The group, which consists of eight parents, two community representatives, five central office staff members and six local school employees, will meet from 2 to 4 p.m. Aug. 1, Aug. 22 and Aug. 29 in the school board room at 514 Glover Street in Marietta.
Superintendent Dr. Michael Hinojosa originally said the meetings would be closed, but after talking to Board Attorney Clem Doyle about recent revisions to the Open Meetings Act regarding committee meetings, he decided that the meetings would be open to the public.
Dr. Angela Huff, the district’s new chief of staff, will be leading the meetings along with Deputy Superintendent Dr. Cheryl Hungerford.
Huff said the group would talk about what calendar is most appropriate for Cobb students and staff, and after the Aug. 29 meeting, she will make a recommendation to Hinojosa, who will ask for a vote from the school board sometime before or during the October board meetings.
The eight parents, who were selected by the 9th District PTA Council, are Sarah Regitz and Abby Shiffman, with the East Cobb County Council; Robb Stanek and Lisa Miller, Jessye Coleman Council; Brandi O’Reilly and Kevin Jabbari, Tom Mathis Sr. Council; and Carolyn Pusey-Wade and Janis Stevenson, South Cobb Council.
The two community representatives, who were selected by Hinojosa, are Dr. Arlinda Eaton, dean of Kennesaw State University’s Bagwell College of Education, and Wayne Dodd, board of directors and South Cobb Council vice chairman at the Cobb Chamber of Commerce.
The five central office employees, who were selected by the senior staff, are John Stafford, graduation coordinator; Darryl York, director of policy development; Gary Markham, supervisor of band and orchestra; Glen Brown, acting executive director of SPLOST; and Leanne Wood, assessment program manager.
The six local school employees, who were selected by area assistant superintendents, are Anthony Pearson, Mableton Elementary; Lisa Williams, Osborne High; Carole Brink, Dickerson Middle; Ed Wagner, Sprayberry High; Coy Dunn, Kennesaw Mountain High; and Cindy Stigall, Due West Elementary.
The committee was approved in December 2011 after originally being voted down 1-6 with only board member David Banks approving in October. The original 27-member committee included votes from board members.
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The idea of a 4 day week-end here or there is great. (no need for a week at Thanksgiving.) The point about NOT starting Aug.1 or school in July for tourism and jobs for kids is great. The bus driver's point about Aug.1 heat is great. The poster who mentioned the school as a baby sitter could not BE more RIGHT, as I have witnessed this numerous times.
The poster who again stated the majority want balanced summer school as matter of truth is again expressing a misguided opinion, not fact. (Put it on a ballot prove me wrong, I dare you.)
The committee will be seen as a puppet committee whose non scientific monkey surevy methods will be considered laughable, UNLESS they do the right thing and recommend a vote, on a ballot, in a NOVEMBER election. This school system runs on tax dollars from everyone, not just the crazies on both sides of the calendar debate.
When my now 8th grader started school, we didn't have a full week at Thanksgiving and I disagree with having so much time off after new year. I think it would be much better to shorten those breaks, add a few long weekends in instead and keep the start date as late as possible in August. There is a compromise out there and if people would work together to come up for what is best for the CHILDREN we can make it work. Otherwise, we may be looking at mandates like Alabama and then we risk no one being happy.
Also, please remember it's ALL about STUDENT EDUCATION and not at all about the teachers. The teachers have their education and choose to teach, the children are the ones we need to worry about.
The CCSD believes that the "traditional calendar" is better than the "balanced calendar." Possibly due to the economic benefits, but it KILLS us as students. I am an honors/AP student with a 4.32 GPA. However, the lack of breaks is killing me during the semester and I am not performing as well as I would like to/am capable of. CCSD needs to take STUDENTS into consideration when making decisions. Possibly have a representative from each school attend the board meetings to assist. Right now, we are being ignored while the so-called "adults" yell at each other at what is best.
Want to see some significant academic improvements from myself & the rest of the students in the CCSD? Switch back to the balanced calendar and let us rest so we are able to perform at maximum capacity.
Thank you.
Also, why do you need five central office employees on the committee? So they will have something to do? I only note three that seemed pertinent: the graduation coordinator, the director of policy development, and the assessment program manager.
This is troubling especially when considering there are fewer than 8,000 teachers in the district and while "balanced calendar" supporters are willing to look the other way on this issue since the survey favored their position.
According to many "balanced calendar" supporters academic achievement was supposedly going to crater if the district reverted to a "traditional calendar," yet recent academic achievement data shows quite the opposite.
Ask any of the school principals that had major SPLOST construction projects going on at their school this summer if there is any way that they would be prepared to open their school doors at least two weeks earlier than scheduled.
This was a major issue last year with a few projects. Compressed construction schedules do not necessarily equate to quality construction.
Just a few thoughts... done here and now back to my harvest!
If Georgia were a real tourist economy there would be no argument and the state would demand that schools don't start before the last weeks of August. No seasonal employment for all the people who come from states where schools start at the standard time (around Labor Day). The Carolina's and others have had to mandate it for the tourism dollar.
Not to mention the additional expense of having to air condition every classroom during the hottest month of the year!
Fall Break appeals to both. Guess what we'll get?
Start 1st week of Aug. Book it.
It really is ABC
Anyone But Calendar crazy Banks.
I really am tired of this elderly man thinking that he has the right to stir up the pot constantly - just for fun. My kids deserve better than than this foolish man.
I am quite sure he will find something, since that stirring up the pot is his flavor of the month attitude.
No way this stacked deck does not come back with with an Aug. 1 start date and a dopey Fall Break.
Worse, they'll claim the change is "for the children."
You watch.
This traditional calendar is all aobut the money.
If you really want to know what is best "for the children," ask the children.
Case closed.