Harford County school board approves virtual-learning plan and redistributes three inclement-weather makeup days

The Harford County Board of Education on April 27 voted to adopt a virtual-learning framework for inclement-weather makeup days and approved a revised 2027–28 school calendar that distributes three makeup days through the year rather than holding them all at the end.

Board members debated whether virtual learning would reach students without reliable internet and whether younger grades could be served effectively. Chief of Staff Ridgeway, who presented the proposal, said the change responds to a State Board resolution adopted March 24 that conditions certain waiver approvals on calendar design. "If we use virtual learning, we must have three built-in calendar days, and they cannot all be at the end of the year," Ridgeway said, explaining the administration’s choice of March 1, April 12 and June 1 so families would know in advance which dates are potential makeup days.

Why it matters: State guidance can affect whether the county can obtain waivers that keep the school year from extending into late June. Ridgeway said the alternate placements of the three days were chosen to avoid conflicts with testing windows, graduations and other community calendars, and to minimize disruption to families.

During discussion, board members raised practical concerns about delivering virtual instruction. One member warned that many students lack internet access and hotspots cannot be distributed to all households; another questioned whether preplanned virtual lessons for early grades would be meaningful instruction rather than placeholder activities. Director of Technology Drew Moore (referenced in the meeting chat) notified the board that his initial assessment flagged feasibility challenges; Ridgeway and other administrators said they would continue planning with technology and instructional staff.

Vice President Sewell moved to approve a virtual-learning approach for the next school year; the motion passed on a roll-call vote recorded in the meeting minutes as 5–4. Later, after the virtual-learning framework was adopted, the board approved the calendar adjustments by vote, 7–2.

The board’s action means the district will plan virtual learning as its primary option for inclement-weather makeup days and will publish a calendar that lists March 1, April 12 and June 1 as potential makeup days while maintaining June 17 as the latest possible last day if all makeup days are used. Administrators said a detailed virtual-learning plan, including staffing and access strategies, remains to be developed and brought back to the board.

The board will reconvene May 18 for its next business meeting.