Harford County Public Schools officials won't say if they'll seek up to three waivers from the state for missed days from snow and other inclement weather this winter.
Public school students in Maryland must be in class 180 days each year. The Maryland State Board of Education has authorized state Superintendent Lillian Lowery to grant local systems up to three waivers for inclement weather days on a case-by-case basis.
Bill Reinhard, a spokesperson for the Maryland State Department of Education, said Tuesday local school systems will announce when their waivers are approved.
Cecil County Public Schools has already requested two waivers, a spokesperson said last week. They had not announced as of Friday morning if their request had been approved.
Where Harford's intentions are concerned, HCPS Manager of Communications Jillian Lader declined to comment on waivers, saying last week: "We won't be making a statement at this time."
Harford schools Chief of Administration Joseph Licata also did not return a phone message seeking comment.
Cecil school officials sent a letter in late March to Lowery requesting two waivers, Cecil County Public Schools Associate Superintendent for Administrative services Vincent Cariello confirmed.
Schools in Cecil were closed eight times this winter. The last day of school in Cecil County is currently scheduled for Tuesday, June 16; however, the last day will be Friday, June 12, if the state approves the waivers, Cariello said.
Cecil and Harford schools have built inclement weather make-up days into their academic calendars and also had contingencies to extend the end of the school year if their designated make-up days were used.
Harford schools were closed 10 times this year. The last day of school is scheduled for Friday, June 19. Two days also had to be made up from a scheduled spring break, which began on Good Friday and ended Wednesday, instead of students being off this Thursday and Friday as originally planned.