Prince George’s County Public Schools has approved a 2017-18 school calendar with a start date of Sept. 6, while it explores legal options to challenge an executive order from Gov. Larry Hogan (R) mandating a post-Labor Day start date.
During its meeting, the board approved a school calendar with an Aug. 22 start date in defiance of an executive order issued by the governor in August 2016 mandating that all schools start after Labor Day.
Board member Beverly Anderson proposed the motion, which also requested a decision from the state superintendent rejecting or accepting the calendar. The state superintendent rejected the pre-Labor Day start Feb. 28, thus the Sept. 6 start day is currently in place.
“At the same time, it may be important for us to seek legal action on the validity of the executive order,” Anderson said.
Anderson said it was important, one way or another, to have an approved calendar so that families could make plans for the summer.
School system CEO Kevin Maxwell said the school system, which provides meals for low income students during the summer, didn’t have funding for the additional weeks of school, and that a longer summer break would mean disadvantaged children could fall further behind.
“I’m worried about those kids eating this summer. I’m worried about the parents’ ability to pay for extra weeks of babysitters,” Maxwell said. “This will add three weeks to the burden for those families.”
Maxwell said the calendar would also reduce professional development and planning days for teachers.
Board Chairman Segun Eubanks compared the governor’s executive order to the agenda of President Donald Trump and Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos.
“The executive order the governor gave, I believe, is illegal and improper. I believe it is a slap in the face of local control, and I believe it is bad educational policy,” Eubanks said. “This proposal is about doing what is right for businesses on the Eastern Shore, not about doing what is right for poor kids in Prince George’s County. Period. End of story.”
District 8 Board Member Edward Burroughs said the matter is settled and other counties have already submitted calendars or applied for a waiver.
Following a discussion that stretched well past midnight, the board ultimately approved the pre-Labor Day start, and if rejected, the post-Labor Day start and possible legal action, by a 8-4 vote, with District 7 board member K. Alexander Wallace abstaining, due to his employment with the state.
“We need to work with the governor on issues of school maintenance and funding, and I’m not sure this is an area Prince George’s County needs to lead the state in fighting the governor,” Burroughs said. “I think taking the governor to court may not be the best use of our time, funds or resources.”