Schools across Maryland were closed again on Thursday and Friday from the latest winter storm, the third to result in school closures in the last three weeks. In Worcester, Thursday’s and Friday’s closures brought the total number of school days missed for the year to nine.
Worcester County has three inclement weather days built into the 2014-2015 school calendar, a number that has long been surpassed. With six days to make up, Board of Education officials are already working on plans to meet the state’s 180-day minimum requirement for this year.
“To date, Worcester County Public Schools has had eight inclement weather day closings,” said Coordinator of Public Relations and Special Programs Barb Witherow on Thursday prior to the announcement Thursday evening to close on Friday. “This means the school system will have to recoup five days. Winter, of course, is not over.”
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6 comments:
We need year round school,duh.Everyone gets as much time off,just spaced out evenly through the entire year.Students currently are being oriented to 3 months off per year & unless they too become teachers that policy disillusions them into thinking life gives them an automatic 3 months off each year,regardless of chosen occupation.Energy costs are actually higher with the year round system,but that has to be weighed against other issues (namely those mentioned in this post).In the end it all balances out.
Maybe I'm just living under a rock? You would think from reading about the loss of school days for one thing or another School Bureaucrats are having convulsions and jumping off bridges. The Law I presume says schools have to be open 180 days a year and so far they OWE 5 days for closings. IF the school year starts on Sept 4th and ends on June 4th why not just open schools on Sept.1st an close on June 6th.Due the same thing the following year if necessary. While I'm thinking about it what happens to all that class time that is lost with 1 and 2 hour late openings during the school year for various and sometimes questionable reasons. If that amounts to lets say 2 days how does that get made up. Maybe you could leave the built in days like they are, mandate a 185 day school year if closure days run over this gives the system an extra 5 days and if not needed schools close after 180. Maybe this is just all to simple for the college educated guardians of our childens education.
http://garrettcountyschools.org/resources/public-information/pdf/calendars/2014-2015-School-Calendar-for-Garrett-County.pdf
Garrett county seems to do just fine every year. Here is their calendar. Note how they have built in days, and Professional Development happens by dismissing the kids early. Also, instead of trying to get parents to come in at night for visitation (which few do), they have built in 2 school closure days for parent teacher conference days which are scheduled conferences from what I understand.
Then if it snows, they shift. Read: http://garrettcountyschools.org/broadford
If GoodFriday and Easter Monday are the only mandated days, why doesn't Wicomico County make up 2 days on April 1 and 2 this year. I know people will say they planned vacation but how many really did? 14,000 + kids in this county and I can't imagine that a large part would go away especially when the parents have to work. Bring them in and allow excused absences to anyone who shows proof that they booked a vacation.
This is a great calendar and should be considered in Wicomico County. Having early dismissal for PD days is the way to go. Was considered before in Wicomico County but a few whiney parents made a stink and it was dropped. With the new legislation to start later, this kind of schedule works.
And don't tell me that daycare would be an issue. I have 2 kids in school and if I know ahead of time, I make plans. Not like its dropped on us at the last minute.
Also, the BOE needs to build make up days in at Easter. Not many take vacations anyway so use them if needed. If not, it's a bonus.
Ingenious!!! Needs to happen!
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