School Board Approves 2018-19 School Calendar

After what some members of the Montgomery County School Board called “a very challenging process,” the board voted Tuesday morning to adopt a new calendar for the 2018-2019 School Year.

Sept. 4, 2018, will be the first day of classes for students and the last day is June 13, 2019.

The new calendar resembles the Policy Management Committee’s Proposal B on the school system’s website, which was proposed by Student Member of the Board, Matt Post.

The board adopted amendments offered by member Patricia O’Neill at the board’s regular session early Tuesday.

Her amendments include an early release day on Jan. 25, 2019, and making early release days required for all grades, K-12, instead of K-8.

June 5, 2019, which coincides with Eid al-Fitr will be an operational day for staff but students will remain off.

The calendar passed 7-1. Member Rebecca Smondrowski voted against the calendar; “It was my second choice,” she said.

Before the adopting next year’s calendar, the Board faced some challenges with choosing to remain closed on Jewish Holidays, shortening the length of spring break, and reducing the number of instructional days for students.

Tuesday’s vote will allow the school system to remain close for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

Spring break, however, will be reduced from 10 days to six, MCPS spokesperson Derek Turner said.

“This is the best job we could do given the circumstances,” Turner said.

Here’s more information about the calendar:

• 182 instructional days, with days 181 and 182 (June 12, 2019, and June 13, 2019) also serving as two of the three make-up days to extend the school year beyond the 180-day minimum requirement if necessary;
• 2 operational closures on Rosh Hashanah (Sept. 10, 2018) and Yom Kippur (Sept. 19, 2018);
• 2 non-instructional grading and planning days, one at the end of the second marking period and one on June 5, coinciding with Eid al-Fitr; and
• 2 non-instructional days for Spring Break in addition to the two state-mandated closures before and after Easter. This would result in a six-day Spring Break, from Wednesday, April 17, through Monday, April 22.

The 2018-19 school year would be the second time the Montgomery County Board of Education has had to comply with executive orders from Gov. Larry Hogan, mandating school to start after Labor Day and end by June 15. The board tried last year to get leeway from the governor, who refused to give in.

Previous Posts:

Hogan Responds to Durso’s Request About Extending School Calendar End Date

Board of Education Adopts Updated School Calendar

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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