Queen Anne's County board votes to plan to open schools on Presidents' Day, pending state sign‑off

QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY, Md. — The Queen Anne's County Board of Education voted Jan. 7 to use Presidents' Day as an inclement‑weather makeup day for the 2025–26 school year and authorized administration to petition the Maryland State Board of Education for final approval.

Superintendent Kibler reviewed the district calendar and the state guidance that allows districts to designate federal holidays as weather‑makeup days. After discussion about tradeoffs — including families' preexisting plans and the impact on the last days of school — a board member moved to open schools on Presidents' Day; another board member seconded the motion and members approved it by voice vote.

Board members acknowledged the choice would disappoint some families and could shift the last day of school earlier, but several said they preferred to use built‑in contingency days rather than extend the school year into June. "It's like you can't make everybody happy," one member said, summarizing the competing public preferences.

Administration said it will write a letter to the state explaining the district's plan and will notify the school community that the board voted to open school on Presidents' Day, pending the state board's January 27 review. The administration described the request as consistent with recent practice and said the state has indicated it will entertain such petitions at its Jan. 27 meeting.

What happens next: The district will notify families and submit formal paperwork to the Maryland State Board of Education for final approval, expected to be considered Jan. 27. The board's action is contingent on that state approval.