MCPS School Year Extended to June 13 Amid Weather Related Closings

The last day of school for Montgomery County Public School students has been extended to June 13 due to Wednesday’s school closing, making it the third weather-related closing this year.

June 12 was the original date scheduled for students to finish up classes.

Some parents criticized MCPS staff for cancelling classes because of the lack of snow on the ground. School officials, however, said the decision to close schools on Wednesday was due to icy conditions in parts of the county and concerns about the safety of students who ride the bus and walk to school.

Several other parents were upset when they found out classes were cancelled just hours after administrators announced on Twitter that school will be delayed by two-hours.

“Our standard operating procedure is that MCPS makes an initial announcement on delays and closings by 5 in the morning [the day] of,” Gboyinde Onijala, spokesperson for MCPS, said. “We make any changes to the decision no later than 7 a.m. in the event that we need to change status, if conditions worsen, or just to announce that we will remain at a delay.”

In the event of another school closure, here is the order in which days will be used:

• If there is one more emergency weather closure, the school year will be extended by one day on June 13, 2018.
• If there are two more emergency weather closures, then the school year will be extended to June 14, 2018.
• If there are three more emergency weather closures, then the school year will be extended to June 15, 2018. (Note: By State law, MCPS cannot extend the school year past June 15).
• If there are four more emergency weather closures, then March 26, 2018 will be used as a make-up day (the first day of Spring Break).
• If there are five more emergency weather closures, then March 27, 2018 will be used as a make-up day (the second day of Spring Break).

MCPS schools and administrative offices will open two hours late today (Feb. 7) due to emergency weather conditions. We will reevaluate at 7 a.m. More information at https://t.co/3UJVLWkg2H

— MCPS (@MCPS) February 7, 2018

Update: MCPS schools are now closed today (Feb. 7) due to emergency weather conditions. Administrative offices remain on a two-hour delay. Details at https://t.co/3UJVLWkg2H

— MCPS (@MCPS) February 7, 2018

About Mitti Hicks

Mitti Hicks is a multimedia journalist and community engagement specialist with Montgomery Community Media. She is passionate about telling stories that impact our community and may be reached at MHicks@mymcmedia.org and on Twitter @mittimegan.

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