Definitely Option 3. We do not need a mid-January break so soon after Winter Break and getting out earlier in June is preferable.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Option 2 all the way. Option 1 is okay, too. But I like the idea of easing in with a shorter week. My kids are always dead tired the first few weeks, even though they go to summer camps.

If they don't start until the day of such a late Labor Day, teachers won't get a paycheck until almost October!

Very good point. I’m the two-teacher family poster from earlier. Our first paychecks were today. It was a bit rough after 9/1 despite careful budgeting because we had three huge unexpected expenses in late August and my DD fractured her wrist the second day of school so that was $150/copay alone.

Can’t you choose to spread your pay out over 12 months?

Nope. Years ago it was an option, but then it was discontinued for new teachers, and eventually dropped all together. We're a two-teacher family, but I have some summer days. That's enough to cover the basic bills, and of course we budget and sock away "summer money" all year, but DH still ends up doing Door Dash and grocery delivery to keep us from dipping into our long term savings by the end of the summer. We love summer as much as anyone, but having an early end and then a late start complicates our financials. With that third option, our first paycheck would be September 25!

I’m the poster whose daughter fractured her wrist. We live a pretty frugal life by preference and are incredibly careful, but it’s almost impossible to live in MoCo as a two teacher family without inherited money or working during the summer. Due to serious health issues that DH is dealing with, neither of us worked this summer (except the two mandated salary days). If we hadn’t had the big emergencies all in a three week period, we would have just squeaked by. But I put back basic groceries like fresh produce and BLSL chicken thighs on Tuesday because I had less than $10 in our checking account. It was pretty uncomfortable. We both grew up poor and can cook on a shoestring, but I didn’t want my DD to notice.

All of the things you cite are things that I experience as a single mom -- tight budget, unexpected health costs, etc. I'm too poor to even consider Door Dash and grocery delivery! With today's electronic banking and savings sweeps, you can easily make your own 12 month salary. In fact, that's preferable to having the county do it for you because you can sweep those savings to a fund that at least earns something while you wait to use it in summer.

TBH, many teachers have summer jobs or side gigs. There is a lot you can do in 3 months in the summer, especially if you teach math or reading/writing.

The expectation that the county should pick a calendar based on your financial needs, is a bit narcissistic IMO.

I mean if you were a 10 month employee and your employer let you pick your calendar wouldn't that factor into your decision making process?

Well, my biggest priority was that they not wait until December to decide, since I wanted to plan out next summer before then. Irritating. More important to have a schedule than what the schedule will be, IMHO.

I guess 3 is best and 1 is the worst, from my perspective. I like the idea of a mini-winter break, but I'm not that psyched about 3 days off in January -- considering I have to take off a week in December and then inevitable snow days, when am I supposed to get work done? A 4-day weekend in February would be better, and then push spring break to April and stop tying it to Easter (which I hate -- I'm Christian and would prefer to be at home for religious holidays, but would like to get away for spring break, plus I hate that it's always a different time every year).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Option 2 all the way. Option 1 is okay, too. But I like the idea of easing in with a shorter week. My kids are always dead tired the first few weeks, even though they go to summer camps.

If they don't start until the day of such a late Labor Day, teachers won't get a paycheck until almost October!

Very good point. I’m the two-teacher family poster from earlier. Our first paychecks were today. It was a bit rough after 9/1 despite careful budgeting because we had three huge unexpected expenses in late August and my DD fractured her wrist the second day of school so that was $150/copay alone.

Can’t you choose to spread your pay out over 12 months?

Nope. Years ago it was an option, but then it was discontinued for new teachers, and eventually dropped all together. We're a two-teacher family, but I have some summer days. That's enough to cover the basic bills, and of course we budget and sock away "summer money" all year, but DH still ends up doing Door Dash and grocery delivery to keep us from dipping into our long term savings by the end of the summer. We love summer as much as anyone, but having an early end and then a late start complicates our financials. With that third option, our first paycheck would be September 25!

I’m the poster whose daughter fractured her wrist. We live a pretty frugal life by preference and are incredibly careful, but it’s almost impossible to live in MoCo as a two teacher family without inherited money or working during the summer. Due to serious health issues that DH is dealing with, neither of us worked this summer (except the two mandated salary days). If we hadn’t had the big emergencies all in a three week period, we would have just squeaked by. But I put back basic groceries like fresh produce and BLSL chicken thighs on Tuesday because I had less than $10 in our checking account. It was pretty uncomfortable. We both grew up poor and can cook on a shoestring, but I didn’t want my DD to notice.

How much do you make combined? I live in Moco and our HHI is $130,000. We are not rich but not struggling either. My neighbors behind me are a 2 teacher household with 2 kids in daycare, they are not struggling paycheck to paycheck either.

$180k, but we have huge out of pocket medical expenses and student loans. We’re doing better than either of us grew up and normally, we can cover the summer without stress. But we had the three big unexpected expenditures wipe out our emergency fund. That’s not so bad if a regular paycheck is no more than two weeks away.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Option 2 all the way. Option 1 is okay, too. But I like the idea of easing in with a shorter week. My kids are always dead tired the first few weeks, even though they go to summer camps.

If they don't start until the day of such a late Labor Day, teachers won't get a paycheck until almost October!

Very good point. I’m the two-teacher family poster from earlier. Our first paychecks were today. It was a bit rough after 9/1 despite careful budgeting because we had three huge unexpected expenses in late August and my DD fractured her wrist the second day of school so that was $150/copay alone.

Can’t you choose to spread your pay out over 12 months?

Nope. Years ago it was an option, but then it was discontinued for new teachers, and eventually dropped all together. We're a two-teacher family, but I have some summer days. That's enough to cover the basic bills, and of course we budget and sock away "summer money" all year, but DH still ends up doing Door Dash and grocery delivery to keep us from dipping into our long term savings by the end of the summer. We love summer as much as anyone, but having an early end and then a late start complicates our financials. With that third option, our first paycheck would be September 25!

I’m the poster whose daughter fractured her wrist. We live a pretty frugal life by preference and are incredibly careful, but it’s almost impossible to live in MoCo as a two teacher family without inherited money or working during the summer. Due to serious health issues that DH is dealing with, neither of us worked this summer (except the two mandated salary days). If we hadn’t had the big emergencies all in a three week period, we would have just squeaked by. But I put back basic groceries like fresh produce and BLSL chicken thighs on Tuesday because I had less than $10 in our checking account. It was pretty uncomfortable. We both grew up poor and can cook on a shoestring, but I didn’t want my DD to notice.

All of the things you cite are things that I experience as a single mom -- tight budget, unexpected health costs, etc. I'm too poor to even consider Door Dash and grocery delivery! With today's electronic banking and savings sweeps, you can easily make your own 12 month salary. In fact, that's preferable to having the county do it for you because you can sweep those savings to a fund that at least earns something while you wait to use it in summer.

TBH, many teachers have summer jobs or side gigs. There is a lot you can do in 3 months in the summer, especially if you teach math or reading/writing.

The expectation that the county should pick a calendar based on your financial needs, is a bit narcissistic IMO.

If you read my first comment, I noted that starting earlier is better for students taking AP.

And my DH and I didn’t work this summer because he’s undergoing cancer treatments. BTDT, too? If so, you’ll understand when I say that we had all we could handle on our plates daily.

I was a low income single mom for a number of years so I don’t think the discomfort we experienced this summer makes us special. I just think the September paychecks are a situation that MCPS knows impacts its teachers and other 10 month employees every year and refuses to fix.

Single mom (of 1) teacher here. HHI 75K from teaching. (That hurts considering i spent 2x that amount getting both my Masters degrees!) But I am also a personal trainer and earn a nice amount from clients throughout the year, adding in many more hours during the summer. My clientele increases during the summer so I guess i prefer the "longest summer" option possible to maximize that earning potential.

I'm a great cook so we rarely eat out. I never feel like we live paycheck to paycheck. I have been budgeting since I was 12 years old... my mom taught me! (We also take a trip to Europe each year and stay in hostels. My daughter has been to 17 countries.)

We’re a two teacher family in Moco (3 kids) and while we’re very far from rich, we’re also pretty far from paycheck to paycheck. We always try and save enough during the year to cover September expenses, and bank what we have left when we get our first paychecks. The leftovers become our vacation budget. It really encourages us to save and kind of make it a game - I’d rather cook than eat out tonight, maybe we can afford a private jet, haha.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Option 2 all the way. Option 1 is okay, too. But I like the idea of easing in with a shorter week. My kids are always dead tired the first few weeks, even though they go to summer camps.

If they don't start until the day of such a late Labor Day, teachers won't get a paycheck until almost October!

Very good point. I’m the two-teacher family poster from earlier. Our first paychecks were today. It was a bit rough after 9/1 despite careful budgeting because we had three huge unexpected expenses in late August and my DD fractured her wrist the second day of school so that was $150/copay alone.

Can’t you choose to spread your pay out over 12 months?

Nope. Years ago it was an option, but then it was discontinued for new teachers, and eventually dropped all together. We're a two-teacher family, but I have some summer days. That's enough to cover the basic bills, and of course we budget and sock away "summer money" all year, but DH still ends up doing Door Dash and grocery delivery to keep us from dipping into our long term savings by the end of the summer. We love summer as much as anyone, but having an early end and then a late start complicates our financials. With that third option, our first paycheck would be September 25!

I’m the poster whose daughter fractured her wrist. We live a pretty frugal life by preference and are incredibly careful, but it’s almost impossible to live in MoCo as a two teacher family without inherited money or working during the summer. Due to serious health issues that DH is dealing with, neither of us worked this summer (except the two mandated salary days). If we hadn’t had the big emergencies all in a three week period, we would have just squeaked by. But I put back basic groceries like fresh produce and BLSL chicken thighs on Tuesday because I had less than $10 in our checking account. It was pretty uncomfortable. We both grew up poor and can cook on a shoestring, but I didn’t want my DD to notice.

All of the things you cite are things that I experience as a single mom -- tight budget, unexpected health costs, etc. I'm too poor to even consider Door Dash and grocery delivery! With today's electronic banking and savings sweeps, you can easily make your own 12 month salary. In fact, that's preferable to having the county do it for you because you can sweep those savings to a fund that at least earns something while you wait to use it in summer.

TBH, many teachers have summer jobs or side gigs. There is a lot you can do in 3 months in the summer, especially if you teach math or reading/writing.

The expectation that the county should pick a calendar based on your financial needs, is a bit narcissistic IMO.

I doubt the suggestion is that it should be the only consideration. Although one could reasonably argue the needs of teachers should factor into the decision.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Option 2 all the way. Option 1 is okay, too. But I like the idea of easing in with a shorter week. My kids are always dead tired the first few weeks, even though they go to summer camps.

If they don't start until the day of such a late Labor Day, teachers won't get a paycheck until almost October!

Very good point. I’m the two-teacher family poster from earlier. Our first paychecks were today. It was a bit rough after 9/1 despite careful budgeting because we had three huge unexpected expenses in late August and my DD fractured her wrist the second day of school so that was $150/copay alone.

Can’t you choose to spread your pay out over 12 months?

Nope. Years ago it was an option, but then it was discontinued for new teachers, and eventually dropped all together. We're a two-teacher family, but I have some summer days. That's enough to cover the basic bills, and of course we budget and sock away "summer money" all year, but DH still ends up doing Door Dash and grocery delivery to keep us from dipping into our long term savings by the end of the summer. We love summer as much as anyone, but having an early end and then a late start complicates our financials. With that third option, our first paycheck would be September 25!

I’m the poster whose daughter fractured her wrist. We live a pretty frugal life by preference and are incredibly careful, but it’s almost impossible to live in MoCo as a two teacher family without inherited money or working during the summer. Due to serious health issues that DH is dealing with, neither of us worked this summer (except the two mandated salary days). If we hadn’t had the big emergencies all in a three week period, we would have just squeaked by. But I put back basic groceries like fresh produce and BLSL chicken thighs on Tuesday because I had less than $10 in our checking account. It was pretty uncomfortable. We both grew up poor and can cook on a shoestring, but I didn’t want my DD to notice.

How much do you make combined? I live in Moco and our HHI is $130,000. We are not rich but not struggling either. My neighbors behind me are a 2 teacher household with 2 kids in daycare, they are not struggling paycheck to paycheck either.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Option 2 all the way. Option 1 is okay, too. But I like the idea of easing in with a shorter week. My kids are always dead tired the first few weeks, even though they go to summer camps.

If they don't start until the day of such a late Labor Day, teachers won't get a paycheck until almost October!

Very good point. I’m the two-teacher family poster from earlier. Our first paychecks were today. It was a bit rough after 9/1 despite careful budgeting because we had three huge unexpected expenses in late August and my DD fractured her wrist the second day of school so that was $150/copay alone.

Can’t you choose to spread your pay out over 12 months?

Nope. Years ago it was an option, but then it was discontinued for new teachers, and eventually dropped all together. We're a two-teacher family, but I have some summer days. That's enough to cover the basic bills, and of course we budget and sock away "summer money" all year, but DH still ends up doing Door Dash and grocery delivery to keep us from dipping into our long term savings by the end of the summer. We love summer as much as anyone, but having an early end and then a late start complicates our financials. With that third option, our first paycheck would be September 25!

I’m the poster whose daughter fractured her wrist. We live a pretty frugal life by preference and are incredibly careful, but it’s almost impossible to live in MoCo as a two teacher family without inherited money or working during the summer. Due to serious health issues that DH is dealing with, neither of us worked this summer (except the two mandated salary days). If we hadn’t had the big emergencies all in a three week period, we would have just squeaked by. But I put back basic groceries like fresh produce and BLSL chicken thighs on Tuesday because I had less than $10 in our checking account. It was pretty uncomfortable. We both grew up poor and can cook on a shoestring, but I didn’t want my DD to notice.

All of the things you cite are things that I experience as a single mom -- tight budget, unexpected health costs, etc. I'm too poor to even consider Door Dash and grocery delivery! With today's electronic banking and savings sweeps, you can easily make your own 12 month salary. In fact, that's preferable to having the county do it for you because you can sweep those savings to a fund that at least earns something while you wait to use it in summer.

TBH, many teachers have summer jobs or side gigs. There is a lot you can do in 3 months in the summer, especially if you teach math or reading/writing.

The expectation that the county should pick a calendar based on your financial needs, is a bit narcissistic IMO.

I assume she meant her dh worked for door dash, not ordered from it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Option 2 all the way. Option 1 is okay, too. But I like the idea of easing in with a shorter week. My kids are always dead tired the first few weeks, even though they go to summer camps.

If they don't start until the day of such a late Labor Day, teachers won't get a paycheck until almost October!

Very good point. I’m the two-teacher family poster from earlier. Our first paychecks were today. It was a bit rough after 9/1 despite careful budgeting because we had three huge unexpected expenses in late August and my DD fractured her wrist the second day of school so that was $150/copay alone.

Can’t you choose to spread your pay out over 12 months?

Nope. Years ago it was an option, but then it was discontinued for new teachers, and eventually dropped all together. We're a two-teacher family, but I have some summer days. That's enough to cover the basic bills, and of course we budget and sock away "summer money" all year, but DH still ends up doing Door Dash and grocery delivery to keep us from dipping into our long term savings by the end of the summer. We love summer as much as anyone, but having an early end and then a late start complicates our financials. With that third option, our first paycheck would be September 25!

I’m the poster whose daughter fractured her wrist. We live a pretty frugal life by preference and are incredibly careful, but it’s almost impossible to live in MoCo as a two teacher family without inherited money or working during the summer. Due to serious health issues that DH is dealing with, neither of us worked this summer (except the two mandated salary days). If we hadn’t had the big emergencies all in a three week period, we would have just squeaked by. But I put back basic groceries like fresh produce and BLSL chicken thighs on Tuesday because I had less than $10 in our checking account. It was pretty uncomfortable. We both grew up poor and can cook on a shoestring, but I didn’t want my DD to notice.

All of the things you cite are things that I experience as a single mom -- tight budget, unexpected health costs, etc. I'm too poor to even consider Door Dash and grocery delivery! With today's electronic banking and savings sweeps, you can easily make your own 12 month salary. In fact, that's preferable to having the county do it for you because you can sweep those savings to a fund that at least earns something while you wait to use it in summer.

TBH, many teachers have summer jobs or side gigs. There is a lot you can do in 3 months in the summer, especially if you teach math or reading/writing.

The expectation that the county should pick a calendar based on your financial needs, is a bit narcissistic IMO.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Option 2 all the way. Option 1 is okay, too. But I like the idea of easing in with a shorter week. My kids are always dead tired the first few weeks, even though they go to summer camps.

If they don't start until the day of such a late Labor Day, teachers won't get a paycheck until almost October!

Very good point. I’m the two-teacher family poster from earlier. Our first paychecks were today. It was a bit rough after 9/1 despite careful budgeting because we had three huge unexpected expenses in late August and my DD fractured her wrist the second day of school so that was $150/copay alone.

Can’t you choose to spread your pay out over 12 months?

Nope. Years ago it was an option, but then it was discontinued for new teachers, and eventually dropped all together. We're a two-teacher family, but I have some summer days. That's enough to cover the basic bills, and of course we budget and sock away "summer money" all year, but DH still ends up doing Door Dash and grocery delivery to keep us from dipping into our long term savings by the end of the summer. We love summer as much as anyone, but having an early end and then a late start complicates our financials. With that third option, our first paycheck would be September 25!

I’m the poster whose daughter fractured her wrist. We live a pretty frugal life by preference and are incredibly careful, but it’s almost impossible to live in MoCo as a two teacher family without inherited money or working during the summer. Due to serious health issues that DH is dealing with, neither of us worked this summer (except the two mandated salary days). If we hadn’t had the big emergencies all in a three week period, we would have just squeaked by. But I put back basic groceries like fresh produce and BLSL chicken thighs on Tuesday because I had less than $10 in our checking account. It was pretty uncomfortable. We both grew up poor and can cook on a shoestring, but I didn’t want my DD to notice.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Option 2 all the way. Option 1 is okay, too. But I like the idea of easing in with a shorter week. My kids are always dead tired the first few weeks, even though they go to summer camps.

If they don't start until the day of such a late Labor Day, teachers won't get a paycheck until almost October!

Very good point. I’m the two-teacher family poster from earlier. Our first paychecks were today. It was a bit rough after 9/1 despite careful budgeting because we had three huge unexpected expenses in late August and my DD fractured her wrist the second day of school so that was $150/copay alone.

Can’t you choose to spread your pay out over 12 months?

Nope. Years ago it was an option, but then it was discontinued for new teachers, and eventually dropped all together. We're a two-teacher family, but I have some summer days. That's enough to cover the basic bills, and of course we budget and sock away "summer money" all year, but DH still ends up doing Door Dash and grocery delivery to keep us from dipping into our long term savings by the end of the summer. We love summer as much as anyone, but having an early end and then a late start complicates our financials. With that third option, our first paycheck would be September 25!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Option 2 all the way. Option 1 is okay, too. But I like the idea of easing in with a shorter week. My kids are always dead tired the first few weeks, even though they go to summer camps.

If they don't start until the day of such a late Labor Day, teachers won't get a paycheck until almost October!

Very good point. I’m the two-teacher family poster from earlier. Our first paychecks were today. It was a bit rough after 9/1 despite careful budgeting because we had three huge unexpected expenses in late August and my DD fractured her wrist the second day of school so that was $150/copay alone.

Can’t you choose to spread your pay out over 12 months?

Anonymous wrote:Option 2 all the way. Option 1 is okay, too. But I like the idea of easing in with a shorter week. My kids are always dead tired the first few weeks, even though they go to summer camps.

If they don't start until the day of such a late Labor Day, teachers won't get a paycheck until almost October!

Very good point. I’m the two-teacher family poster from earlier. Our first paychecks were today. It was a bit rough after 9/1 despite careful budgeting because we had three huge unexpected expenses in late August and my DD fractured her wrist the second day of school so that was $150/copay alone.