Anonymous wrote:I am in favor of starting school after Labor Day and Ending by Memorial Day.

Why do you think it's a good idea for students to be out of school for 14 weeks straight?

I am in favor of starting school after Labor Day and Ending by Memorial Day. Seniors end before Memorial Day anyway and AP exams are completed in May. We could preserve some instructional time by eliminating some holidays during the school year. As a teacher, I would start by eliminating the teacher grading days at the end of each quarter. We could make them half days, still providing teachers with some time to input grades while also using them as instructional days. I know I'll cause an uproar by saying so, but with gradebooks online, teachers who keep up with grading throughout the quarter do not need a full day at the end of each quarter to submit grades. So many of us simply 'work from home' on those days, meaning we take the day off. That would restore almost a week of instructional time during the year. I'm sure there are other vacation days we could eliminate to provide more continuity during the school year while still starting later and finishing earlier. Although I am religious, I am in favor of eliminating Jewish holidays as well as Good Friday or Easter Monday if either takes Spring Break into that next week (still providing 5 days off for Spring Break). If I need to take off for religious reasons, I will use my leave to do so, and students who need to take off will simply do so. It's also ridiculous that we must close schools for Election Days. There are plenty of other states which allow voting in the schools while schools are in session.

And while we're adjusting the calendar, we should make a new snow contingency calendar to ensure make-up days prior to the end of the school year.

It's a complete fallacy to believe that starting school will enable more people to spend money at the beach. Most people will take their one week vacation whether it's in June or late August. The majority of people can't afford to take multiple beach vacations as much as they would like to do that. Starting school after Labor Day is a horrible idea and will make our schools less competitive. AP test dates for high school remain the same in May and starting school later will put our kids at a disadvantage especially since MCPS loves to close schools for an inch or two of snow.

Ok, so there is no established timeline then for voting on these bills?

Anonymous wrote:Anyone know when the legislature would vote on this bill?

The bills had their committee hearings already (SB 455 and HB 389), and as far as I can tell, nothing has happened after that.

http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/webmga/frmMain.aspx?pid=billpage&tab=subject3&id=sb0455&stab=01&ys=2015RS
http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/webmga/frmMain.aspx?pid=billpage&tab=subject3&id=hb0389&stab=01&ys=2015RS

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am really opposed to starting school after Labor Day. It's not like changing the calendar will give us all a ton of money to spend a the Maryland shore! We'll take our vacations when and where we want to, then return for school. Let us start at the end of August so we get out by mid-June and can enjoy some nice weather then!

Actually that is incorrect. The beach and water temperatures are more ideal in late August than they are in mid June. The coastal industry would see a big surge in business if they started after Labor Day

Ideal beach and water temperatures don't give the PP more money to spend on vacation.

Starting later will exacerbate the counties inability to make up snow days before the end of the year. Hopefully they will offer waivers like va does.

Anyone know when the legislature would vote on this bill?

Anonymous wrote:I am really opposed to starting school after Labor Day. It's not like changing the calendar will give us all a ton of money to spend a the Maryland shore! We'll take our vacations when and where we want to, then return for school. Let us start at the end of August so we get out by mid-June and can enjoy some nice weather then!

Actually that is incorrect. The beach and water temperatures are more ideal in late August than they are in mid June. The coastal industry would see a big surge in business if they started after Labor Day

I am really opposed to starting school after Labor Day. It's not like changing the calendar will give us all a ton of money to spend a the Maryland shore! We'll take our vacations when and where we want to, then return for school. Let us start at the end of August so we get out by mid-June and can enjoy some nice weather then!

Anonymous wrote:The legislation says it would take place immediately but I don't know if that really means this year.

Bills passed by the legislature typically take effect 10/1. So it seems it could not be implemented for the 2015-2016 school year.

I would like 8 weeks in summer and 2 more weeks in winter.

The legislation says it would take place immediately but I don't know if that really means this year.

The governor and some state senators etc. want this, but I am unclear when this would take effect if the bill passes.

I think they should end at before Memorial Day and start after Labor Day. (or have a week's fall break + 3 weeks at Christmas +2 weeks at Easter.)