I think Maryland was allowed to not make up the extra days after Snowmageddon because the storm was bad enough to qualify for federal disaster recovery funds.

Agreed, PP. Their plan is "We'll say we have a plan, but in reality, we don't."

In 2009-2010, budge reasons were a concern listed for not extending by the week it should have been extended. However, I think it was more "We are lazy and don't want to do anything."

If the policy to extend the year (in the absence of a waiver for true weather emergencies) is never enforced, why bother to have it all?

It's like a parent issuing empty threats.

Anonymous wrote:A few years ago (snowmageddon) they got the governor to grant a waiver so that they didn't have to extend school at the end of the year even though they used more snow days than allowed. Last year (or year before), when they didn't use any snow days, they ended school early. So there you are then. Teachers and administrators don't want to be in school either!

As others have said, MCPS did not end their school year early. However, I believe that Charles County does employ this approach to "end early" if they don't use their emergency closing days.

School was closed 2 days due to the threat of Sandy in the 2012-2013 year. I'm pretty sure those were the only 2 days used that year. I don't recall any days being used in 2011-2012, but I probably am forgetting something. I don't recall if school was impacted by the threat of Hurricane Irene, which was in late August 2011.

Some of the other school districts have already made plans to cut President's day or one of the Spring Break days, and I think at least one other is already adding a day at the end. It is not unheard of and made necessary by the panicking over the threat of snow, cold, ice, wind, hail, or a broken thermometer.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A few years ago (snowmageddon) they got the governor to grant a waiver so that they didn't have to extend school at the end of the year even though they used more snow days than allowed. Last year (or year before), when they didn't use any snow days, they ended school early. So there you are then. Teachers and administrators don't want to be in school either!

School was not ended early.

Agree - that the school year wasn't ended early. Plus I think they did use a couple of closure days each year - didn't they close for the possible threat of Sandy? And I think there was at least one closure for threat of snow (which never materialized).

Anonymous wrote:A few years ago (snowmageddon) they got the governor to grant a waiver so that they didn't have to extend school at the end of the year even though they used more snow days than allowed. Last year (or year before), when they didn't use any snow days, they ended school early. So there you are then. Teachers and administrators don't want to be in school either!

School was not ended early.

A few years ago (snowmageddon) they got the governor to grant a waiver so that they didn't have to extend school at the end of the year even though they used more snow days than allowed. Last year (or year before), when they didn't use any snow days, they ended school early. So there you are then. Teachers and administrators don't want to be in school either!

Anonymous wrote:The school year ends on a Friday, so any extra days would start on a Monday. If working parents put their kids in camp starting as soon as school is out, I'm thinking there would be a lot of absences.

Actually it ends on Thursday and the first extra day would be on Friday. Working parents should be happy about that!

The school year ends on a Friday, so any extra days would start on a Monday. If working parents put their kids in camp starting as soon as school is out, I'm thinking there would be a lot of absences.

Anonymous wrote:I hope they extend the year. School is out too early in June and that just leaves more time to fill for working parents

Exactly. What are you people bitching about? Did you plan a European tour the day after school ends? If so, you are an idiot. If not, then stop finding things to bitch about for no reason.

I hope they extend the year. School is out too early in June and that just leaves more time to fill for working parents