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Thursday, March 12, 2015

WCBOE ON WAY TO APPROVING 2015-2016 SCHOOL CALENDAR

BOARD ON WAY TO APPROVING 
2015-2016 SCHOOL CALENDAR

Board Approves Calendar C (Aug. 31 Start) on 1st reading

The Wicomico County Board of Education at its March 10 meeting gave initial approval to a calendar starting on Aug. 31 for the 2015-2016 school year.The Board adopted on 1st reading draft calendar C, which would start school Aug. 31 and end June 9, 2016.

This calendar was the clear favorite among people who gave input on three different draft calendars. About 190 people favored the Aug. 31 start, while 46 preferred starting on Sept. 8 after Labor Day, and 32 wanted the school year to begin on Aug. 24.



The calendar will be on the Board’s April 14 agenda for 2nd reading and final vote. Input is welcome prior to that meeting. Please click on “Calendar Input” at www.wcboe.org to view the proposed calendar, which is calendar draft C. Input may be emailed to comments@wcboe.orgor left as a message on the Public Input Line at 410-677-5251.



Dates on the Proposed 2015-2016 school calendar:

Aug. 25: Teachers report

Aug. 31*: First day of school for all Wicomico students in grades 1-6 and grade 9 (Grade 6 only at Mardela Middle and High, all grades report at Pittsville Elementary and Middle). Prekindergarten/Kindergarten students report as assigned by school. (*Pending the outcome of legislation in the Maryland General Assembly to require a post-Labor Day start for all Maryland school systems; if the legislation passes as currently written the school year would start Sept. 8.)

Sept. 1: All Wicomico students grades 1-12 in school. Prekindergarten/Kindergarten students report as assigned by school.

Sept. 7 (Labor Day): Schools and Central Office closed

Oct. 16: Professional Day, schools closed for students. Teachers will have a half-day of professional development and a half-day for planning. Any teacher wishing to take advantage of the professional development opportunities at the Maryland State Education Association Convention in Ocean City on this date would be able to do so, following documentation procedures that will be forthcoming.

Nov. 25-27: Thanksgiving break, schools and Central Office closed

Dec. 21-Jan. 1: Schools closed for winter holiday break. Schools close at regular time Friday, Dec. 18, and reopen Monday, Jan. 4. Central Office and school offices would be open Dec. 21-22 and 28-30.

Jan. 18 (Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday): Schools and Central Office closed

Jan. 25-26: Professional days, schools closed for students.

Feb. 15 (Presidents’ Day): Schools and Central Office closed

March 25-28: Schools and Central Office closed for spring holiday break

April 5* (Presidential Primary): Schools and Central Office closed. (*Pending the outcome of legislation in the Maryland General Assembly to move the state’s Presidential Primary to the last Tuesday in April, which in 2016 is April 26.)

May 30 (Memorial Day): Schools and Central Office closed

June 3: Commencement ceremony for Parkside High

June 4: Commencement ceremonies for Mardela High, Wicomico High and James M. Bennett High

June 7, 8, 9: Early dismissal days for students

June 9: Last day of school for students

June 13: Last day for teachers

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

And 3,432 voted to start after Labor day and get rid of half days and PD days and shorter "holiday" breaks, but were categorically ignored...

Anonymous said...

But still, no built in snow days. What a joke this calendar is. They will never learn.

Anonymous said...

They don't have to learn. They run the show.

Anonymous said...

How are Bennett students having 10 days off so the staff can move to new building. It does not take that much time for a teacher to pack up a room. Then they have all summer for year round staff to move to the new school.

Anonymous said...

Agreed. What's good for one school is good for another. That means that these teachers will start showing movies before Memorial Day now.

I say we all not send our kids the last 10 days. Bennett Middle kids are so spoiled. The teachers only need 1 or 2 days to pack up.

Anonymous said...

Not going to matter anyway. Gov. Hogan is gong to sign the bill and all schools will start after Labir Day. School will now end on June 20th. Thanks for nothing Larry!

Anonymous said...

I hope not. Yet again all about money. Lets get that extra time in Ocean City. Ask you kids if they want to go on vacation during that time or go to school until 6/20.