2 area school systems consider calendar change for next year

WASHINGTON — School systems in Prince William County in Virginia and Montgomery County in Maryland might change the first day for the 2017-2018 school year, but first want community input.

In Prince William County, the public school system is considering whether to start classes before or after Labor Day.

“So far, we have about 2,000 responses and we have several weeks to go,” said county schools spokesman Phil Kavits. “Now, we need to listen to the community and to react to it.”

Kavits said survey results will be presented to the school board for consideration in early September.

In Montgomery County, options for a 2017-2018 school year start are either one or two weeks before Labor Day.

“We’re not making the school year longer; we’re just shifting it up a week,” spokesman Derek Turner said, referring to the possibility the earlier start time is chosen.

He added that the change would put the county “in alignment with 11 other districts in the state of Maryland, including some of our closest regional partners including Frederick County and Prince George’s County [schools].”

Turner says many summer camps in the county already have indicated they would follow any schedule changes made by the school system. A decision for Montgomery County is expected in November.

Classes for the 2016-2017 year in both districts begin Aug. 29, one week before Labor Day.

Kristi King

Kristi King is a veteran reporter who has been working in the WTOP newsroom since 1990. She covers everything from breaking news to consumer concerns and the latest medical developments.

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