The Frederick County Board of Education voted 5-2 on Wednesday to designate August 21 as the first day of the 2024-25 school year.
The board members chose this date over two previous options – August 14th and August 19th.
Before the vote, Kevin Cobbett — executive director of curriculum, education, and innovation for Frederick County Public Schools — told board members about the results of a community survey about the three possible start dates.
Cobbett said more than 8,000 people responded to the survey. Most of them – 67% – were parents or guardians. About a quarter of them were employees.
Cobbett said 59% of respondents preferred the August 21st start date. The remaining 41% was split roughly evenly between the other two options, August 19th being the more popular.
Cobbett said about 5% of respondents did not like any of the calendar options.
He added that the “dominant theme” among the comments on the poll was the desire to see the school year begin after Labor Day. In 2024, Labor Day falls on September 2nd.
In evaluating their three options, board members discussed factors such as starting the school year on Mondays versus Wednesdays, relative consistency in the start date from year to year, and when to hold parent-teacher meetings on each calendar.
Board member David Bass asked Cuppett how much weight the school board has historically given public opinion of the school year start date.
Cobbett said he couldn’t talk about how the board made its decisions before.
Chairman Sue Johnson noted the backlash the board received when he proposed the August 9 start date.
Vice President Dean Rose said community feedback seemed more measured this time around.
Bass and member Nancy Allen voted against the calendar plan. The other five board members—Rose, Sue Johnson, Ray Gallagher, Jason Johnson, and Karen Yoho—voted in favor.
