On the heels of the Howard County Public School System approving one additional early release day each month from December through May, Anne Arundel County Public Schools Superintendent George Arlotto announced that he will formally recommend adding three early dismissal days for students to allow staff and students personal time to focus on their individual wellness.
Dr. Arlotto and his staff have been having discussions about the initiative for several weeks. The changes would require the Board of Education to alter the current school year calendar.
“As I have said many times, the pressures that exist for everyone on our awesome team in the current school year are profound,” Dr. Arlotto said. “Our teachers, staff, and students are exhausted. This plan provides a way to give them some time for themselves, at least to the degree that we can at this point.”
Dr. Arlotto’s recommendation will call for all schools to be dismissed two hours early on the following days:
- Friday, December 3, 2021
- Thursday, December 23, 2021
- Friday, February 18, 2022
Should the Board approve the recommendation, there would be no half-day afternoon prekindergarten or ECI classes on any of those three days. Afternoon sessions at the Centers of Applied Technology would be conducted virtually from students’ home schools. Evening High School is not in session on any of those three days.
Dr. Arlotto said he will consider recommending additional early dismissals in the second semester, but that would be conditioned in part on the number of delayed openings or early dismissals needed for inclement weather.
Specific directions for staff will be provided should the Board approve Dr. Arlotto’s recommendation. The next Anne Arundel County Board of Education meeting is scheduled for November 17, 2021.
