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Calendar committee recommends pre–Labor Day start for 2025–26; draft open for public comment Feb. 12–March 7
Summary
The school calendar committee recommended a pre–Labor Day start for the 2025–26 school year, citing reduced weather disruptions and smoother transitions for young and special-needs students; the board will accept public comment Feb. 12–March 7 and consider final approval March 11.
A calendar committee representative presented the draft 2025–26 academic calendar to the Garrett County Board of Education and recommended a pre–Labor Day start, with student instruction proposed to begin in Monday, August 2025. The committee cited three main reasons for recommending an earlier start: minimizing weather-related disruptions, reducing reliance on virtual learning days, and providing smoother transitions for younger students and students with special needs.
Highlights discussed by the committee representative included a proposed last student day in May 2026 (subject to weather), nine professional development days (about one per month in accordance with the negotiated agreement), and a per‑pupil grant and personnel grants that the committee said the district currently receives. The representative noted a parent conference date of Jan. 22, 2026, and identified built-in make-up days (January 19, February 16 and April 6, 2026) that would be available before invoking virtual learning options.
On Veterans Day, the committee recommended either a full instructional day (to allow school-based veterans programs) or closing the schools rather than a hybrid early‑dismissal morning/afternoon professional development model; the committee said principals found the hybrid arrangement complicated for scheduling events and meals.
The draft calendar will be posted for public comment from Feb. 12 through March 7, and the board is scheduled to act on the final calendar at the March 11 board meeting. The committee representative thanked parents, community members, staff and union representatives for participation in the January 27 and Feb. 10 committee meetings.
The presentation was a review item; board members were invited to ask questions and the superintendent said she will bring a final recommendation to the March meeting after reviewing public comment.
