Comprehensive comparison of the current calendar with the 3 options proposed by CCSB (pdf)

This is a spread sheet comparing the current 2009-2010 approved calendar with the 3 options.  All 4 calendars are side-by-side.  It includes some test dates.  Note that most standardized tests have “testing windows” that allows for flexibility. 

Calendar Source: http://www.cobbk12.org/
Sources for Testing Dates:http://public.doe.k12.ga.us/ci_iap_satap.aspx?PageReq=SATPSAT
                                                     http://public.doe.k12.ga.us/ci_testing.aspx

Keep promises now on school calendar change
Vivian Jackson / Letter to the Editor:

2/17/2009
Marietta Daily Journal

DEAR EDITOR:

Campaign promises made should be promises kept.  Now.  The November elections resulted in four new members on the Cobb School Board.

There are now 4 (the majority) school board members that publicly campaigned for later school start dates.  Apparently, the debate is now whether to push the school start dates back this school year or next.  There should be no debate.

The voters in the county made their wishes known loud & clear in November.  The voters expect this board to tackle important issues & make good on their promises now, not years in the future.  If the elections had gone the other way & we had a majority that felt, as board member Holli Cash does, that our children should be locked up in Stalag 13, never to be heard from again, then so be it.  But thank God that is not the way it worked out.

The argument that the calendar was already voted on & set for the 2009/10 school year does not hold water.  The only remaining school board member that voted for that calendar was Ms. Cash.  The argument that you just cannot change the calendar does not hold water either, since previous school boards have seen fit to change calendars on a whim, especially when it suited their purposes.  As evidenced by the fact that this year’s calendar was “tweaked” to move an existing school holiday from Wednesday, Sept. 17 to Tuesday, Sept. 16, which just happened to be the SPLOST Special Election day.  Not to say that there was anything sinister in that, but it just proves that obviously nothing is set in stone.

Probably, one of the most important reasons to push the school start date back now is the dire state of our economy.

We hear nothing but promises of cuts to already bare bones programs & services for our children.

Promises by our superintendent to increase class sizes, which are already bulging at the seams.  How can this school board & administration in good conscience not do everything in their power to tighten their own belts before taking anymore away from our children’s education?  Pushing the calendar back would not cost a dime.  However, taking 1,200 expensive diesel buses off the road & not running the air conditioner full tilt in aging school buildings for even 1 week could save thousands, if not millions of dollars for this district.

Read full letter online MDJ

No action taken on calendar
02/12/2009
By Jon Gillooly
Marietta Daily Journal

MARIETTA - No changes were made to the 2009-10 school calendar by the Cobb school board Wednesday, despite the fact that a majority of board members campaigned on beginning school between the third week in August to after Labor Day.
Loudly arguing against changing the coming school year’s calendar was board member Holli Cash of Smyrna, who said she didn’t understand why the board was discussing a change in the first place.
“I’m not sure where I missed it in my reading,” Cash said.
What Cash apparently missed is that 4 of the 7 board members want a later school start date. In November 2007, the old school board adopted a 2-year calendar, which began the 2008-09 calendar on Aug. 11 & would begin the 2009-10 calendar on Aug. 10.
But late last year, board member Rev. Dr. John Crooks said one of the first things the new board would do is push the 2009-10 calendar back to the third week in August, which is Aug. 17.
On Wednesday, school board Chairman Dr. John Abraham, who also wants to change the calendar to begin the third week in August, brought the topic up for discussion.
“As far as changing the calendar, I feel that that is set,” Cash said.
But board members David Morgan & David Banks said they want to start school around Labor Day.
Superintendent Fred Sanderson, who has never been a fan of a later school start date, said over 80% of the districts in Georgia start school the first week in August or earlier. Sanderson said many students were already at school the first week in August because of sports & other extra curricular activities. He also insisted that the first semester had to end before the Christmas break so students could enjoy the holiday with their families without worrying about school work. Sanderson also wants the 2 semesters dividing the 180 days of school each year to be as balanced as possible.
Board member Lynda Crowder-Eagle said changing the calendar this year would likely not happen, but like Cash, she may be surprised.
Abraham, who remained quiet during the discussion, said after the meeting he wants to bring the calendar change up for a vote at the next board meeting on Feb. 26.
Read full article online MDJ

If you are in support of a later school start date visit the Georgians Need Summers website for more information on this topic.

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