President's Day makeup day?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But there are two days off that week. Presidents’ Day and Tuesday is also a day off for teacher development or something.


So McPS is going to use both of them to get back the snow days?

Tuesday is Lunar new year. If you want to respect religious holidays, you should respect lunar new year too.

Lunar New Year is NOT a religious holiday, and families traditionally celebrate it the weekend BEFORE the holiday. My family and I are of Chinese descent and we and others of similar backgrounds have no idea why MCPS has decided to make this a school holiday. Making up a snow day on Lunar New Year causes no inconvenience whatsoever, and those who have made plans to travel can take a day off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But there are two days off that week. Presidents’ Day and Tuesday is also a day off for teacher development or something.


So McPS is going to use both of them to get back the snow days?

Tuesday is Lunar new year. If you want to respect religious holidays, you should respect lunar new year too.

Lunar New Year is NOT a religious holiday, and families traditionally celebrate it the weekend BEFORE the holiday. My family and I are of Chinese descent and we and others of similar backgrounds have no idea why MCPS has decided to make this a school holiday. Making up a snow day on Lunar New Year causes no inconvenience whatsoever, and those who have made plans to travel can take a day off.

Thank you! Those who are advocating for having school on holidays such as Lunar New Year, Diwali, or Eid are in no way minimizing the importance of those holidays. MCPS policy allows both students and staff to take excused absences on religious/cultural holidays and emphasizes excusing or not assigning key assessments or other assignments on those days. Those who celebrate should make plans and take excused absences accordingly.

Because the percentage of students who will be absent if we have school on those dates is far, far less than the percent of students who will not attend school on June 23-27, we should prioritize having school on those dates.

We will NEVER be able to create a school calendar that honors the holidays of every culture and every religion, so we really need to reimplement the former policy that only included such holidays if absenteeism exceeded 15% of students and staff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But there are two days off that week. Presidents’ Day and Tuesday is also a day off for teacher development or something.


So McPS is going to use both of them to get back the snow days?

Tuesday is Lunar new year. If you want to respect religious holidays, you should respect lunar new year too.

Lunar New Year is NOT a religious holiday, and families traditionally celebrate it the weekend BEFORE the holiday. My family and I are of Chinese descent and we and others of similar backgrounds have no idea why MCPS has decided to make this a school holiday. Making up a snow day on Lunar New Year causes no inconvenience whatsoever, and those who have made plans to travel can take a day off.

Thank you! Those who are advocating for having school on holidays such as Lunar New Year, Diwali, or Eid are in no way minimizing the importance of those holidays. MCPS policy allows both students and staff to take excused absences on religious/cultural holidays and emphasizes excusing or not assigning key assessments or other assignments on those days. Those who celebrate should make plans and take excused absences accordingly.

Because the percentage of students who will be absent if we have school on those dates is far, far less than the percent of students who will not attend school on June 23-27, we should prioritize having school on those dates.

We will NEVER be able to create a school calendar that honors the holidays of every culture and every religion, so we really need to reimplement the former policy that only included such holidays if absenteeism exceeded 15% of students and staff.

This. 100% This.

How do we get this message to the Board?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But there are two days off that week. Presidents’ Day and Tuesday is also a day off for teacher development or something.


So McPS is going to use both of them to get back the snow days?

Tuesday is Lunar new year. If you want to respect religious holidays, you should respect lunar new year too.

Lunar New Year is NOT a religious holiday, and families traditionally celebrate it the weekend BEFORE the holiday. My family and I are of Chinese descent and we and others of similar backgrounds have no idea why MCPS has decided to make this a school holiday. Making up a snow day on Lunar New Year causes no inconvenience whatsoever, and those who have made plans to travel can take a day off.

Apparently this is the backstory: https://bethesdamagazine.com/2018/06/29/asian-american-parents-students-advocate-for-closed-schools-on-lunar-new-year/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But there are two days off that week. Presidents’ Day and Tuesday is also a day off for teacher development or something.


So McPS is going to use both of them to get back the snow days?

Tuesday is Lunar new year. If you want to respect religious holidays, you should respect lunar new year too.

Lunar New Year is NOT a religious holiday, and families traditionally celebrate it the weekend BEFORE the holiday. My family and I are of Chinese descent and we and others of similar backgrounds have no idea why MCPS has decided to make this a school holiday. Making up a snow day on Lunar New Year causes no inconvenience whatsoever, and those who have made plans to travel can take a day off.

Thank you! Those who are advocating for having school on holidays such as Lunar New Year, Diwali, or Eid are in no way minimizing the importance of those holidays. MCPS policy allows both students and staff to take excused absences on religious/cultural holidays and emphasizes excusing or not assigning key assessments or other assignments on those days. Those who celebrate should make plans and take excused absences accordingly.

Because the percentage of students who will be absent if we have school on those dates is far, far less than the percent of students who will not attend school on June 23-27, we should prioritize having school on those dates.

We will NEVER be able to create a school calendar that honors the holidays of every culture and every religion, so we really need to reimplement the former policy that only included such holidays if absenteeism exceeded 15% of students and staff.

This. 100% This.

How do we get this message to the Board?

The problem is that this creates systemic inequity. A student has to decide whether taking the holiday creates too much work making up missed work from a day where they received no instruction. For many, that is too much to overcome, especially if they had a recent illness. SO the excused absence is effectively a major disadvantage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But there are two days off that week. Presidents’ Day and Tuesday is also a day off for teacher development or something.


So McPS is going to use both of them to get back the snow days?

Tuesday is Lunar new year. If you want to respect religious holidays, you should respect lunar new year too.

Lunar New Year is NOT a religious holiday, and families traditionally celebrate it the weekend BEFORE the holiday. My family and I are of Chinese descent and we and others of similar backgrounds have no idea why MCPS has decided to make this a school holiday. Making up a snow day on Lunar New Year causes no inconvenience whatsoever, and those who have made plans to travel can take a day off.

Thank you! Those who are advocating for having school on holidays such as Lunar New Year, Diwali, or Eid are in no way minimizing the importance of those holidays. MCPS policy allows both students and staff to take excused absences on religious/cultural holidays and emphasizes excusing or not assigning key assessments or other assignments on those days. Those who celebrate should make plans and take excused absences accordingly.

Because the percentage of students who will be absent if we have school on those dates is far, far less than the percent of students who will not attend school on June 23-27, we should prioritize having school on those dates.

We will NEVER be able to create a school calendar that honors the holidays of every culture and every religion, so we really need to reimplement the former policy that only included such holidays if absenteeism exceeded 15% of students and staff.

This. 100% This.

How do we get this message to the Board?

The problem is that this creates systemic inequity. A student has to decide whether taking the holiday creates too much work making up missed work from a day where they received no instruction. For many, that is too much to overcome, especially if they had a recent illness. SO the excused absence is effectively a major disadvantage.

It’s ONE day. It’s in no way a disadvantage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought that because a State of Emergency was issued for this storm that the days didn't have to be made up?

Not sure how many that would affect, though.

You thought wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can’t mcps hold school over zoom this Wed and Thursday?

Lack of forewarning to families so some students don’t have a device at home.

We only knew this storm was coming for over a week ahead of time 🙄

DP. This would have had to be done at the school Board level. There would need to be an established plan after public comment.

This is from SY 225, but I don’t think anything has changed.

“The county school board may authorize the use of virtual education days in severe weather
conditions. Before this authorization is given to local school superintendents, the county school
board must discuss this topic at an open meeting and vote affirmatively on the authorization.
• The county school board shall publish the county’s plan for virtual education on the LEA’s
website.”

https://marylandpublicschools.org/stateboard/Documents/2024/0123/Virtual-Education-for-Severe-Weather-Conditions-2024-2025-School-Year.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But there are two days off that week. Presidents’ Day and Tuesday is also a day off for teacher development or something.


So McPS is going to use both of them to get back the snow days?

Tuesday is Lunar new year. If you want to respect religious holidays, you should respect lunar new year too.

Lunar New Year is NOT a religious holiday, and families traditionally celebrate it the weekend BEFORE the holiday. My family and I are of Chinese descent and we and others of similar backgrounds have no idea why MCPS has decided to make this a school holiday. Making up a snow day on Lunar New Year causes no inconvenience whatsoever, and those who have made plans to travel can take a day off.

Apparently this is the backstory: https://bethesdamagazine.com/2018/06/29/asian-american-parents-students-advocate-for-closed-schools-on-lunar-new-year/

Julie Yang...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can’t mcps hold school over zoom this Wed and Thursday?

Lack of forewarning to families so some students don’t have a device at home.

We only knew this storm was coming for over a week ahead of time 🙄

DP. This would have had to be done at the school Board level. There would need to be an established plan after public comment.

This is from SY 225, but I don’t think anything has changed.

“The county school board may authorize the use of virtual education days in severe weather
conditions. Before this authorization is given to local school superintendents, the county school
board must discuss this topic at an open meeting and vote affirmatively on the authorization.
• The county school board shall publish the county’s plan for virtual education on the LEA’s
website.”

https://marylandpublicschools.org/stateboard/Documents/2024/0123/Virtual-Education-for-Severe-Weather-Conditions-2024-2025-School-Year.pdf

BOE and Taylor are anti-virtual. They said because it didn't work for them it doesn't work for anyone which is why they didn't release the MVA data and were very secretative of how the program was doing. Virtual makes sense right now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can’t mcps hold school over zoom this Wed and Thursday?

Lack of forewarning to families so some students don’t have a device at home.

We only knew this storm was coming for over a week ahead of time 🙄

DP. This would have had to be done at the school Board level. There would need to be an established plan after public comment.

This is from SY 225, but I don’t think anything has changed.

“The county school board may authorize the use of virtual education days in severe weather
conditions. Before this authorization is given to local school superintendents, the county school
board must discuss this topic at an open meeting and vote affirmatively on the authorization.
• The county school board shall publish the county’s plan for virtual education on the LEA’s
website.”

https://marylandpublicschools.org/stateboard/Documents/2024/0123/Virtual-Education-for-Severe-Weather-Conditions-2024-2025-School-Year.pdf

BOE and Taylor are anti-virtual. They said because it didn't work for them it doesn't work for anyone which is why they didn't release the MVA data and were very secretative of how the program was doing. Virtual makes sense right now.

h

They can’t do it now because they haven’t passed a plan after public comment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can’t mcps hold school over zoom this Wed and Thursday?

Lack of forewarning to families so some students don’t have a device at home.

We only knew this storm was coming for over a week ahead of time 🙄

DP. This would have had to be done at the school Board level. There would need to be an established plan after public comment.

This is from SY 225, but I don’t think anything has changed.

“The county school board may authorize the use of virtual education days in severe weather
conditions. Before this authorization is given to local school superintendents, the county school
board must discuss this topic at an open meeting and vote affirmatively on the authorization.
• The county school board shall publish the county’s plan for virtual education on the LEA’s
website.”

https://marylandpublicschools.org/stateboard/Documents/2024/0123/Virtual-Education-for-Severe-Weather-Conditions-2024-2025-School-Year.pdf

BOE and Taylor are anti-virtual. They said because it didn't work for them it doesn't work for anyone which is why they didn't release the MVA data and were very secretative of how the program was doing. Virtual makes sense right now.

Well it looks like Anne Arundel and Baltimore County are pivoting to virtual tomorrow. I know some people don’t love virtual but would they rather go to school until the end of June? A day or two of virtual is sensible if they’re not going to put in enough snow days in the calendar. You can’t just hope it never snows. It always snows!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can’t mcps hold school over zoom this Wed and Thursday?

Lack of forewarning to families so some students don’t have a device at home.

We only knew this storm was coming for over a week ahead of time 🙄

DP. This would have had to be done at the school Board level. There would need to be an established plan after public comment.

This is from SY 225, but I don’t think anything has changed.

“The county school board may authorize the use of virtual education days in severe weather
conditions. Before this authorization is given to local school superintendents, the county school
board must discuss this topic at an open meeting and vote affirmatively on the authorization.
• The county school board shall publish the county’s plan for virtual education on the LEA’s
website.”

https://marylandpublicschools.org/stateboard/Documents/2024/0123/Virtual-Education-for-Severe-Weather-Conditions-2024-2025-School-Year.pdf

BOE and Taylor are anti-virtual. They said because it didn't work for them it doesn't work for anyone which is why they didn't release the MVA data and were very secretative of how the program was doing. Virtual makes sense right now.

Well it looks like Anne Arundel and Baltimore County are pivoting to virtual tomorrow. I know some people don’t love virtual but would they rather go to school until the end of June? A day or two of virtual is sensible if they’re not going to put in enough snow days in the calendar. You can’t just hope it never snows. It always snows!

That’s because those counties had an approved plan before this storm. MCPS cannot do it now. It requires foresight, pubic comment, and BOE approval.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can’t mcps hold school over zoom this Wed and Thursday?

Lack of forewarning to families so some students don’t have a device at home.

We only knew this storm was coming for over a week ahead of time 🙄

DP. This would have had to be done at the school Board level. There would need to be an established plan after public comment.

This is from SY 225, but I don’t think anything has changed.

“The county school board may authorize the use of virtual education days in severe weather
conditions. Before this authorization is given to local school superintendents, the county school
board must discuss this topic at an open meeting and vote affirmatively on the authorization.
• The county school board shall publish the county’s plan for virtual education on the LEA’s
website.”

https://marylandpublicschools.org/stateboard/Documents/2024/0123/Virtual-Education-for-Severe-Weather-Conditions-2024-2025-School-Year.pdf

BOE and Taylor are anti-virtual. They said because it didn't work for them it doesn't work for anyone which is why they didn't release the MVA data and were very secretative of how the program was doing. Virtual makes sense right now.

Well it looks like Anne Arundel and Baltimore County are pivoting to virtual tomorrow. I know some people don’t love virtual but would they rather go to school until the end of June? A day or two of virtual is sensible if they’re not going to put in enough snow days in the calendar. You can’t just hope it never snows. It always snows!

That’s because those counties had an approved plan before this storm. MCPS cannot do it now. It requires foresight, pubic comment, and BOE approval.

I know. But my point is that it would have been a helpful tool to have had at their disposal for snow events like this one. Fine if it’s not the default. Fine if you choose not to pivot. But goodness, building in one contingency day is like going to Vegas expecting to win big. Maybe you’re lucky sometimes but statistically you will run out of luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can’t mcps hold school over zoom this Wed and Thursday?

Lack of forewarning to families so some students don’t have a device at home.

We only knew this storm was coming for over a week ahead of time 🙄

DP. This would have had to be done at the school Board level. There would need to be an established plan after public comment.

This is from SY 225, but I don’t think anything has changed.

“The county school board may authorize the use of virtual education days in severe weather
conditions. Before this authorization is given to local school superintendents, the county school
board must discuss this topic at an open meeting and vote affirmatively on the authorization.
• The county school board shall publish the county’s plan for virtual education on the LEA’s
website.”

https://marylandpublicschools.org/stateboard/Documents/2024/0123/Virtual-Education-for-Severe-Weather-Conditions-2024-2025-School-Year.pdf

BOE and Taylor are anti-virtual. They said because it didn't work for them it doesn't work for anyone which is why they didn't release the MVA data and were very secretative of how the program was doing. Virtual makes sense right now.

Well it looks like Anne Arundel and Baltimore County are pivoting to virtual tomorrow. I know some people don’t love virtual but would they rather go to school until the end of June? A day or two of virtual is sensible if they’re not going to put in enough snow days in the calendar. You can’t just hope it never snows. It always snows!

I'd rather they use the earlier make-up days, but even late June schools days are better than virtual. My kids don't have chromebooks or textbooks. There's no way we can do virtual without it doing more harm than good.