OAKLAND — The Garrett County Board of Education approved changes to the end of the 2012-2013 school calendar during Tuesday’s meeting. The final day for students will be June 12. The staff will participate in professional development sessions June 10 and 11 in the afternoon, after student departure.
The board unanimously approved the recommendation of Keith Harvey, director of human resources, according to a news release. According to the teacher contractual language, if student days are waived then teacher days must be waived, too. This resulted in some inequities for other employee groups because this language was not in their contracts.
The board granted a three-day waiver for students and employees.
The final three days, June 10, 11 and 12, will change from a two-hour early dismissal to a three-hour early dismissal for students. This adjustment, per conversation with middle and high school principals, will not affect the time needed for final exams, according to the news release.
The afternoon of June 12 will be a record-keeping time for staff as contractually agreed. June 13 will be a professional day and the final day for staff with a seven-hour, 36-minute work day.
To make the waiver equitable for all employee groups, it was proportionally calculated to the number of days each group works, according to the news release. There will be three waiver days for 10-month employees,  four waiver days for 11-month employees and five waiver days for 12-month employees.
In March, the Garrett County Board of Education made a request to the Maryland State Board of Education to waive five student days, and that request was granted.