Updates: 2022-2024 Academic Calendars Approved, Masking Updates, School Start Times & Superintendent’s Contract

February 11th, 2022

The following items were announced during the Feb. 10, 2022, meeting of the Howard County Board of Education.

Academic Calendars Approved

Academic calendars were approved for the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school years. The 2022-2023 school year will begin for students on Monday, Aug. 29 and on Thursday, Aug. 18, for school staff. Winter break will be December 26-30, with schools reopening on Tuesday, Jan. 3. Spring Break will run from April 3-10. The last day of school is scheduled for Tuesday, June 13. Five days at the end of the school year are designated for potential use to make up inclement weather closing days.

The 2023-2024 school year is scheduled to begin for students on Monday, Aug. 28 and on Wednesday, Aug. 16 for school staff. Winter break will be December 25-29 with schools reopening on Tuesday, Jan. 2. Spring Break will run from March 25-April 1. The last day of school is scheduled for Friday, June 7.

The HCPSS calendars are available online.

Update to Mask Use in Theater and Dance Performances

In alignment with the motion made by the Board of Education on Dec. 7, 2021, students who are actively performing in a school theater or dance performance may remove or may continue to wear their masks during performances. Students, staff and spectators who are not actively performing must continue to wear a mask, per the HCPSS universal indoor masking requirement. Additionally, masks must continue to be worn by students and staff during rehearsals, including those actively practicing.

All participants and spectators must continue to follow all HCPSS mitigation efforts still in place.

In addition, the Superintendent shared with the Board that HCPSS will lift the mask mandate once Howard County has achieved 14 consecutive days of low or moderate transmission rate of COVID-19, in alignment with HCHD recommendations.

School Start Times Adjustment Timeline

The Board voted to approve the recommended timeline to develop adjusted school start times for anticipated implementation during the 2023-2024 school year. The HCPSS Pupil Transportation Office is working with Decision Support Group to analyze current start times and transportation routes and develop a plan that would adjust school opening times to a later start.

More information will be provided to the HCPSS community as the work continues.

Board Renews Contract for Superintendent Michael J. Martirano

The Board of Education voted to renew the contract of Superintendent Dr. Michael J. Martirano through the 2025-2026 school year. The Superintendent’s current four-year contract was set to expire on June 30, 2022.

Maryland state law provides a timeline and process for the renewal of a superintendent’s appointment. That process, set out in § 4-201(b) of the Education Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, requires the Superintendent to inform the Board if he is seeking a second contract and the Board is required to decide before the end of February whether to renew.