Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Inclement Weather topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board debates adding virtual instructional days as inclement-weather option; schedules town hall
Summary
After a detailed calendar presentation, the Charles County board debated whether to add virtual instructional days for extreme weather. Members voted to hold a public town hall to gather family input and approved one makeup day (May 8); a proposal to convert Easter Monday (April 6) failed.
Shelly Mackey, director of communications, told the board that Charles County Public Schools had exhausted four built‑in inclement‑weather makeup days and reviewed the rules before the board could request state waivers. Mackey clarified that COMAR requires school systems to use built‑in makeup days before requesting a waiver and that any virtual‑instruction option must meet state definitions — including a minimum of four hours of synchronous instruction — and board pre‑approval.
The board then held an extended debate. Supporters argued that a virtual option could prevent pushing the last student day further into June and provide flexibility during unusual weather patterns. Opponents raised equity concerns (rural connectivity and households without reliable internet or devices), operational costs (devices, hotspots, staffing and holiday pay), and instructional quality—especially for early‑childhood and elementary students who may not learn well in a virtual synchronous format.
Superintendent Maria Navarro said a virtual plan must include a fiscal note, union coordination, and equity mitigations, and offered to prepare a plan. A board motion directing the superintendent to prepare that plan failed by one vote (5 in favor, 6 required). The board then moved and passed a separate motion to hold a virtual town hall so families, educators and students could provide input about possible virtual options for a future calendar year.
On calendar actions, the board approved converting May 8 to an in‑school makeup day (it is a nonholiday Friday) and declined to change April 6 (Easter Monday), which would require state permission and could have fiscal and union implications.
What’s next: Superintendent Navarro will coordinate the town‑hall process and return to the board with a public summary of input; she will also research fiscal and union implications for any proposed calendar change that requires state approval.
