How does this come up every single year? How do people still not understand that we have to have 180 days of schools and districts choose the days they have off within those 180 days. It's still 180 days (more for MCPS bc of built in snow days) of school. Every. Single. Year. Yet every year we have a stupid thread like this.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The teachers union.

Absolutely not. The board decided to take off every single religious holiday that could possibly celebrated by someone residing in MoCo

That’s not why there are so many half days. Who do you think pushed for those?

Absolutely noone. "Half days" are inane. No recess, specials schedule is wonky, and school only dismisses 2 hours early.

Full days (fewer) would be much less stressful for all involved and less disruptive but the state won't allow it because #180days

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The teachers union.

Lol, no.

Yeah, since we all know how much parents love early release days…

Neither teachers nor parents love them.

Teachers generally have meetings, trainings, or interim and report card preparation duties on early release days. The exception has been the Wednesday before thanksgiving, but this year school is closed that day.

Many teachers are also parents. When students are released early, teachers who are parenting have to arrange child care or take personal time just like non-teacher parents.

I just counted, it's almost an even number of weeks with no days off/early release vs weeks with one. Complain about something else.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The teachers union.

Lol, no.

Yeah, since we all know how much parents love early release days…

Anonymous wrote:The teachers union.

Lol, no.

I wish we could have a weeklong February break.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The teachers union.

Absolutely not. The board decided to take off every single religious holiday that could possibly celebrated by someone residing in MoCo

Not even close!

https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcg/commemorations.html

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The teachers union.

Absolutely not. The board decided to take off every single religious holiday that could possibly celebrated by someone residing in MoCo

That’s not why there are so many half days. Who do you think pushed for those?

Anonymous wrote:The teachers union.

Absolutely not. The board decided to take off every single religious holiday that could possibly celebrated by someone residing in MoCo

Different stakeholders have different needs and preferences. Over the years the school board has tweaked the calendar multiple times in response to complaints. They are constrained by teachers’ contracts and state laws. Read this board for a few years and you’ll see that there could never be a calendar that makes most people happy. The best they can do is to make one that leaves everybody equally dissatisfied.

Anonymous wrote:The board of education creates the calendar. We usually see a few drafts in the late winter/early spring and provide feedback. The “we” here is the general public, it is announced and anyone can provide feedback and vote on their preferred calendar. Final decision is announced before the end of the school year.

Lol, parents have very little feedback. They pretend to take parent input and do whatever they weee going to do anyway.

Also, all the calendars they had us vote on were similar with multiple random days off.

The board of education creates the calendar. We usually see a few drafts in the late winter/early spring and provide feedback. The “we” here is the general public, it is announced and anyone can provide feedback and vote on their preferred calendar. Final decision is announced before the end of the school year.

The teachers union.

Who comes up with this school calendar. Like every week or other week has an early release or some day off. They might as well just adopt a 4.5 day week. It would be easier for everyone to plan around.