[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6671920,"mediaKeyId","2140275-98cefc42340451fa4bdf0f0bc9e638da","parentId",2140275,"title","Board adopts revised 2025–26 calendar; virtual instructional days authorized after makeup days are used","audioSeconds",2792,"startMs",3568380,"endMs",6360820,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2140275-98cefc42340451fa4bdf0f0bc9e638da&start=3568&end=6360","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2140275-98cefc42340451fa4bdf0f0bc9e638da/thumbnail_3568380.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6671920/Maryland/Board-adopts-revised-202526-calendar-virtual-instructional-days-authorized-after-makeup-days-are-used","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6671920-f86d5187750cb913d2aa5a826089ca31/orig.mp4?Expires=1770755671&Signature=jdN8tIfFtGz6yDCjhUpCleIFjL4l1P24vNggslsUOX1S4QBCEtjOwXA2inLuqu79qbEl3cFKeF1DgBNamfxtjZASXRexnFHcSg5rwzBqIuvwyg4ei3pbxPb9YkJk~8swgVtANdZpooeThKrW-xjpql8IMvESC6715mAB2a-f2iwdXYASHR-gKzfvLdcypPIpdQZCCFQN~VUFDdwez4GYu8x4LlCCDhTYDF5kT-KgxN1I5vSdxcHal5P24~h1cRk-2LCYcqPm8XCPupHtLLT2CMicGXu5r9TGet6ma7hqHTVoNWVwSRHkZgeNj0cxkvfbPGUzT4QDqicbK-499o0k8w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Cecil County Public Schools","date","2025-01-22T00:00:00Z","article","The Board of Education of Cecil County voted unanimously on Jan. 2 to adopt a revised 2025–26 school calendar that reduces scheduled inclement‑weather makeup days and allows the district to use approved virtual instructional days if the makeup days are exhausted.

Dr. Lawson framed the proposal: the calendar change would reduce the number of built‑in makeup days and permit virtual instruction after the board‑approved threshold is reached. Dr. Hamer explained the regulatory and operational requirements: approval under the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) requires the district to publish a virtual‑instruction plan, take attendance on virtual days, ensure students and staff have access to devices and connectivity, and make appropriate accommodations for students with individualized education programs.

Why this matters: the change is intended to avoid extending the school year into June if the district uses multiple inclement‑weather days. Presenters said the district has used two of the five makeup days so far this winter and proposed reducing the number of makeup days to four; virtual instructional days would be used thereafter.

Key points and requirements

- Regulatory framework: Dr. Hamer summarized COMAR provisions governing virtual instruction and noted the district must publish the virtual‑day plan and ensure it covers accessibility and IEP implementation.

- Connectivity and device readiness: staff said secondary schools are nearer to one‑to‑one device coverage; elementary families will be surveyed about home connectivity because the district does not currently have enough devices to guarantee one device per elementary student in every household.

- Instructional expectations: teachers must be available and provide instruction or access to instruction during virtual days; staff described a requirement that teachers be available for a defined period (presenters said teachers would be \"available for 4 hours of instruction\"). For early‑childhood students, staff said packets and remote check‑ins would be part of the plan.

Board action

The board president called for a motion to \"approve and adopt the revised CCPS 2025, 2026 school calendar as presented. The board reserves the right to alter this calendar based upon legislative action.\" A member moved and another seconded; the board voted \"aye\" without opposition and the president declared the motion carried unanimously.

Ending: Staff said they will publish the virtual‑instruction plan and forward it for required approvals; the board will revisit calendar adjustments if state legislation or the county’s actions require changes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Cecil County Public Schools - Board Work Session - Jan 22, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Board of Education adopted a revised 2025–26 school calendar and discussed a virtual instructional‑day plan under COMAR that would be used if the district exhausts scheduled inclement‑weather makeup days.","taxTitle","Cecil County Public Schools, School Boards, Maryland","taxId",38256,"location","Maryland","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6671927,"Residents, staff press county to speed small‑cap funding for deferred school repairs",1276,3097150,4373380,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2140275-98cefc42340451fa4bdf0f0bc9e638da&start=3097&end=4373","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2140275-98cefc42340451fa4bdf0f0bc9e638da/thumbnail_3097150.jpg","/articles/6671927/Maryland/Residents-staff-press-county-to-speed-smallcap-funding-for-deferred-school-repairs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6671927-3e18aaa77c6d525d4dd819073b1e78f8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770755671&Signature=Luz5eJTKKHVUR6buI8YCBSpE2hLU22Crjz7EDYhUCvXG8oG2I8UxvsdNDuI00o6uxug-2rvpYPnojl4ohz4HieTHw3JW-ppvoj3Laf1B-JTikeEa20o-KQYaCqq0CdLbXHheU8blJvfIRtZKFKqK92F2JBrtqjgKiFr-C37Ozllz-kZE6NmvwRNvV-n5dBfZ~oejmpj4GdBniG76SFKRimobqJt9xu7ExH2MlBqIQDEmepdWJUS5Mm1vBHSgdTqEa2q9WK~1nSvoXaHvl4RsIEw8PXdLaPClclwLSqOQr-RqAMzXvVZE3910ebcPoG~rYb3-C2Rc8LWQ3yWa1haEig__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the Jan. 2 Cecil County Public Schools budget work session, a resident who identified himself as Sean Brim urged county council and school leaders to accelerate small‑cap appropriations to address long‑deferred repairs.

\"Cecil County government, since my youth, has defaulted to the position of deferring needed repairs, replacement, upkeep, and maintenance for another day,\" Brim said, and he urged the county to move forward without the usual extra public‑hearing delay for council resolution 09‑2025, which requests an appropriation of about $1.7 million for small‑cap projects across the district.

Why this matters: school staff and the public told the board that deferred maintenance has left some buildings and grounds in poor condition and that delayed work increases both cost and safety risk. District staff identified a prioritized list of small‑cap and large‑cap projects that includes HVAC replacement at Cecil Manor Elementary School, roof replacement at Elk Neck, parking lot and paving work, and boiler/chiller replacement at Rising Sun High School.

What staff and public said

- District facilities staff told the board the small‑cap list is longer than in previous years and has been prioritized by need; top items include roofing, playground upgrades, paving and HVAC repairs.

- The school system said the county owns the school buildings and that capital requests typically flow through county processes. Facilities staff and a construction advisory group (IAC) suggested a money‑movement strategy: reassign funds previously set aside for the Elk Neck roof to pay for the Cecil Manor HVAC project and then apply for a Healthy Schools grant to finance the Elk Neck roof in spring grant cycles.

- Brim asked the public to attend county council meetings and specifically urged council action on the small‑cap appropriation without the usual two‑week extra public hearing so that contracts could be signed in time for next school year work.

Ending: School staff said they have informed the county of potential reallocation requests and that the county may consider applying for grants (the grama/Healthy Schools application window was described as opening in March/April). The board heard public comment but did not take county action; the appropriation is before the county council.","Public commenters and district staff urged the county to reallocate or expedite small‑cap funds to address deferred repairs including roofs, HVAC and parking lots; a citizen asked the county council to skip an extra public hearing so contracts can be signed in time for the next school year.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6671932,"Cecil County Public Schools presents FY26 budget with class‑size pressures and state funding uncertainty",4118,39030,4157080,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2140275-98cefc42340451fa4bdf0f0bc9e638da&start=39&end=4157","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2140275-98cefc42340451fa4bdf0f0bc9e638da/thumbnail_39030.jpg","/articles/6671932/Maryland/Cecil-County-Public-Schools-presents-FY26-budget-with-classsize-pressures-and-state-funding-uncertainty","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6671932-2e4fc701b25e9945e223f05ea217f6e4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770755671&Signature=AD6p1alxKtfm1Yg9uplQ51Kmxo7gmqbmb8SYb3QQ7jGOsuACwHAX5J~5jvCS6fWSf01vAc88Aj8vYmdeV91BuqvPVm4uvPWFhrwEVPrSY7azM8L4OvFFK8Pv0Nhrnk2-vvIlwowFoeSZpcnzKx6UZW47-gaCkWDAut0pkhSHYUpHfQpvJ7sZ-OeTu8fKkwQbriumyD~1m~xAzfJXPpgqD7n38D0vIocJ9jRy0RYRWjYqIubrhAQ2XhBgdKvQeOMlC6rx-0eu9JaTi4g-0HAkQjss1RPuq0e1SMAQ~UCv6YT0QTZtlgch6Zu5fKzi73tYcC7kkrSiUskTCpnFL5Aebw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dr. Lawson, superintendent of Cecil County Public Schools, opened the Jan. 2 budget work session by placing the FY26 numbers in context: \"For me, this is my 7th budget as superintendent and 15th as a leadership team member.\" He and business staff outlined a requested operating budget that includes large increases in salaries and fixed charges and depends in part on one‑time fund balance use.

The board was told the system’s official enrollment count on Sept. 30 was 14,853 students and that per‑pupil spending in Cecil County remains far below the state average. Dr. Lawson said the district is about \"$26,100 below the state average\" on a per‑pupil basis, and that gap represents \"upwards of $35, $36,000,000\" in aggregate for the district’s students.

Why this matters: the presentation tied rising needs — more students with disabilities, more students eligible for free and reduced meals, and a sharp rise in multilingual learners — to greater staffing and program costs. School leaders warned those needs, together with larger average class sizes, are increasing instructional risk for struggling students.

Key budget details and context

- Staffing and positions: Dr. Hamer, representing Education Services staff, reported the district currently supports roughly 14,966 students and summarized the district’s staffing mix. He said the district added positions midyear from fund balance and other sources; staff later quantified about 82.4 total positions in the FY26 request and noted that roughly 73 positions were added since the start of FY25 (examples include kindergarten paraprofessionals, student support technicians, four pre‑K classrooms staffed with teachers and paraprofessionals, a JROTC position at Elkton High School and four technology positions for cybersecurity). The presentation stressed that many added positions are support staff rather than classroom teachers.

- Class sizes: Board members were shown that secondary classes of more than 25 students rose from 418 in school year 2021–22 to 526 in the current year, and that grades 3–5 classes with more than 25 students rose from 2 to 39 over the same period. Dr. Lawson emphasized the effect on students who are struggling: larger classes can \"completely\" allow a student who is meek to be overlooked.

- State funding uncertainty: presenters repeatedly qualified FY26 numbers as \"based on current law,\" and warned that pending legislative action in Annapolis could reduce amounts the district expects. Dr. Lawson and business staff called out two potential disruptors: a proposed pause or reduction in the collaborative planning time line item (which they estimated would reduce foundation funding by roughly $2.3 million) and the prospect of county responsibility for a portion of public‑school pension costs (roughly $1.5 million). Staff said those changes alone could remove roughly $4.2 million of a $7.1 million state increase the district currently shows in preliminary state workbook figures.

- Blueprint and local share: presenters described how the Maryland Blueprint for Excellence drives many new, targeted state dollars (for example, concentration‑of‑poverty funds) but also imposes restrictions on how those funds can be spent. The district noted the concentration‑of‑poverty increase appears to add about $1.9 million but that those dollars are restricted to specified services (community school advisers, nurses and wraparound services) and \"will have no impact on class sizes or instruction\" in general.

- Fund balance and one‑time items: staff said the FY25 budget required using the district’s unassigned fund balance to balance operations and that the FY26 request again assumes using roughly $6.1 million of fund balance. The presentation itemized prior one‑time uses (prepaid expenditures, contingency, capital and health‑care reserves) and emphasized several program restorations and technology and cybersecurity hires that were paid from fund balance during the current year.

- Special education, early childhood and contracted services: the presentation highlighted a near‑term increase in special education contracted services, nonpublic placements and related services (an area staff said totals in the several millions). Staff also described an early‑childhood funding shift: money that previously flowed through the district to private pre‑K providers will move directly from county/state to those providers, reducing the district’s early‑childhood line by about $325,000 while the county/state continue the program.

What the board directed next

Board members were told the leadership team will provide a line‑by‑line backup packet to the board within a week and reconvene for a more detailed work session on Feb. 4. Staff repeatedly asked for questions and said the budget numbers shown are subject to change if Annapolis enacts legislation or if the county executive proposes different local funding levels.

Ending: The budget presentation closed with staff warning that, even under the worksheet numbers the district received from the state, large salary and fixed‑charge increases (staff estimated roughly $8 million just for those categories) mean the system will face substantial pressure and will depend on county funding choices and pending state legislative outcomes.","Superintendent Dr. Lawson and staff presented a FY26 budget request that would increase salaries and fixed charges while relying on fund balance; officials warned that pending state legislation affecting the Maryland Blueprint for Excellence and pensions could substantially change projected revenue.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board adopts revised 2025–26 calendar; virtual instructional days authorized after makeup days are used

Residents, staff press county to speed small‑cap funding for deferred school repairs

Cecil County Public Schools presents FY26 budget with class‑size pressures and state funding uncertainty