Angelucci addressed a crowd of nearly 300 people at North Cobb High School as the guest speaker at an event presented by the North Cobb Education Association.
The crowd, which was largely in favor of the balanced calendar, which starts classes in early August, asked Angelucci a variety of questions regarding why she voted for the more traditional Aug. 15 school start date.
Paul Beck, of Kennesaw, accused Angelucci and board members who voted for the more traditional calendar of blowing off the public's opinion and disregarding the results from a survey the district posted online. That survey concluded that 72 percent of respondents were in favor of the balanced calendar. He also told her it wasn't right of the board to vote to revert to the traditional calendar for next school year with such short notice to the public.
"A lot of people, myself included, have made plans based on that balanced calendar - vacation plans, trips, etc. - that we paid lots of money for and you are going to turn around now, on short notice, less than six months and say, 'Oh, that's out of here now," Beck said. "You guys can't do that. I find that very irresponsible."
Angelucci responded: "We didn't want this to go one more year, so that was the reason for moving immediately. And secondly, it is a personal choice about making vacation plans. This is about education, and that's how we have to make those decisions."
Regarding the survey, Angelucci said she didn't believe the results were accurate because several people she talked to admitted they voted more than once. She also said that more than 14,000 teachers voted on the survey, but the district only has 8,000 teachers.
While the crowd got rowdy at times, snickering and yelling things like, "yeah right" and "says who?" to some of Angelucci's answers, Mayor Mark Mathews of Kennesaw, who helped to moderate the event, managed to rein them in, reminding audience members to give the school board member respect. At one point, after an audience member heckled Angelucci for a response she gave regarding the survey, Mathews said: "We killed the survey issue, I think. We can all debate that all night long."
Donna Boik, of Woodstock, a Barber Middle School food services manager, asked Angelucci how the more traditional calendar would save the district money in August utility bills since the schools still have to be open for teachers, maintenance staff and food services workers for most of the month.
"I'm in food service, we are (at schools) two weeks before school starts up and running. So the schools are running anyway," Boik said.
Angelucci said, "It is not the same as having all of the students and everyone report. And I will tell you that those two weeks, the savings that we do realize are a savings to the district, and that's the way that I'm trying to look at this... There is no preconceived notion that we're trying to do something to thwart the public's right to input."
Angelucci could not say exactly how much the district saves with a later August start date and said she is still waiting on specific utility costs she requested from staff.
The board voted 4-3 on Feb. 17 to revert back to a more traditional school calendar. Angelucci and the other two new board members - Scott Sweeney and Tim Stultz - all campaigned on and voted for the later school start date, along with board Chairwoman Alison Bartlett.
At today's board meeting, the board will consider repealing that vote and again switching back to a more balanced calendar that is currently in place.
Following Tuesday night's forum, Mike Sansone, the president of the North Cobb Education Association, said he believes the meeting was a success and hopes that Angelucci will meet with his group again.
"Tonight went wonderfully," Sansone said. "She stood up here for an hour and a half and answered the questions to the absolute best of her ability, and we could not have asked for anything more from her, whether we agree with her or not."
Sansone said he does not have an opinion either way on the calendar.
Formerly known as the Legacy Park Education Association, the North Cobb Education Association is made up of parent and resident volunteers who are seeking to increase awareness and communication about education throughout the north Cobb community.
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Are you serious? The only way you can force yourself to believe your logic is if you think the electorate are all morons. Shame on you.
Also, your drivel about "the main concept of the post" is absolute nonsense. If by "more professional," you mean a professional politician, no thanks. I'll take involved citizens over professional politicians any day. And, you have no basis to argue that the new board member do not have the best interest of the school system at heart. I know you think if you keep slinging these platitudes, readers will think you are smart. You aren't; you are simply angry because you didn't get your way.
You have every right to vote for a different candidate at the next election - or better yet, run yourself. Since you have all the answers, you would be the perfect board member.
Not a very bright statement. Just because someone is elected to public office doesn't automatically make their positions somehow legitimate and part of the mainstream thought process.
You didn't grasp the main concept of the post which is to find candidates that are more professional and have the best interests of the school system at heart. Obviously we didn't have qualified candidates and that needs to be rectified for the next regular election or recall.
What will we do at that school then? Send the teachers home with no pay?
Just would be interesting and funny.
You are right, the calendar should have been left alone and more pressing issues should have been discussed.
You are WRONG - I love the balanced calendar and it has nothing to do with vacations. I didn't take nor do I have any planned for any of the breaks except Spring.
This calendar works best for my kids education - bottom line. They are better rested, more interested, have better grades. I thought I would like it, instead I'm lovin it!
that is what Kathy et al were afraid of, that parents would see that this is a great thing for kids education - for the education of our kids.
The worst is that they all complain that they need rest, they can't do their jobs without frequent vacations throughout the year. Really? Teachers in other states do just fine. Better, even. You shouldn't admit to not being able to cut it.
short notice = six months? The world is really moving FAST for Mr. Beck. I think he has bigger problems than when he can take vacation again.
Do you not recognize your own contradiction? "Electing" and "fringe element" are diametrically opposed. If these new board members were the fringe, how did they get elected?
On this one SINGLE issue, there is as much sound logic to having a traditional calendar as there is for any other option, so stop trying to pretend that your *preference* is the only thing that makes sense. You are an elitist.
Finally, you have no way of knowing what the "majority opinion" really is. Sad that you would entrust such an important issue to a silly monkey survey.
These new board members are in fact acting in what they believe is the best welfare of our students and the school system as a whole. If they are able to save enough money by returning to a traditional calendar to retain our teachers, I think that's a wise move. Certainly other school systems see it as wise - they are returning to traditional calendars in droves.