With the additional closures this week, the Montgomery County Public Schools will be implementing the previously approved contingency calendar for make-up days by extending the end of the school year by two days to June 17.

Pending any further weather-related emergencies or other changes in school operations, final arrangements for the end of the school year will be decided later. The contingency calendar, as approved by the Board of Education in December 2002, automatically extends the school year by one day for every day schools are closed beyond the scheduled allotment of four days.

Schools have been closed six days thus far this year because of weather-related emergencies, including the continuing snow and ice this winter and hurricane conditions earlier in the fall. As of today, lost instructional days for students include: September 18, September 22, December 5, January 28, February 3, and February 6.

The school system's calendar includes 184 instructional days, four more than required by the state, in recognition of the potential for weather-related closings.

The contingency calendar works automatically. If the school year should be disrupted by emergencies and schools are closed:

* 5 days, the school year will be extended by one day to June 16, 2004.

* 6 days, the school year will be extended by two days to June 16 and 17.

* 7 days, the school year will be extended by three days to June 16, 17 and 18.

* 8 days, the school year will be extended by four days to June 16, 17, 18 and 21.

* 9 days, the school year will be extended by five days to June 16, 17, 18, 21 and 22.