Loudoun County Board of Education Struggles With Calendar for Next School Year

Heather Curtis
WMAL.com

WASHINGTON (WMAL) – The Loudoun County Board of Education is struggling to work out its calendar for the 2018 to 2019 school year.

“This is one of the hardest things to try and figure out up here, and there’s no win. There’s no way to make everybody happy, but we’re trying,” said board of education member Debbie Rose.

She said contrary to what some people believe, they are trying to create a calendar that reflects the input of all stakeholders including parents and teachers. It also needs to meet certain requirements, including having at least 180 days of classes and professional development days for teachers.

Of the few options up for consideration, board members agreed one that called for students to come to school Monday June 10, have off Tuesday June 11 for elections, and then return to school Wednesday June 12 is not viable.
Board members felt many kids would just make the Friday before those days their last day of school.

The student representative to the board from Tuscarora High School was concerned that all the options include keeping school open on Ramadan and some other religious holidays when many students have to take off.

“Even though it’s an excused absence, a lot of students miss school work, and I feel like that should be taken into account,” she told the board.

Board member Jeff Morse said they can look into closing on certain religious holidays, but there are too many to give students off for every one and still maintain a viable calendar.

Loudoun County is not the only school system struggling to create a calendar for the next school year. Frederick County’s board of education is being criticized for proposing keeping schools open on the most religious holiday in the Jewish calendar, Yom Kippur. Last week the Montgomery County Board of Education made the unpopular decision to approve a calendar with a six day Spring break instead of a 10 day one like in year’s past. Board members said they would not be able to meet state mandates if a 10 day break was built into the calendar.

The Loudoun County Board of Education will vote on its calendar November 28.