The Harford County Board of Education agreed Monday night to reduce the number of days embedded in the annual school calendar for inclement weather from six to three.

The vote affects future calendar planning, and doesn’t automatically change this school year’s plan.

Once the school system has exhausted all built-in days, it can request a waiver from the Maryland State Board of Education from the 180-day requirement. The state Board of Education has a requirement of 180 days of instructional time for students each year.

Additionally, the approval gives the board the ability to change the school calendar under “extraordinary” circumstances by receiving a super majority vote. A super majority vote would gain approval from six out of the nine board members.

This year’s approved calendar has six inclement weather days. If the board wanted to change the current calendar to match its updated policy, the supermajority approval would allow for it.

For the 2024-2025 school year, the school system had six built-in, in-person inclement weather days, and used five of them.

This policy change could also offer the district an opportunity to offer virtual learning days, which the board did not discuss during Monday’s meeting.

This conversation coincides with other discussions the board is having regarding inclement weather adjustments, such as a proposed virtual learning plan that could cost the district $200,000. The board considered changing three of the inclement weather days to virtual learning days. Last school year, virtual learning was not used.

The $200,000 price tag would be designated to purchase internet hotspots for students who do not have internet access at home. On Sept. 22, board members are expected to vote on the proposal.

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