WASHINGTON 鈥� The area鈥檚 warm weather means that some school systems haven鈥檛 had a single snow day and that has the chair of at least one school board asking, “What do we聽do now?”
In Prince William County, Virginia, School Board Chairman Ryan Sawyers said up to 12 days for inclement weather or other emergencies were built in to the school calendar. Because no snow days have been used, Sawyers said, he鈥檚 asked Dr. Steven Walts, superintendent of the school system,聽for an update on the school calendar policy.
Sawyers said the update is scheduled for April 5.
Why not get that briefing sooner?
鈥淲inter鈥檚 not over yet!鈥� he said. 鈥淭o have a presentation to the board in early April would pretty much mean most of winter is behind us,鈥� said Sawyers.
In Montgomery County, Maryland, school department spokeswoman Gboyinde Onijala explained four snow days are built into the county鈥檚 school calendar each year.
Like Prince William County, Montgomery County hasn鈥檛 used a single snow day 鈥� so far. That means no change to the school calendar: 鈥淭he school year is scheduled to end on Friday, June 16, and that is the plan.鈥�
While it鈥檚 not likely at this point that schools will have to close for more than four days, Onijala explained that if Montgomery County were to exceed the number of days set aside in case of weather emergencies, 鈥渢hen we start having conversations about extending the school year or applying for a waiver.鈥�
In Prince George鈥檚 County, Maryland, the current school calendar sets the last day of school as聽Friday, June 9 and any snow makeup days would be added to the end of the year, said Lynn McCawley, senior public information specialist聽for the school system.
鈥淲e use them as we need them,鈥� said McCawley.
Looking at the records from years past, McCawley noted that the last time the school system had only one snow day was in the 2007-2008 school year. In contrast, in the 2009-2010 academic year, the school system used nine.
In Montgomery County, Onijala was asked whether she鈥檚 disappointed the school system hasn鈥檛 had a snow day this year.
鈥淵ou know, everyone loves a good snow day,鈥� she said, 鈥渂ut as long as we can have kids in our schools learning, that鈥檚 the best outcome for everyone.鈥�
She added that even on many days when classes are canceled and teachers and students stay home, administrative staff is expected to show up. On many snow days in the past, 鈥淲e were always here!鈥� she said, laughing.
Onijala said that聽if parents have questions about the school calendar, they can always check the or reach out to the public information office.
