Anonymous
02/28/2026 09:08
Subject: Melanie Meren's FB post about the calendar
Anonymous wrote:Speaking only for ES, not MS/HS
The 2026-2027 calendar is terrible for teachers. I think it needs to be revisited not to increase the number of 5 days weeks, but to reduce them and provide more planning time.
As PPs have said, the ES pacing guides’ content level is such that the actual instruction for each week can be conducted over 1-2 days. There are few exceptions to this, but as a norm, the amount of content covered each week is pretty low. (I would challenge parents who think the instruction is going at a faster
pace to sub for a day.) At least at the ES level, kids simply are not missing out on academic instruction when schools are closed for a religious holiday, teacher workdays or snow.
The issue is obviously that ES is childcare for many families. So closing schools for teacher workdays or early release is a burden on families. I do not know how to solve this issue.
But families should not be fretting that their kids are behind academically due to the calendar.
There is not much *new* material, but a lot of elementary material requires repetition and a lot of practice to make it automatic, like times tables, adding and subtracting within 20, phonics, etc, so the rest 3-4 days still matter. Especially since there is no homework.
Anonymous
02/28/2026 08:51
Subject: Melanie Meren's FB post about the calendar
Speaking only for ES, not MS/HS
The 2026-2027 calendar is terrible for teachers. I think it needs to be revisited not to increase the number of 5 days weeks, but to reduce them and provide more planning time.
As PPs have said, the ES pacing guides’ content level is such that the actual instruction for each week can be conducted over 1-2 days. There are few exceptions to this, but as a norm, the amount of content covered each week is pretty low. (I would challenge parents who think the instruction is going at a faster
pace to sub for a day.) At least at the ES level, kids simply are not missing out on academic instruction when schools are closed for a religious holiday, teacher workdays or snow.
The issue is obviously that ES is childcare for many families. So closing schools for teacher workdays or early release is a burden on families. I do not know how to solve this issue.
But families should not be fretting that their kids are behind academically due to the calendar.
The 2026-2027 calendar is terrible for teachers. I think it needs to be revisited not to increase the number of 5 days weeks, but to reduce them and provide more planning time.
As PPs have said, the ES pacing guides’ content level is such that the actual instruction for each week can be conducted over 1-2 days. There are few exceptions to this, but as a norm, the amount of content covered each week is pretty low. (I would challenge parents who think the instruction is going at a faster
pace to sub for a day.) At least at the ES level, kids simply are not missing out on academic instruction when schools are closed for a religious holiday, teacher workdays or snow.
The issue is obviously that ES is childcare for many families. So closing schools for teacher workdays or early release is a burden on families. I do not know how to solve this issue.
But families should not be fretting that their kids are behind academically due to the calendar.
Anonymous
02/28/2026 08:02
Subject: Melanie Meren's FB post about the calendar
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I am SO mad about this idea. We have real problems in our schools, but Meren is apparently swayed by the usual loud mouths whose primary goal for school is childcare for their elementary-aged kids. As both a parent and teacher, I wish we had more 4-day weeks, not less. Everyone is so burned out and exhausted - both kids and teachers - at the end of 5 day. We have an attendance problem, and more days in a row will make it worse, not better. There need to be some days when kids can go to medical and other appointments without taking time off from school. 5-day weeks guarantee absences.
The idea of taking away teacher work days just guarantees worse classes. We barely have time to plan as it is. By Friday we're all so tired and under water that we can barely do anything - those teacher days this year were very much needed to catch up and get some grading and planning done. People who think they can be front loaded don't understand how schools work. That's like saying you can reduce the time you spend doing dishes by just doing them all in August.
+100 former FCPS teacher here and we need those planning days. All the teachers I know love the 4 day weeks and the random days off. It’s the only way they are staying afloat.
+2 Teachers in the US have less planning time and more instructional time than almost all other developed countries.
Not just less, but less than half the amount most developed countries give teachers.
Anonymous
02/28/2026 07:51
Subject: Melanie Meren's FB post about the calendar
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I am SO mad about this idea. We have real problems in our schools, but Meren is apparently swayed by the usual loud mouths whose primary goal for school is childcare for their elementary-aged kids. As both a parent and teacher, I wish we had more 4-day weeks, not less. Everyone is so burned out and exhausted - both kids and teachers - at the end of 5 day. We have an attendance problem, and more days in a row will make it worse, not better. There need to be some days when kids can go to medical and other appointments without taking time off from school. 5-day weeks guarantee absences.
The idea of taking away teacher work days just guarantees worse classes. We barely have time to plan as it is. By Friday we're all so tired and under water that we can barely do anything - those teacher days this year were very much needed to catch up and get some grading and planning done. People who think they can be front loaded don't understand how schools work. That's like saying you can reduce the time you spend doing dishes by just doing them all in August.
+100 former FCPS teacher here and we need those planning days. All the teachers I know love the 4 day weeks and the random days off. It’s the only way they are staying afloat.
+2 Teachers in the US have less planning time and more instructional time than almost all other developed countries.
Anonymous
02/28/2026 07:36
Subject: Melanie Meren's FB post about the calendar
Anonymous wrote:I am SO mad about this idea. We have real problems in our schools, but Meren is apparently swayed by the usual loud mouths whose primary goal for school is childcare for their elementary-aged kids. As both a parent and teacher, I wish we had more 4-day weeks, not less. Everyone is so burned out and exhausted - both kids and teachers - at the end of 5 day. We have an attendance problem, and more days in a row will make it worse, not better. There need to be some days when kids can go to medical and other appointments without taking time off from school. 5-day weeks guarantee absences.
The idea of taking away teacher work days just guarantees worse classes. We barely have time to plan as it is. By Friday we're all so tired and under water that we can barely do anything - those teacher days this year were very much needed to catch up and get some grading and planning done. People who think they can be front loaded don't understand how schools work. That's like saying you can reduce the time you spend doing dishes by just doing them all in August.
+100 former FCPS teacher here and we need those planning days. All the teachers I know love the 4 day weeks and the random days off. It’s the only way they are staying afloat.
Anonymous
02/28/2026 07:07
Subject: Melanie Meren's FB post about the calendar
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Oh yippee. She's "designing a framework." Because spending taxpayer funding on that sort of thing always works out so well for Fairfax County families.
I applaud anyone looking to address our school calendar shortcomings. However, that said, the only way to increase 5-day weeks (an inarguable laudable goal) is to EITHER reduce myriad of religious observance days OR reduce number of partial/full teacher workdays.
Does anyone really think they're going to agree to do that? Until/unless they make that commitment first (that those options are on the table), there's no reason to undertake yet another "study".
They'll take away teacher work days, which a lot of people are already calling unnecessary. Except teachers, of course. Then they'll complain when the education gets even worse because teachers don't have time to grade or plan - well, have even less time to grade or plan.
Anonymous
02/28/2026 07:03
Subject: Melanie Meren's FB post about the calendar
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I can’t stand her and believe anything she touches will turn to s***.
Well that was unnecessarily unkind. You may dislike her for whatever reason but your comment just reveals meanness. She seems to genuinely want to help families and represent their interests. It also seems she’s one of the few members of the school board who has children in fcps. And IMO she is authentically interested in making a positive difference at the local level rather than her position for a political springboard to advance her own political career.
No, she wants to help the people who support her and dodges the people who disagree with her. She still has not met with the Fox Mill PTA, a meeting they have been asking for for months. She listens to people who supports her and ignores other voices.
Well right now, she’s listening to parents on the calendar while others ignore them
She's listening to a very small, very loud group of parents. Not the majority.
Anonymous
02/28/2026 07:01
Subject: Melanie Meren's FB post about the calendar
I am SO mad about this idea. We have real problems in our schools, but Meren is apparently swayed by the usual loud mouths whose primary goal for school is childcare for their elementary-aged kids. As both a parent and teacher, I wish we had more 4-day weeks, not less. Everyone is so burned out and exhausted - both kids and teachers - at the end of 5 day. We have an attendance problem, and more days in a row will make it worse, not better. There need to be some days when kids can go to medical and other appointments without taking time off from school. 5-day weeks guarantee absences.
The idea of taking away teacher work days just guarantees worse classes. We barely have time to plan as it is. By Friday we're all so tired and under water that we can barely do anything - those teacher days this year were very much needed to catch up and get some grading and planning done. People who think they can be front loaded don't understand how schools work. That's like saying you can reduce the time you spend doing dishes by just doing them all in August.
The idea of taking away teacher work days just guarantees worse classes. We barely have time to plan as it is. By Friday we're all so tired and under water that we can barely do anything - those teacher days this year were very much needed to catch up and get some grading and planning done. People who think they can be front loaded don't understand how schools work. That's like saying you can reduce the time you spend doing dishes by just doing them all in August.
Anonymous
02/28/2026 05:50
Subject: Melanie Meren's FB post about the calendar
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I can’t stand her and believe anything she touches will turn to s***.
Well that was unnecessarily unkind. You may dislike her for whatever reason but your comment just reveals meanness. She seems to genuinely want to help families and represent their interests. It also seems she’s one of the few members of the school board who has children in fcps. And IMO she is authentically interested in making a positive difference at the local level rather than her position for a political springboard to advance her own political career.
No, she wants to help the people who support her and dodges the people who disagree with her. She still has not met with the Fox Mill PTA, a meeting they have been asking for for months. She listens to people who supports her and ignores other voices.
Well right now, she’s listening to parents on the calendar while others ignore them
She voted for the 8130 policy without any grandfathering and is now crying about kids not being Grandfathered. That was something to discuss and hash out before voting 8130 in, but it wasn’t even brought up until a day or two before the vote. And she still voted for it. She (and the whole board) needs to stop reacting to crap and start planning and critically thinking about the policies they are enacting. The whole thing is ridiculous and she clearly runs things from a reactive stance rather than pre planning.
Anonymous
02/27/2026 20:37
Subject: Melanie Meren's FB post about the calendar
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I can’t stand her and believe anything she touches will turn to s***.
Well that was unnecessarily unkind. You may dislike her for whatever reason but your comment just reveals meanness. She seems to genuinely want to help families and represent their interests. It also seems she’s one of the few members of the school board who has children in fcps. And IMO she is authentically interested in making a positive difference at the local level rather than her position for a political springboard to advance her own political career.
No, she wants to help the people who support her and dodges the people who disagree with her. She still has not met with the Fox Mill PTA, a meeting they have been asking for for months. She listens to people who supports her and ignores other voices.
Well right now, she’s listening to parents on the calendar while others ignore them
Anonymous
02/27/2026 20:18
Subject: Melanie Meren's FB post about the calendar
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I can’t stand her and believe anything she touches will turn to s***.
Well that was unnecessarily unkind. You may dislike her for whatever reason but your comment just reveals meanness. She seems to genuinely want to help families and represent their interests. It also seems she’s one of the few members of the school board who has children in fcps. And IMO she is authentically interested in making a positive difference at the local level rather than her position for a political springboard to advance her own political career.
No, she wants to help the people who support her and dodges the people who disagree with her. She still has not met with the Fox Mill PTA, a meeting they have been asking for for months. She listens to people who supports her and ignores other voices.
Anonymous
02/27/2026 20:01
Subject: Melanie Meren's FB post about the calendar
Anonymous wrote:I can’t stand her and believe anything she touches will turn to s***.
Well that was unnecessarily unkind. You may dislike her for whatever reason but your comment just reveals meanness. She seems to genuinely want to help families and represent their interests. It also seems she’s one of the few members of the school board who has children in fcps. And IMO she is authentically interested in making a positive difference at the local level rather than her position for a political springboard to advance her own political career.
Anonymous
02/27/2026 18:30
Subject: Melanie Meren's FB post about the calendar
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:People on here who love all these breaks and days off and think education should be the minimum required by law are shockingly stupid. I can't even rationalize that they exist.
People who freak out over a few missed days are really too stupid to function.
You call what we have had this year "a few missed days"?
And again, your reading comprehension is lacking because calendar or not, doing the bare legal requirement is still pathetic.
DP, but I think people like you who believe the nose to the grindstone way of working and schooling are kind of slow because you need so much time to learn stuff and are perfect shills for capitalism.
Takes all types to make the world go around!
Anonymous
02/27/2026 17:02
Subject: Melanie Meren's FB post about the calendar
Anonymous wrote:People on here who love all these breaks and days off and think education should be the minimum required by law are shockingly stupid. I can't even rationalize that they exist.
They don’t really love the calendar. They hate the idea of accountability for FCPS.
Anonymous
02/27/2026 16:45
Subject: Melanie Meren's FB post about the calendar
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:People on here who love all these breaks and days off and think education should be the minimum required by law are shockingly stupid. I can't even rationalize that they exist.
People who freak out over a few missed days are really too stupid to function.
You call what we have had this year "a few missed days"?
And again, your reading comprehension is lacking because calendar or not, doing the bare legal requirement is still pathetic.