The Board of Education won’t consider passing a County Council subcommittee recommendation to reduce the school year, according to MCPS public information officer Dana Tofig.

The recommendation would require a minimum of five days unpaid leave for all employee.  To go into affect, the Board of Education would have to approve the official decision.

“Furloughs don’t work,” Tofig said.  “Especially in a school system where we have to educate students 180 days in a year, and teachers need time to plan and do grades and training.  Furloughs aren’t really possible to be operationalized in the school system and not have a serious impact on the quality of the education students receive.”

Shortening the school year would eliminate $33.7 million from the school budget, but many view the proposal as unnecessary due to an earlier $137.7 million budget cut.

In an e-mail to WhitNet, principal Alan Goodwin wrote that he wanted members of the community to support his co-workers in opposing the furloughs.

County residents said they worry the furloughs could damage chances of the BOE waiving the $51.3 million penalty from not meeting the maintenance of effort standard earlier this year.

The County Council will hold a budget vote May 20.

For more information on the maintenance of effort standard click here.