Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Virtual Learning Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Wicomico board authorizes COMAR‑compliant virtual education days after clarifying device and scheduling limits
Summary
The Wicomico County Board of Education approved a superintendent‑led plan to use COMAR‑authorized virtual education days after required inclement‑day makeups are used; plan sets minimum synchronous instruction, attendance tracking, and accommodations for IEP/504 students.
The Wicomico County Board of Education approved a policy allowing the superintendent to implement COMAR‑authorized virtual education days when specified conditions are met.
Dr. Briggs, the district’s director leading the blueprint work, told the board the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) permits a county superintendent to provide a virtual education day only after three conditions are met: the district has used all inclement‑weather days built into its school calendar, the county board has authorized the superintendent to provide virtual days, and the superintendent determines severe weather will likely prevent normal school attendance. "Those three conditions must be met," Dr. Briggs said, adding the district’s current approved calendar includes three built‑in inclement days (March 16, June 11 and June 12) that must be used first.
The plan sets a minimum of four hours of age‑appropriate synchronous instruction complemented by asynchronous activities and proposes a typical synchronous window of 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dr. Briggs said attendance would be tracked through platforms such as Google Classroom or Zoom, schools would communicate daily schedules to families in advance, and the district would deploy its one‑to‑one devices where possible. He also emphasized that teachers must still provide accommodations for students with IEPs and 504 plans: "We will provide virtual accommodations using assistive technology whenever possible and will maintain open consistent communication with families."
Board members asked practical questions about device availability and short‑notice pivots. Dr. Briggs said a virtual day is not an overnight flip: the district must plan in advance and cannot meaningfully pivot if students lack devices or internet access on short notice. "It is not something that we could pivot to just overnight," he said. The board clarified that traditional snow days (when used) would remain an option early in the year; only after the built‑in inclement days are exhausted could the superintendent choose to use a virtual day under the COMAR criteria.
The board approved the superintendent’s recommendation by roll call. During the roll call, board members recorded aye votes from Mr. Palmer, Miss Hazel, Mr. Plots, Miss Beecham, Mr. Brown and the chair.
The superintendent’s office said it will work with principals and division staff to finalize messaging and schedules for families if the policy is needed this winter. The district also pledged ongoing efforts to address connectivity and access gaps before wide implementation.
