In the previous year, all FCPS schools suffered due to a lack of built-in snow days, which resulted in an extension to the school year. However, this year, the county has taken special measures to prevent this.

“When I look at the calendar, I see that we can miss up to 15 school days, and no time is added to the end of the school year,” subschool 4 administrator Peter Kelly said. “I think last year that was the problem; we kept on having to add more time to the end of the year. But this year, we are pretty well-prepared.”

These 15 days include four teacher workdays or holidays that can be used as make-up days if necessary. The three built-in student holidays come from the reduction of the calendar from 183 to 180 student school days.

Although many did not enjoy the additional four school days that were added to the end of last school year, they were needed to fulfill the requirement of 180 school days per year.

“I went on vacation at the end of last year, so I was not in school during the extra days,” sophomore Chloe Baker said, “but I thought the added days were pointless because we were not learning anything.”

LB does not have control over the calendar. The county-issued calendar that is provided is used by all schools in FCPS.

“The budget and calendar are provided by the county,” Kelly said. “The county clears the school roads and parking lot, but the school custodians clear the school sidewalks.”

Most students favor these built-in holidays because it gives them a break from school.

“It is nice having the new student holidays,” Baker said. “Since the school year is so crazy, it is nice to relax and have mental health days.”
Students have overall had a positive attitude towards the added student holidays.

“I think the county has planned well,” Baker said, “and if they don’t take away the student holidays that are built in, it would be great. However, if these student holidays are turned into a regular school day, they should expect low attendance because many people plan trips over three-day weekends.”

There are predictions that this winter will be similar to the last and bring a lot of snow and snow days, according to the National Weather Service. The county has probably taken some actions to prepare for this upcoming winter, but LB is also ready.

“I do not know what actions the county has taken to prepare for this upcoming winter,” Kelly said. “But I know that our custodians are well equipped with enough sand and salt.”

However, some believe that this excessive planning is not as necessary as others may think.

“I do not think we will need too much planning,” sophomore Khanh Luong said. “Last year was just one of those rare occurrences when it snows nonstop.”

The county has planned ahead and created ways to prevent an extension in the school year.

“I think this year, we have a lot more flexibility,” Kelly said.