Maryland State Superintendent of Schools Nancy Grasmick has excused two days in which Montgomery County Public Schools were closed during a hurricane and a blizzard, allowing the two days to be used in the future if additional weather emergencies prompt the closure of schools again.

The state action came in response to a request by Dr. Jerry D. Weast, superintendent of schools, who asked Dr. Grasmick last week to petition the Maryland State Board of Education to waive state attendance requirements for the days in which emergency weather conditions this year prompted the Governor to declare a state of emergency.

Earlier this week, the state board granted authority to the state superintendent of schools to waive up to two emergency closings for Hurricane Floyd on September 16 and 17 and two closings for the blizzard on January 25 and 26. MCPS qualified for two of those days. Yesterday, the state superintendent informed Dr. Weast of her decision.

This means that the school system has two more snow days available in the calendar before contingency plans would be necessary to lengthen the school year and shorten spring break. The original calendar included a total of four days for emergency closings, and all four of those days were used as a result of the hurricane (one day) and snow (three days).