Garrett County board hears proposal for pre‑Labor Day 2026–27 calendar after state denies MLK makeup waiver

The Garrett County Board of Education reviewed a proposed 2026–27 school calendar and was told the State Board denied the district’s request to use Martin Luther King Day (Jan. 19, 2026) as a makeup day.

"We will not have school on 01/19/2026," said a board member during the meeting, noting the district had requested a waiver that the state board did not approve. The board was advised it will request Feb. 16 as a makeup day if another instructional day is missed, and could seek the Monday after Easter if additional makeup days are needed.

The calendar committee recommended a standard practice using Sept. 5 as the marker to decide a pre‑ or post‑Labor Day start and proposed a pre‑Labor Day schedule for 2026–27 because Labor Day falls on Sept. 7 that year. The committee proposed students begin Monday, Aug. 31, 2026, with the last student day on Thursday, June 3, 2027, and nine staff professional development days.

The report also asked the board to reinstate a prior pilot that allowed two excused pre‑Labor Day absences for work with documented approval, saying the pilot had been used by two students in the past. The committee said early planning would help families and local businesses and that it had balanced educational needs with operational requirements.

The district posted a public comment survey Dec. 10 through Jan. 1 and plans to take final action on the calendar at the board’s Jan. 13 meeting. Board members thanked the committee for its work and urged that decisions keep "what is best for our students" in mind.

The board did not take final action at the Dec. meeting; the calendar will return for a vote in January.