Despite taking 11 snow days this winter, public schools in Baltimore County will close just one day later than scheduled, on June 20.
The school system had built seven snow days into the school calendar, and the State Board of Education waived three more, leaving one day to make up.
Administrators said the district was the only one in the Baltimore area to get a third day waived, an action approved by the state board Tuesday. School system officials said the state board waived a third day because the district had built so many snow days into the school year.
"It is a relief for us, and I'm thrilled for our community," said Superintendent Joe A. Hairston. "It doesn't interrupt the normal time for instruction, nor does it take away from [families'] private lives."
Hairston thanked the state board for waiving a third day, which a half-dozen other counties requested.
Under the original calendar, classes were to end June 19, a Thursday. Now, they will end a day later. That is not expected to interfere with families' summer plans, since classes will end during the same week.
After a winter in which 56 inches of snow fell on the Baltimore area, school system officials had been discussing various proposals for making up snow days.
The leading idea called for classes Easter Monday, which was supposed to be the last day of spring break. However, the proposal was discarded because many families had vacation plans that day.
