Maryland Superintendent of Schools Dr. Lillian Lowery has notified Superintendent Dr. John Fredericksen that the request by Wicomico County Public Schools for a waiver of three missed school days has been approved, making it possible for Wicomico to end the 2014-2015 school year on Wednesday, June 17. The last three days (June 15, 16 and 17) will be early dismissal days. The state superintendent, in granting the waiver request, said Wicomico has met the minimum threshold for instructional hours, and that it has modified the school calendar to make up six of the nine days missed due to weather and road conditions.
Wicomico’s waiver request letter included the change of a professional day to a regular school day (April 7) and the extension of the school year by five days (June 11, 12, 15, 16, 17) to make up six of the nine missed days. The Board approved the following calendar revisions last month and at the March Board meeting:
Tuesday, March 31: Early dismissal day for students, with schools dismissing two hours early for students to give teachers time for professional development work. (This had previously been scheduled as a full school day, but is now an early dismissal day.)
Tuesday, April 7: Regular school day (Professional day on that date moved to June, after the end of the school year). Wicomico students and schools will now have a regular school day on Tuesday, April 7 to make up one missed day. April 7 had been scheduled as a professional day, with part of the day for SLOs (Student Learning Objectives). Now, teachers will have time on March 31 to work on their SLOs. Parents and guardians of students who will be absent on April 7 due to prior family plans must provide the school with written notice before April 7 for the student to have an excused absence for that school day.
Thursday, June 11-Wednesday, June 17: Wicomico students will make up five of the nine missed school days by attending on these days, as stated on the approved 2014-2015 calendar. June 15, 16 and 17 will be early dismissal days.
Friday, June 19: Last day for teachers
Note: Bennett Middle School students will end the school year on Friday, June 5, as time is needed to relocate teachers, staff and equipment to the new Bennett Middle and to begin the decommissioning of the current Bennett Middle School.
That is not fair. If they Dont have to Do make up days none of others should have to. Very ignorant on boe And bennett middle.
ReplyDeleteGood, they should make up every single day missed. Clearly the eastern shore needs as much education as possible.
ReplyDeleteAll the kids have off Wed, Thurs, Fri and Monday ALL day around the Easter Holiday. I really think they could have made a couple more days up here.
ReplyDeletePlease deduct 3 days pay from all teachers and administrators!
ReplyDeleteTeachers union probably had something to do with this. They probably have their luxury vacations booked and this would put a crimp in their lifestyle!
ReplyDeleteRemember it's all for them and not the children! Definitely a poor return on the extremely high state, local and property taxes I pay!!!
The state has a minimum number of hours all schools must be open for students. Since Wicomico has the longest school day in the state, the three day waiver does not mean teachers are giving less than 180 days' worth of instruction to kids. They exceed the state requirement by a huge number of hours.
ReplyDelete9:40 what's your definition of huge? 3? 4? hundreds? thousands?
ReplyDeletePlease do tell!
180 out of 365 days in a year is a pretty good deal!!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat pay too!!!
Every day Wicomico schools are open at least 30 minutes longer than any other county in the state. That's approximately 15 days per school year which is significant when one thinks of all that's been said about missing three waivered days. However, hours will never be reduced to the time of other counties because we are raising kids for folks who are home not working.
ReplyDeleteThat's funny, when they were discussing the upcoming school calendar we needed every day scheduled, Which is it?
ReplyDeleteActually, it's both. Each county determines the length of its school day. Ours does not have to be as long as it is, but letting the public know that has never been a priority.
ReplyDelete