Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Virtual Instruction topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board adopts revised 2025–26 calendar; virtual instructional days authorized after makeup days are used
Summary
The Board of Education adopted a revised 2025–26 school calendar and discussed a virtual instructional‑day plan under COMAR that would be used if the district exhausts scheduled inclement‑weather makeup days.
The Board of Education of Cecil County voted unanimously on Jan. 2 to adopt a revised 2025–26 school calendar that reduces scheduled inclement‑weather makeup days and allows the district to use approved virtual instructional days if the makeup days are exhausted.
Dr. Lawson framed the proposal: the calendar change would reduce the number of built‑in makeup days and permit virtual instruction after the board‑approved threshold is reached. Dr. Hamer explained the regulatory and operational requirements: approval under the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) requires the district to publish a virtual‑instruction plan, take attendance on virtual days, ensure students and staff have access to devices and connectivity, and make appropriate accommodations for students with individualized education programs.
Why this matters: the change is intended to avoid extending the school year into June if the district uses multiple inclement‑weather days. Presenters said the district has used two of the five makeup days so far this winter and proposed reducing the number of makeup days to four; virtual instructional days would be used thereafter.
Key points and requirements
- Regulatory framework: Dr. Hamer summarized COMAR provisions governing virtual instruction and noted the district must publish the virtual‑day plan and ensure it covers accessibility and IEP implementation.
- Connectivity and device readiness: staff said secondary schools are nearer to one‑to‑one device coverage; elementary families will be surveyed about home connectivity because the district does not currently have enough devices to guarantee one device per elementary student in every household.
- Instructional expectations: teachers must be available and provide instruction or access to instruction during virtual days; staff described a requirement that teachers be available for a defined period (presenters said teachers would be "available for 4 hours of instruction"). For early‑childhood students, staff said packets and remote check‑ins would be part of the plan.
Board action
The board president called for a motion to "approve and adopt the revised CCPS 2025, 2026 school calendar as presented. The board reserves the right to alter this calendar based upon legislative action." A member moved and another seconded; the board voted "aye" without opposition and the president declared the motion carried unanimously.
Ending: Staff said they will publish the virtual‑instruction plan and forward it for required approvals; the board will revisit calendar adjustments if state legislation or the county’s actions require changes.
