WESTOVER — Somerset County Public Schools students will have no days off for weather or tide for the remainder of this school year after a local virtual learning plan was approved by the Maryland State Department of Education.

If a forecast is such that schools might be closed students will be directed to take their laptop or tablet home for at least four hours of synchronous learning the next day.

Secondary students will be in session 8 a.m. to noon and elementary students 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with instruction through Google Classroom and Google Meet. Attendance will be taken and students that do not login will be marked absent.

Where students have poor internet access Verizon hotspots are available at the schools and a phone number will also be available for students to call to participate with their class either through their cell phone or landline.

Currently schools have been closed for seven inclement weather days when only three were built into the calendar. Unless the local board votes to makeup some of these days during Easter break or Memorial Day they will tacked on in June.

Superintendent Dr. John Gaddis introduced the plan on Feb. 15 and it was approved unanimously by the local board. The next day it received state approval, however, it is limited to the 2021-22 school year. “We are concerned about the number of days we’ve missed,” Dr. Gaddis said, acknowledging that while some students and staff have connectivity issues the workarounds meet state requirements.

Also in February the Somerset County Board of Education on first reader recommended Calendar A for the 2022-23 school year. Students would report before Labor Day on Aug. 29, and have Friday and Monday off for the holiday weekend.

They would also enjoy three days off for Thanksgiving, and two weeks off for Christmas.

Spring break would start after a half-day on Thursday, April 6, 2023 with students returning to school the following Tuesday.
The last three days of school June 6-8, 2023 would be half days, with three inclement weather days added if necessary.

Schools spokeswoman Vicki Miele said the survey about the four draft calendars received 311 responses with more than 70% staff and 24% parents weighing in. Calendar A was the most favored and it will be on the March board agenda for a final vote.