Maryland governor Larry Hogan, sent out an executive order requiring school to start after Labor Day in 2017 in an effort to help businesses, families and the environment, but still end school by June 15. This means school will not start until Sept. 5.
According to the Washington Post, Montgomery County sought a waiver from governor Hogan to start school in September so that the county would not have to start school before Labor Day. Hogan made the criteria almost impossible for most of the districts to qualify to start before Labor Day. The change is suppose to help boost tourism and economic activity in Maryland.
MCPS now has to change their school calendar. The new calendar includes 180 days of instruction and holidays, making it difficult for the board to choose which holidays the school gets off and which days students go to school.
Most of the students like school starting after Labor Day because they get to have a longer summer vacation and get to spend more time with their families. Also, students like it because school is shorter by two weeks. Current seniors will not be affected by this change, but the students who are affected do not mind the change because it is not in their control. “I think this change will let my family and I travel more because we have a longer break. I also like this change because school is shorter and that is the part I like most about it,” sophomore Justin Shim said.
Some students go away during Labor Day and might miss a day before the Labor Day weekend. Students will now not have to miss a day of school to go away with their families. “My family and I usually go away during Labor Day weekend and now that school does not start after Labor Day, I do not have to worry about school and I will get to enjoy the weekend more,” junior Jek Seo said.
Teachers have mixed feelings about this change and how it will affect them in. Some teachers do not mind the change but others do because how they are have to change their teaching schedules and may have to cut some lessons and cram some lessons. “I think it will have a negative impact on both students and teacher because I think both students and teachers benefit from intermittent breaks,” resource teacher Mike Dickel said.

Eric Lee

Staff Writer