SCHOOL START CHANGE DUSTUP: Gov. Larry Hogan has ordered public schools in the state to extend summer recess until after Labor Day beginning in 2017, setting off an immediate battle with school officials and Democraticlegislative leaders, reports Josh Hicks for the Washington Post.
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Hogan drew a proverbial line in the sand Wednesday, warning lawmakers they could find themselves out of a job if they oppose his executive order mandating schools start their instructional year after Labor Day, citing polls that show wide support for the change,reports Bryan Sears for the Daily Record.
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John Lee of WYPR-FM reports that the governor also used the announcement to take a shot at Baltimore County for having 37 schools without air conditioning. The later start date, he said, “will even prevent Baltimore County, which unfortunately has failed to air condition its schools, from losing so many days of school due to heat-related closures.”
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The move drew immediate condemnation from education leaders — who have opposed such a mandate in the past — and the Democrats who control the General Assembly. Sean Johnson, the lobbyist for the state’s teachers union, said it “codified the brain drain” that occurs during summer vacation, Erin Cox and Liz Bowie report in the Sun.
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Cindy Huang of the Annapolis Capital reports that Bob Mosier, spokesman for Anne Arundel County Public Schools, said the system will have to convert 10 vacation days into school days to comply with Hogan’s order. “It puts a python-like squeeze on our school calendar,” he said.
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For Teresa McCulloh, president of the Carroll County Education Association, the decision brought anger. “Needless to say, we are disappointed in the executive order, a decision that should be made locally, not from the top down.” Emily Chappell reports the story for the Carroll County Times
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