If your kid attends a DoD public school we have good news -- all of those furlough days scheduled between now and the end of the fiscal year have been completely canceled. And commissaries will no longer be closed on extra day starting the week of Aug. 18.
The cancellation for DoDEA and reduction for the commissaries comes as part of a plan by Defense Secretary Hagel to cut the number of furlough days for year-round DoD employees from 11 to 6. DoDEA teachers, who were only to be furloughed five days as part of the original plan, were subject to less because they only work part of the year.
Read my whole story about the DoDEA change over here on Military.com.
The change means commissaries will be closed for only six furlough days instead of 11 -- making the last furlough closing Aug. 12. After that all commissaries should return to their normal schedule.
This is great news for commissary and other DoD employees who have been having to go without one day of pay each week.
It's also great news for parents who were wondering just what they were going to do with their kids over the five furlough days this fall. But some parents point out that have already made plans for some of the furlough days. One spouse, who I quote in my Military.com story, planned a trip over the four day weekend caused by the furlough.
I asked DoDEA officials if they'll consider granting waivers to parents who made furlough plans before the change that can't be canceled. They said they didn't have an answer right now.
Is the furlough school cancellation change a relief or problem for you? What about the commissary? Let us know in the comments!
