Board approves one calendar makeup day, rejects Easter‑Monday change; town hall on virtual instruction set
February 11, 2026 | Charles County Public Schools, School Boards, Maryland
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The Charles County Board of Education debated inclement-weather options and the practicality of virtual instruction at its Feb. 10 meeting before approving one calendar change and authorizing a community engagement session on virtual days.
Communications director Shelly Mackey explained that the current 2025–26 calendar included four inclement-weather makeup days (June 12, 15–17) and that the district had used all four, which triggers state waiver rules. Under COMAR and state law, a local system can request a student‑day waiver from the Maryland State Board of Education only after exhausting built‑in inclement‑weather days. Mackey also explained that state regulations define virtual instruction for waivers as a synchronous, live instruction day of at least four hours; the board must pre‑approve any virtual plan and jurisdictions must post the plan publicly. District leaders noted CCPS is no longer a universal 1:1 device district and raised concerns about device access and connectivity in rural parts of the county.
Board members debated two possible calendar adjustments Mackey proposed as actions tonight: converting Easter Monday (April 6) and a Friday (May 8) from no‑school days into full instructional days. May 8 was approved by the board. The April 6 change, which would require additional approvals and could carry union/holiday pay implications, failed.
On virtual instruction, board member Miss Butler Washington moved to direct the superintendent to bring a formal "virtual educational day plan." The motion failed (5 votes in favor, 6 required). Separately the board voted to hold a virtual town hall so families, staff and students can give input on virtual‑day options for a future calendar year; that motion passed (one abstention).
Superintendent Maria Navarro said a viable virtual plan would require a fiscal note (devices, hotspots, staffing) and equity analysis; she offered to develop options and to include community feedback. Board members asked staff to present clear information about operational constraints (device distribution, connectivity hotspots, union agreements and synchronous‑instruction requirements) as part of any outreach.
What's next: The district will implement the May 8 calendar adjustment and will schedule a virtual town hall to collect family and stakeholder input on virtual instruction and inclement-weather alternatives. Navarro said staff will return with a plan or, if asked by the board, a town‑hall summary of options to inform a future decision.
Communications director Shelly Mackey explained that the current 2025–26 calendar included four inclement-weather makeup days (June 12, 15–17) and that the district had used all four, which triggers state waiver rules. Under COMAR and state law, a local system can request a student‑day waiver from the Maryland State Board of Education only after exhausting built‑in inclement‑weather days. Mackey also explained that state regulations define virtual instruction for waivers as a synchronous, live instruction day of at least four hours; the board must pre‑approve any virtual plan and jurisdictions must post the plan publicly. District leaders noted CCPS is no longer a universal 1:1 device district and raised concerns about device access and connectivity in rural parts of the county.
Board members debated two possible calendar adjustments Mackey proposed as actions tonight: converting Easter Monday (April 6) and a Friday (May 8) from no‑school days into full instructional days. May 8 was approved by the board. The April 6 change, which would require additional approvals and could carry union/holiday pay implications, failed.
On virtual instruction, board member Miss Butler Washington moved to direct the superintendent to bring a formal "virtual educational day plan." The motion failed (5 votes in favor, 6 required). Separately the board voted to hold a virtual town hall so families, staff and students can give input on virtual‑day options for a future calendar year; that motion passed (one abstention).
Superintendent Maria Navarro said a viable virtual plan would require a fiscal note (devices, hotspots, staffing) and equity analysis; she offered to develop options and to include community feedback. Board members asked staff to present clear information about operational constraints (device distribution, connectivity hotspots, union agreements and synchronous‑instruction requirements) as part of any outreach.
What's next: The district will implement the May 8 calendar adjustment and will schedule a virtual town hall to collect family and stakeholder input on virtual instruction and inclement-weather alternatives. Navarro said staff will return with a plan or, if asked by the board, a town‑hall summary of options to inform a future decision.
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