family is flying back from Europe or Asia that week.

Sorry that your vacation plans may be messed up, but you're pretty narrow-minded if you can't see that others have different situations than you.

Some people prefer starting earlier. Others do not.

That does not change the fact that the early start is incredibly disruptive for a significant number of staff, students, and families in a way that none of the other changes would be.

It's not about who prefers what. It's about what is a doable change and what is an incredibly problematic change.

An "incredibly problematic change" is your opinion-not a fact. You have 4 months to adjust to the new calendar. That's a lot more notice than parents get when MCPS decides to keep schools closed 1 week after a snowstorm ends.

No, it is a fact. Lots of teachers have jobs running through what will become preservice week, or their only week of vacation the whole year slotted for that week. If they get screwed over this way, I'm sure many of them will start bailing for other districts ASAP. None of the other options hold a candle to that in terms of disruption.

Many teachers planning to do summer school at my school are already saying they won't if the calendar changes. Not only are they disrupting the beginning of the school year, they are messing with summer school as well. They really did not think this through and it shows.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ugh. I know so many people (including us) that have travel plans the 3rd week of August. What is the point of putting out a calendar if we can't rely on it?!? Fortunately we don't have flights booked yet, but I know 7 families who are supposed to be out of the country! And since I have to get my work time off approved in advance that's the week I got, and it's unlikely I'll be able to switch, so I guess we're just not going on vacation this summer if they do this.

It would clearly be less disruptive at this point to take back some holidays (including Easter Monday), and even though every person I've spoken too is in favor of that approach versus moving the start date this year, I doubt the Board will have the guts to do it.

Any calendar change is disruptive. People just disagree on what is more disruptive.

I can't imagine anyone could argue with a straight face that starting the year several days earlier with less than 4 months notice is less disruptive than saying "for spring break, 11 months in the future, we will switch a couple of those days to possible makeup days if there's a lot of snow days.".

People would also complain if you shortened spring break. As others have pointed out, the makeup days are disproportionately allocated in the fall and early winter before we have any snow. MCPS isn't suddenly adding makeup days in the spring that you can use.

To me, starting earlier in August is the least disruptive. Obviously, people have a diversity of opinions on this topic.

How is it the least disruptive? It is only a few months away, when most people have already made plans of some type for that week, and it is also a huge deal for kids to miss the first few days of school (both for them themselves, and for the class as a whole.) It is also extremely hard on teachers who get no break after summer school and may already have committed to jobs during that week that will now be preservice week, and school staff who have barely any time to get the building ready after summer school.

Other options are much longer in the future, when many fewer people have plans. And if they do have plans, missing those days is much less consequential and disruptive than missing the first week of school for kids, or missing preservice for teachers.

This isn't even close. It's a slam dunk. The only way anyone could think starting early is less disruptive is if it's easier for you personally and you're unable to see past the end of your nose.

You seem to have mistaken your opinion on what is disruptive for yourself as representative of the entire MCPS community. Some people are happy to have their kids go back to school earlier in August. Not every MCPS family is flying back from Europe or Asia that week.

Sorry that your vacation plans may be messed up, but you're pretty narrow-minded if you can't see that others have different situations than you.

Some people prefer starting earlier. Others do not.

That does not change the fact that the early start is incredibly disruptive for a significant number of staff, students, and families in a way that none of the other changes would be.

It's not about who prefers what. It's about what is a doable change and what is an incredibly problematic change.

An "incredibly problematic change" is your opinion-not a fact. You have 4 months to adjust to the new calendar. That's a lot more notice than parents get when MCPS decides to keep schools closed 1 week after a snowstorm ends.

Typically parents aren't going to have nonrefundable travel, PTO, camps, etc. due to a weather emergency. This is an unnecessary expense and burden for MoCo at large.

Typical MCPS parents aren't going to have expensive travel plans and camps late in August. You're talking about a niche of well-off families. Many are going to be happy to have their kids back in school earlier so they can go to work (I know I am.)

Actually MOST MCPS parents have expensive travel plans, camp plans, etc. It doesn't make someone rich by going to the shore. It also doesn't magically make non-refundable, refundable. Good for you for not properly planning your summer- the rest of us actually did. No, I don't need to worry about my kid starting earlier because I based my summer on the calendar approved in December. You sound like you're always just planning to wing it.

You have no idea what plans MCPS parents have. You're just making things up because you're angry about the schedule changes. Some of us have a more flexible attitude to MCPS schedules--we have to, because MCPS schedules change all the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ugh. I know so many people (including us) that have travel plans the 3rd week of August. What is the point of putting out a calendar if we can't rely on it?!? Fortunately we don't have flights booked yet, but I know 7 families who are supposed to be out of the country! And since I have to get my work time off approved in advance that's the week I got, and it's unlikely I'll be able to switch, so I guess we're just not going on vacation this summer if they do this.

It would clearly be less disruptive at this point to take back some holidays (including Easter Monday), and even though every person I've spoken too is in favor of that approach versus moving the start date this year, I doubt the Board will have the guts to do it.

Any calendar change is disruptive. People just disagree on what is more disruptive.

I can't imagine anyone could argue with a straight face that starting the year several days earlier with less than 4 months notice is less disruptive than saying "for spring break, 11 months in the future, we will switch a couple of those days to possible makeup days if there's a lot of snow days.".

People would also complain if you shortened spring break. As others have pointed out, the makeup days are disproportionately allocated in the fall and early winter before we have any snow. MCPS isn't suddenly adding makeup days in the spring that you can use.

To me, starting earlier in August is the least disruptive. Obviously, people have a diversity of opinions on this topic.

How is it the least disruptive? It is only a few months away, when most people have already made plans of some type for that week, and it is also a huge deal for kids to miss the first few days of school (both for them themselves, and for the class as a whole.) It is also extremely hard on teachers who get no break after summer school and may already have committed to jobs during that week that will now be preservice week, and school staff who have barely any time to get the building ready after summer school.

Other options are much longer in the future, when many fewer people have plans. And if they do have plans, missing those days is much less consequential and disruptive than missing the first week of school for kids, or missing preservice for teachers.

This isn't even close. It's a slam dunk. The only way anyone could think starting early is less disruptive is if it's easier for you personally and you're unable to see past the end of your nose.

You seem to have mistaken your opinion on what is disruptive for yourself as representative of the entire MCPS community. Some people are happy to have their kids go back to school earlier in August. Not every MCPS family is flying back from Europe or Asia that week.

Sorry that your vacation plans may be messed up, but you're pretty narrow-minded if you can't see that others have different situations than you.

Some people prefer starting earlier. Others do not.

That does not change the fact that the early start is incredibly disruptive for a significant number of staff, students, and families in a way that none of the other changes would be.

It's not about who prefers what. It's about what is a doable change and what is an incredibly problematic change.

An "incredibly problematic change" is your opinion-not a fact. You have 4 months to adjust to the new calendar. That's a lot more notice than parents get when MCPS decides to keep schools closed 1 week after a snowstorm ends.

Typically parents aren't going to have nonrefundable travel, PTO, camps, etc. due to a weather emergency. This is an unnecessary expense and burden for MoCo at large.

Typical MCPS parents aren't going to have expensive travel plans and camps late in August. You're talking about a niche of well-off families. Many are going to be happy to have their kids back in school earlier so they can go to work (I know I am.)

Actually MOST MCPS parents have expensive travel plans, camp plans, etc. It doesn't make someone rich by going to the shore. It also doesn't magically make non-refundable, refundable. Good for you for not properly planning your summer- the rest of us actually did. No, I don't need to worry about my kid starting earlier because I based my summer on the calendar approved in December. You sound like you're always just planning to wing it.

You have no idea what plans MCPS parents have. You're just making things up because you're angry about the schedule changes. Some of us have a more flexible attitude to MCPS schedules--we have to, because MCPS schedules change all the time.

MCPS' schedule changes when there is an external uncontrollable event (e.g., weather). All of the other changes this year (days reinstated, potential to go to 6/22) were laid out in the Calendar passed way back in December 2024. The proposed change now is neither... its self-inflicted and it was never a possibility before 2 weeks ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ugh. I know so many people (including us) that have travel plans the 3rd week of August. What is the point of putting out a calendar if we can't rely on it?!? Fortunately we don't have flights booked yet, but I know 7 families who are supposed to be out of the country! And since I have to get my work time off approved in advance that's the week I got, and it's unlikely I'll be able to switch, so I guess we're just not going on vacation this summer if they do this.

It would clearly be less disruptive at this point to take back some holidays (including Easter Monday), and even though every person I've spoken too is in favor of that approach versus moving the start date this year, I doubt the Board will have the guts to do it.

Any calendar change is disruptive. People just disagree on what is more disruptive.

I can't imagine anyone could argue with a straight face that starting the year several days earlier with less than 4 months notice is less disruptive than saying "for spring break, 11 months in the future, we will switch a couple of those days to possible makeup days if there's a lot of snow days.".

People would also complain if you shortened spring break. As others have pointed out, the makeup days are disproportionately allocated in the fall and early winter before we have any snow. MCPS isn't suddenly adding makeup days in the spring that you can use.

To me, starting earlier in August is the least disruptive. Obviously, people have a diversity of opinions on this topic.

How is it the least disruptive? It is only a few months away, when most people have already made plans of some type for that week, and it is also a huge deal for kids to miss the first few days of school (both for them themselves, and for the class as a whole.) It is also extremely hard on teachers who get no break after summer school and may already have committed to jobs during that week that will now be preservice week, and school staff who have barely any time to get the building ready after summer school.

Other options are much longer in the future, when many fewer people have plans. And if they do have plans, missing those days is much less consequential and disruptive than missing the first week of school for kids, or missing preservice for teachers.

This isn't even close. It's a slam dunk. The only way anyone could think starting early is less disruptive is if it's easier for you personally and you're unable to see past the end of your nose.

You seem to have mistaken your opinion on what is disruptive for yourself as representative of the entire MCPS community. Some people are happy to have their kids go back to school earlier in August. Not every MCPS family is flying back from Europe or Asia that week.

Sorry that your vacation plans may be messed up, but you're pretty narrow-minded if you can't see that others have different situations than you.

Some people prefer starting earlier. Others do not.

That does not change the fact that the early start is incredibly disruptive for a significant number of staff, students, and families in a way that none of the other changes would be.

It's not about who prefers what. It's about what is a doable change and what is an incredibly problematic change.

An "incredibly problematic change" is your opinion-not a fact. You have 4 months to adjust to the new calendar. That's a lot more notice than parents get when MCPS decides to keep schools closed 1 week after a snowstorm ends.

Typically parents aren't going to have nonrefundable travel, PTO, camps, etc. due to a weather emergency. This is an unnecessary expense and burden for MoCo at large.

Are you dense? Weather emergency causes huge childcare issues for parents who have to shell out for extra childcare, emergency camps or backup daycare or who have to take off from work to manage these unexpected schedule changes. Teachers this year lucked out with 3 extra vacation days added because of the waiver on instructional days to be provided--and they may have to start the school year early and pay to change some of their plans.

That's life.

There's a huge difference between something not in anyone's control (the weather) and a self-inflicted harm like shifting the calendar after everyone has already made plans.

MCPS remained closed 1 week after a snow storm ended while other school districts (NYC) went back to school the following day or held virtual learning (Anne Arundel, Baltimore). Plus some allegedly crappy coordination/communication by the central office with the MoCo people who manage plowing. It wasn't like there were 7 straight days of blizzard. The rest of the county (including public offices) had been open for days while MoCo remained closed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ugh. I know so many people (including us) that have travel plans the 3rd week of August. What is the point of putting out a calendar if we can't rely on it?!? Fortunately we don't have flights booked yet, but I know 7 families who are supposed to be out of the country! And since I have to get my work time off approved in advance that's the week I got, and it's unlikely I'll be able to switch, so I guess we're just not going on vacation this summer if they do this.

It would clearly be less disruptive at this point to take back some holidays (including Easter Monday), and even though every person I've spoken too is in favor of that approach versus moving the start date this year, I doubt the Board will have the guts to do it.

Any calendar change is disruptive. People just disagree on what is more disruptive.

I can't imagine anyone could argue with a straight face that starting the year several days earlier with less than 4 months notice is less disruptive than saying "for spring break, 11 months in the future, we will switch a couple of those days to possible makeup days if there's a lot of snow days.".

People would also complain if you shortened spring break. As others have pointed out, the makeup days are disproportionately allocated in the fall and early winter before we have any snow. MCPS isn't suddenly adding makeup days in the spring that you can use.

To me, starting earlier in August is the least disruptive. Obviously, people have a diversity of opinions on this topic.

How is it the least disruptive? It is only a few months away, when most people have already made plans of some type for that week, and it is also a huge deal for kids to miss the first few days of school (both for them themselves, and for the class as a whole.) It is also extremely hard on teachers who get no break after summer school and may already have committed to jobs during that week that will now be preservice week, and school staff who have barely any time to get the building ready after summer school.

Other options are much longer in the future, when many fewer people have plans. And if they do have plans, missing those days is much less consequential and disruptive than missing the first week of school for kids, or missing preservice for teachers.

This isn't even close. It's a slam dunk. The only way anyone could think starting early is less disruptive is if it's easier for you personally and you're unable to see past the end of your nose.

You seem to have mistaken your opinion on what is disruptive for yourself as representative of the entire MCPS community. Some people are happy to have their kids go back to school earlier in August. Not every MCPS family is flying back from Europe or Asia that week.

Sorry that your vacation plans may be messed up, but you're pretty narrow-minded if you can't see that others have different situations than you.

Some people prefer starting earlier. Others do not.

That does not change the fact that the early start is incredibly disruptive for a significant number of staff, students, and families in a way that none of the other changes would be.

It's not about who prefers what. It's about what is a doable change and what is an incredibly problematic change.

An "incredibly problematic change" is your opinion-not a fact. You have 4 months to adjust to the new calendar. That's a lot more notice than parents get when MCPS decides to keep schools closed 1 week after a snowstorm ends.

Typically parents aren't going to have nonrefundable travel, PTO, camps, etc. due to a weather emergency. This is an unnecessary expense and burden for MoCo at large.

Typical MCPS parents aren't going to have expensive travel plans and camps late in August. You're talking about a niche of well-off families. Many are going to be happy to have their kids back in school earlier so they can go to work (I know I am.)

Actually MOST MCPS parents have expensive travel plans, camp plans, etc. It doesn't make someone rich by going to the shore. It also doesn't magically make non-refundable, refundable. Good for you for not properly planning your summer- the rest of us actually did. No, I don't need to worry about my kid starting earlier because I based my summer on the calendar approved in December. You sound like you're always just planning to wing it.

You have no idea what plans MCPS parents have. You're just making things up because you're angry about the schedule changes. Some of us have a more flexible attitude to MCPS schedules--we have to, because MCPS schedules change all the time.

MCPS sometimes has unplanned closures, and sometimes the clearly labeled makeup days on the calendar are used as makeup days. I can't remember there ever being any other time when days off not labeled as days off have been turned into school days. It turns MCPS from a generally predictable district into a place with schedules that no one can trust anymore. I don't blame teachers one bit for quitting after this, it's ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ugh. I know so many people (including us) that have travel plans the 3rd week of August. What is the point of putting out a calendar if we can't rely on it?!? Fortunately we don't have flights booked yet, but I know 7 families who are supposed to be out of the country! And since I have to get my work time off approved in advance that's the week I got, and it's unlikely I'll be able to switch, so I guess we're just not going on vacation this summer if they do this.

It would clearly be less disruptive at this point to take back some holidays (including Easter Monday), and even though every person I've spoken too is in favor of that approach versus moving the start date this year, I doubt the Board will have the guts to do it.

Any calendar change is disruptive. People just disagree on what is more disruptive.

I can't imagine anyone could argue with a straight face that starting the year several days earlier with less than 4 months notice is less disruptive than saying "for spring break, 11 months in the future, we will switch a couple of those days to possible makeup days if there's a lot of snow days.".

People would also complain if you shortened spring break. As others have pointed out, the makeup days are disproportionately allocated in the fall and early winter before we have any snow. MCPS isn't suddenly adding makeup days in the spring that you can use.

To me, starting earlier in August is the least disruptive. Obviously, people have a diversity of opinions on this topic.

How is it the least disruptive? It is only a few months away, when most people have already made plans of some type for that week, and it is also a huge deal for kids to miss the first few days of school (both for them themselves, and for the class as a whole.) It is also extremely hard on teachers who get no break after summer school and may already have committed to jobs during that week that will now be preservice week, and school staff who have barely any time to get the building ready after summer school.

Other options are much longer in the future, when many fewer people have plans. And if they do have plans, missing those days is much less consequential and disruptive than missing the first week of school for kids, or missing preservice for teachers.

This isn't even close. It's a slam dunk. The only way anyone could think starting early is less disruptive is if it's easier for you personally and you're unable to see past the end of your nose.

You seem to have mistaken your opinion on what is disruptive for yourself as representative of the entire MCPS community. Some people are happy to have their kids go back to school earlier in August. Not every MCPS family is flying back from Europe or Asia that week.

Sorry that your vacation plans may be messed up, but you're pretty narrow-minded if you can't see that others have different situations than you.

Some people prefer starting earlier. Others do not.

That does not change the fact that the early start is incredibly disruptive for a significant number of staff, students, and families in a way that none of the other changes would be.

It's not about who prefers what. It's about what is a doable change and what is an incredibly problematic change.

An "incredibly problematic change" is your opinion-not a fact. You have 4 months to adjust to the new calendar. That's a lot more notice than parents get when MCPS decides to keep schools closed 1 week after a snowstorm ends.

Typically parents aren't going to have nonrefundable travel, PTO, camps, etc. due to a weather emergency. This is an unnecessary expense and burden for MoCo at large.

Typical MCPS parents aren't going to have expensive travel plans and camps late in August. You're talking about a niche of well-off families. Many are going to be happy to have their kids back in school earlier so they can go to work (I know I am.)

Actually MOST MCPS parents have expensive travel plans, camp plans, etc. It doesn't make someone rich by going to the shore. It also doesn't magically make non-refundable, refundable. Good for you for not properly planning your summer- the rest of us actually did. No, I don't need to worry about my kid starting earlier because I based my summer on the calendar approved in December. You sound like you're always just planning to wing it.

You have no idea what plans MCPS parents have. You're just making things up because you're angry about the schedule changes. Some of us have a more flexible attitude to MCPS schedules--we have to, because MCPS schedules change all the time.

MCPS sometimes has unplanned closures, and sometimes the clearly labeled makeup days on the calendar are used as makeup days. I can't remember there ever being any other time when days off not labeled as days off have been turned into school days. It turns MCPS from a generally predictable district into a place with schedules that no one can trust anymore. I don't blame teachers one bit for quitting after this, it's ridiculous.

If teachers quit over starting work a few days earlier, having gotten unexpected extra vacation days the year before, they had issues with being at MCPS that go well beyond bad scheduling practices.