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Board adopts 2026–27 calendar, posts 2027–28 proposal for comment; attempt to label breaks 'Christmas/Easter' fails
Summary
Trustees approved adjustments to the 2026–27 school calendar to add a makeup day and voted to post the proposed 2027–28 calendar for 30 days of public comment. A motion to change the phrasing from 'winter/spring recess' to 'Christmas/Easter' failed on a 2–2 vote.
The Calvert County Board of Education approved changes to the 2026–27 calendar and authorized posting the proposed 2027–28 calendar for a 30-day public review. Scott McComb, director of system and instruction performance, said the state board’s March 24, 2026 action requires districts to identify six inclement weather makeup days; Calvert’s proposed calendar incorporates those days and adjusts end-of-year dates accordingly.
McComb explained that three makeup days are built into the spring semester and three are identified at the end of the school year (June 14–16) while proposing May 28 as a makeup day for the 2026–27 calendar. "So as we develop our district calendar... these 6 inclement weather makeup days are built into the proposed 27–28 calendar," McComb said.
During debate, board member Mr. Harrison moved to change the calendar language to use the words "Christmas" and "Easter" rather than "winter recess" and "spring recess," arguing for alignment with COMAR’s benchmark language. Legal and staff guidance noted that COMAR prescribes benchmark dates (Christmas Eve through Jan. 1; the Friday before Easter through the Monday after) but does not require use of religious terminology. The motion to rename breaks failed on a 2–2 vote; the calendar dates themselves were approved by the board (vote recorded as 3–1 on the motion to approve the 2026–27 calendar).
The proposed 2027–28 calendar will be posted for 30 days for public comment as required; trustees and staff said they will continue to adjust wording and schedule as needed to comply with state requirements.
