Schools

Schools To Close Day Before Thanksgiving This Year: MOCO Board

MOCO Public Schools will be closed Nov. 24 due to substitute teacher shortages and a trend of low attendance the day before Thanksgiving.

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The day will not need to be made up later in the year, as the district had 182 days of scheduled instruction, which is two more than required.
The day will not need to be made up later in the year, as the district had 182 days of scheduled instruction, which is two more than required. (Colleen Martin )

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD — There will be no school on Nov. 24, the day before Thanksgiving, for students and staff in Montgomery County Public Schools, the Board of Education decided Tuesday.

The decision is being driven by a shortage of substitutes to fill in for teachers who are taking off, Acting Superintendent Monifa McKnight said at the Board's meeting.

"Both school-based and central office, has been working incredibly hard this year to support students during the transition to having all students in school five days per week," the resolution reads. "Staff attendance is lower than average on the day before Thanksgiving and there is a shortage of substitute teachers this school year, resulting in teachers and paraeducators having to provide class coverage during their non-teaching periods."

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The change was made unanimously. The calendar before this change had 182 days of school, two more than required, the board said in the resolution.

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