BERLIN – Parents of students in Worcester County’s public schools have one more week to share their thoughts on proposed calendars for the coming school year.
The school system has released three potential calendar options. Students, parents and staff have until Friday, Jan. 16 to provide their input before the proposals are presented to the Worcester County Board of Education in February.
“The school calendar has a tremendous effect on instruction and attendance as well as on the lives of our staff, students and parents,” said Barb Witherow, the school system’s coordinator of public relations and special programs. “A diverse group of stakeholders created the three calendar proposals and it is important that staff, students, and parents get the chance to share their calendar preferences before any calendar decisions are made.”
Witherow said the calendar proposals were developed by a 22-member committee made up of students, parents, teachers and administrators. Participants were divided into three groups. Two of the groups were asked to develop balanced calendars, the only difference being that one would start after Labor Day and one would start before Labor Day. The third group was asked to come up with a “surfers” calendar — one with minimal holidays and the earliest possible last day of school.
“The proposals differ in length for vacation and marking periods,” Witherow said, “as well as in the placement of professional and half days.”
One proposed calendar for the 2015-2016 school year lists Aug. 31 as the first day of school and June 16 as the last day. It includes three days off for Thanksgiving and a two-week break at the end of December.
The second calendar option starts school after Labor Day, on Sept. 8, and sets the last day as June 17. That option includes three days off for Thanksgiving and a week and a half off at the end of December.
The third proposal also has a post-Labor Day start on Sept. 8 but has the last day of school a bit earlier, as June 15. It includes just two days off for Thanksgiving and seven school days off at the end of December.
Todd Ferrante, parent of a child at Ocean City Elementary School, says he appreciates the fact that parents have the opportunity to comment on the school calendar.
“It’s important,” he said. “Parents are interested in when school starts and ends.”
Ferrante said he was a strong proponent of starting school after Labor Day and hopes to see the calendar that begins on Sept. 8 and ends June 17 adopted.
“It seems to be the best fit,” he said. “It gives students a decent Christmas break and a post-Labor Day start.”
Starting school after the holiday, Ferrante said, provided families with a final week of vacation.
Many in the resort community of Ocean City feel the same. Parent Natalee DeHart says many students and even teachers have summer jobs.
“We live in a tourist area and I think it benefits working families and teens to be able to work as late into the season as possible,” she said.
In August, a petition drive — the “Let Summer Be Summer” campaign — was started to push for a statewide post-Labor Day school start date. Peter Franchot, the state’s comptroller, is expected to announce at a Jan. 15 press conference that the petition has exceeded its goal of 10,000 signatures. The petition will be presented to legislators in advance of a plan to introduce a bill before the Maryland General Assembly that would mandate all school systems in Maryland return to school after Labor Day.
In Worcester County, the school board is expected to make a decision on the calendar for the 2015-2016 school year at its Feb. 17 meeting.