"Fairfax didn't go to school on MLK day. That was a holiday. They DID go to school on Presidents' Day, per their contingency plan. "
Sorry my mistake. But should the point be that most schools at least try to make up the days and try to stick to their contingency plan BEFORE even thinking about putting in a waiver?

Anonymous wrote:Fairfax county in VA went to school on MLK day, Is going a full day on April 7th which should have been a teacher work day and has added two days onto the end of the year per the SCHOOL CONTINGENCY CALENDAR. They didn't even bother asking for a waiver even with 2 days of state of emergencies. What has MCPS done to even try to make up the time? It will not look good if the days are waived.

Fairfax didn't go to school on MLK day. That was a holiday. They DID go to school on Presidents' Day, per their contingency plan.

FFX also did not ask for a waiver in 2009-2010 and extended the school year considerably. MCPS got a waiver in 2009-2010, just like all the districts in Maryland.

I believe that most, if not all, the VA jurisdictions go a full 180 days regardless, whereas in Maryland a school year is 180 days only by the luck of the weather forecast.

Anonymous wrote:Fairfax county in VA went to school on MLK day, Is going a full day on April 7th which should have been a teacher work day and has added two days onto the end of the year per the SCHOOL CONTINGENCY CALENDAR. They didn't even bother asking for a waiver even with 2 days of state of emergencies. What has MCPS done to even try to make up the time? It will not look good if the days are waived.

It will not look good to whom? I don't have a problem with it.

Also, state law requires schools to be closed on MLK day.

http://www.hcpss.org/news/calendars/faq.shtml

Fairfax county in VA went to school on MLK day, Is going a full day on April 7th which should have been a teacher work day and has added two days onto the end of the year per the SCHOOL CONTINGENCY CALENDAR. They didn't even bother asking for a waiver even with 2 days of state of emergencies. What has MCPS done to even try to make up the time? It will not look good if the days are waived.

June 13 is a given. In the letter Starr submitted when MCPS was "only" 5 days over the limit, he planned on extending the school year to the 13th.

Now we are 6 days over and the state has said they'll approve waivers of up to 5 days... So, definitely count on the 13th as a school day. And hopefully the last day. I don't want any more closings due to the weather!

MCPS WILL extend the school year....by one day to June 13. That's my guess anyway.

keithcc wrote:Just checked Frederick, Howard, and Prince George's. Frederick is making up days over Spring Break. Howard and PG make it clear that their calendars are subject to change.

In Frederick County, they are using Spring Break days to make up for the snow days (http://www.fcps.org/site/Default.aspx?PageID=2)
I believe Montgomery County has sufficient financial resources to match Frederick.

Here's what Howard County's school calendar says:
"*As of March 4, HCPSS has used the five inclement weather days that were built into the calendar, as well as three additional days. Maryland law requires a minimum of 180 school days each year. Once the winter season has ended, the Board of Education will make a decision regarding the makeup of the additional missed day(s)"

Prince George's County
(http://www1.pgcps.org/calendar/)
===========================
June 5

Thursday

Last Day for Students (1/2 day ) – End of Fourth Quarter (42 days) – Subject to change due to inclement weather

June 6

Friday

Last Day for Teachers – Subject to change due to inclement weather

June 6 & 9-11

Friday & Monday - Wednesday

Inclement Weather Make-Up Days

First, I say good for Frederick for having the balls to make up the days before June. I also believe they should be prepared for a high absentee rate of both students & teachers.

Howard and PG make it clear they have a contingency plan in place. Guess what... so does MCPS.

Neither Howard nor PG have had any statements that they are implementing their contingency. Howard even says HCPS will make a decision on what to do after the winter session is finished.

Again -- the issue here is the money. Does MCPS have the money for 5 additional days of school? You think that MCPS ought to. But "ought to" is not "does".

And if MCPS does not have the money for 5 additional days of school, where do you think that money should come from?

Just checked Frederick, Howard, and Prince George's. Frederick is making up days over Spring Break. Howard and PG make it clear that their calendars are subject to change.

In Frederick County, they are using Spring Break days to make up for the snow days (http://www.fcps.org/site/Default.aspx?PageID=2)
I believe Montgomery County has sufficient financial resources to match Frederick.

Here's what Howard County's school calendar says:
"*As of March 4, HCPSS has used the five inclement weather
days that were built into the calendar, as well as three
additional days. Maryland law requires a minimum of 180
school days each year. Once the winter season has ended,
the Board of Education will make a decision regarding the
makeup of the additional missed day(s)"

Prince George's County
(http://www1.pgcps.org/calendar/)
===========================
June 5

Thursday

Last Day for Students (1/2 day ) – End of Fourth Quarter (42 days) – Subject to change due to inclement weather

June 6

Friday

Last Day for Teachers – Subject to change due to inclement weather

June 6 & 9-11

Friday & Monday - Wednesday

Inclement Weather Make-Up Days

MCPS said that the school year will be extended -- and it will, unless the state approves the waiver. Arguably MCPS should also include information about the waiver process. What do other school systems in Maryland do? Do their contingency calendars include information about the waiver process?

But, in any case, all of this is irrelevant to the question of whether MCPS has already budgeted money.

MCPS said "the school year will be extended".

There is nothing conditional about that statement.
To suggest that they made this commitment without any way of meeting it is to suggest that they acted either irresponsibly or in bad faith.

Do you have any evidence to that effect?

Whether or not the "plan in place" addresses the financial part of the extra days, one could reasonably argue that the money would be better spent in other ways.

keithcc wrote:I'm glad you asked. MCPS has had a contingency plan covering extra days in place since the beginning of the school year. You can find it at the bottom of the 2013-2014 school calendar:

"School Contingency Calendar, 2013–2014
If the school year should be disrupted by emergencies and schools are closed, the school year will be extended.
If schools are closed... The school year will be extended by...
5 days 1 day to June 13, 2014
6 days 2 days to June 13 and 16, 2014
7 days 3 days to June 13, 16, and 17, 2014
8 days 4 days to June 13, 16, 17, and 18, 2014
9 days 5 days to June 13, 16, 17, 18, and 19, 2014"

So they already have a plan in place to cover the required spending.

No, they have a plan in place for the calendar, for if the state board of education doesn't approve the waiver. That doesn't mean they have a plan in place for the money. They may have; I don't know; do you? Have you looked at the budget?

I'm glad you asked. MCPS has had a contingency plan covering extra days in place since the beginning of the school year. You can find it at the bottom of the 2013-2014 school calendar:

"School Contingency Calendar, 2013–2014
If the school year should be disrupted by emergencies and schools are closed, the school year will be extended.
If schools are closed... The school year will be extended by...
5 days 1 day to June 13, 2014
6 days 2 days to June 13 and 16, 2014
7 days 3 days to June 13, 16, and 17, 2014
8 days 4 days to June 13, 16, 17, and 18, 2014
9 days 5 days to June 13, 16, 17, 18, and 19, 2014"

So they already have a plan in place to cover the required spending.

keithcc wrote:By this math, the extra days would cost $500,000 each.
That's an absolute bargain!

The FY2015 budget is $2.32 billion for 184 days -- $12.6 million per day. We should be thrilled to get it for $500k.

Mr. Starr and MCPS officials-- The service your teachers provide is really important. I urge you to value it more highly.

Where do you think this extra money should come from?