I voted Option 2, also. I like a transition week or 2 with shorter weeks at the start of the year for kids. I like that inauguration day is treated as a holiday. I couldn't figure out why Option 3 is an option other than a Monday start but I see that it is popular here.

Option 2 is the best.

I voted for Option 2, I like the idea of a long weekend for the MLK holiday and Inauguration Day. We are going to do a nearby winter trip for skiing in Pennsylvania.

Starting after Labor Day is so much better!

My ideal school year places professional days on the Friday before a long weekend when there is a Monday holiday. Gets rid of the random mid week half days, makes the Jewish, EID and Monday after Easter holidays a no test day and an excused absence for those who observe them.

It would include one full week for Spring Break, one full week for Thanksgiving and two full weeks for Christmas/New Years. The unions can decide whether to have all of just some of the following holidays -Columbus, Veteran's, President's, MLK or Memorial Day off.

Every four years when schools need to close for election then that school year can simply have one less day.

I voted for 3.

Option 2 would be acceptable as well.

Option 1 is a really bad idea.

I voted for option 3. To start school in the end of August.

Here are my reasons . Feel free to cut and paste and add your own on this thread so others can also use it.

1) Starting school year early allows for revisions in the school year in the middle of the year, if we have to accommodate for extreme weather events - which will invariably happen.

2) Usually the beginning of the school year gets very hectic because teachers want to cover as much as possible before the holiday season in Nov and December. Starting early will mitigate some of that.

3) AP and SAT exams are in May, starting early allows for more instruction time before the exams.

4)October sees a lot of flu cases and absenteeism. Starting school early and also insisting that students get their flu shots before school starts. This will allow children to build up immunity during September, before the flu season starts in October. and will also allow them to NOT start school nearer to the flu season. Students need to be at school for more days, before contagious illnesses come knocking down the door. Also, this way, MoCo can give flu immunizations in schools for school community.

I voted for 2 as well, but 3 would be okay. The main difference is that 3 doesn't have the longer break in January--just MLK.
I think we can all agree that option 1 would be horrible.

I voted for Option 3, too. I would rather get out on a Wednesday than Friday.

What happened to the other options?

voted for option 3!

Option 2 doesnt make any sense. Why start on a Tuesday if the week after that will also have Monday off for labor day?

Anonymous wrote:I voted for option 3. I think Monday start creates a good weekly routine and the mid-week end date offers a buffer for make-ups from snow days so that it doesn't carry over into a new week.

voted for option 3 too!

I voted for option 3. I think Monday start creates a good weekly routine and the mid-week end date offers a buffer for make-ups from snow days so that it doesn't carry over into a new week.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Received link today to a survey on preferred Options.
I like Option 2 - start on 9/1, get a winter break over MLK/Inauguration and school ends on a Friday.

Same here. I voted for option 2.

Same.

Anonymous wrote:Received link today to a survey on preferred Options.
I like Option 2 - start on 9/1, get a winter break over MLK/Inauguration and school ends on a Friday.

Same here. I voted for option 2.

Received link today to a survey on preferred Options.
I like Option 2 - start on 9/1, get a winter break over MLK/Inauguration and school ends on a Friday.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Would love to have a week off for Thanksgiving and a week off in January and then a 4 day weekend in December.

Really? A four day week when its the holiday period.

It’s not my holiday period. I thought we were just expressing what works best for us rather than MCPS as a whole. ?????