February 11th, 2014 by WCBC Radio
Allegany County Public Schools’ Superintendent, Dr. David Cox, recently requested a waiver for the use of Presidents’ Day as an instructional day for students. Schools will now be open on Monday, February 17, 2014, instead of being closed for a public school holiday, and will be used as one of the system’s make-up days.
This waiver request came as the result of eleven missed days of school due to inclement weather. The ACPS school calendar provides for make-up days to be added to the end of the school year, which would currently make the last day of school for students June 16, 2014. According to Dr. Cox, “We still have schools that are not air conditioned, and I have concerns about the quality of instructional days in later June.”
Additionally, Dr. Cox will recommend to the local Board of Education a further adjustment to the 2013-2014 school calendar to include using the Thursday before Easter and the Monday after Easter as instructional days for students. The school board will have the opportunity to vote on this change at their February 18th meeting.
The Maryland State Department of Education requires a minimum of 180 days of student instruction; however, State Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Lillian Lowery, may consider waivers from local school districts for the purposes of reducing the required number of student instructional days later this winter season.
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