RadioOnFire.com - Eight school systems applied for waivers to the state school board to allow them to go to school fewer than the 180 required days due to circumstances like the weather.
An executive order by Gov. Hogan prohibited schools from being in session past June 15, but the Maryland General Assembly approved emergency legislation to allow them to forgo that deadline to get to 180 school days.
The board approved a one-day waiver for Kent County and St. Mary's County and an eight-hour waiver for Baltimore County High Schools. They denied a one-day waiver for schools in Cecil County and denied two-day waivers for Caroline, Howard, Somerset and Queen Anne's counties. They will have school June 18 and 19.
Requesting waivers is something that happens to some extent every year, but this year is different because of the board's executive order. All school systems planned and expected to be done with school by June 15 at the latest. One board member expressed concern about families and staff that have already planned vacations, but the state superintendent said the board voted to follow the state statute.
"You do what you need to do as a parent in terms of making your decisions. It's certainly, I understand that, because I have two children as well, and I think it's just unfortunate that we have this kind of juxtaposition, but I think if better planning were in place, we wouldn't be where we are right now," said Maryland State Superintendent of Schools Dr. Karen Salmon.
The board voted Tuesday evening to extend the Baltimore City school year by two days, ending June 19.
Source WBAL
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