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Board approves virtual education-day plan to limit late‑June makeup days
Summary
The Wicomico County Board of Education voted to adopt a virtual education day framework intended to maintain instructional time after weather closures while protecting students with special needs and limited connectivity.
The Wicomico County Board of Education voted to approve a virtual education‑day plan, adopting a framework the district said is meant to reduce the need to push the school year later into June after weather closures.
The plan, presented by Chief Academic Officer Dr. Briggs, lays out guidance meant to comply with Maryland education code 7‑103.2 and related COMAR requirements and emphasizes “compassion, adaptability, ensuring continuity, and learning for all students,” Briggs told the board. The proposal requires board authorization and a public forum and will be posted on the district website, Briggs said.
Under the framework, the district will provide at least four hours of synchronous instruction—“likely from 10 until 2”—with additional asynchronous activities, and will embed teacher preparation time into schedules, Briggs said. Attendance will be tracked and makeup opportunities provided for students who cannot participate in real time. The plan calls for devices to be distributed districtwide where possible and alternative assignments when students lack Internet access; the district also will document special education and 504 accommodations and related services delivered virtually, Briggs said.
Board members asked practical questions about logistics: whether middle‑school students who do not routinely take laptops home would be allowed to take them home in advance and how far in advance families would be notified of a virtual day. Briggs said staff would prepare and that schools would communicate schedules, supports and flexible deadlines in advance. Members also raised broadband access. County Administrator Bunkie Luffman and County Executive Julie Giordano were in the room; Giordano reported the county had won a roughly $1,100,000 grant to help pay the cost of connecting homes with very long driveways and named two private providers working in different parts of the county.
The board approved the plan by voice vote. The record shows the motion carried after members signified “aye.”
