Words: Eliza Andrew

On the night of February 8th, Howard County Public School System’s Superintendent Michael J. Martirano decided to shorten the county’s spring break from five school days, to two school days. The new spring break will now be from March 30-April 3, removing April 4-6.

This decision was made following two additional snow days this past week, totaling the county’s number of inclement weather days to four. There is a necessity to make up these days in order to meet the required 180 days of school to complete the year.

May 18 has been designated as a make-up half day instead of the proposed February 19, which would have taken a day away from President’s Day weekend, but was not due to budgetary reasons.

June 15 has been left as an option for another make-up day, if another snow day were to occur. That is the last day that can be taken off of summer due to the state mandated end of the year.

This day has been left as a final resort because of the Muslim holiday that falls on this day. No school testing or activities can be held on this day, and only attendance would be required. If any additional days are needed, HCPSS will petition the Maryland States Board of Education for a waiver of the remainder of days.

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