Cobb school board presented with five calendar proposals

Cobb County’s school board is expected to consider at least five calendar proposals for the 2013-14 school year at its next meeting.

Superintendent Michael Hinojosa; a calendar committee that included parents, administrators and community leaders; and two board members submitted proposals. The board also discussed how to evaluate Hinojosa.

None of the calendar proposals was a “balanced” calendar with a shortened summer vacation and more frequent breaks throughout the school year. Such a calendar caused an uproar in Cobb several years ago, leading to one board member losing their post.

However, the proposed calendars do differ in start dates and vacation days, a source of contention for several parents.

After the previous controversy, the board created a calendar committee to come up with a proposal for the superintendent to present to the board.

But this year that committee couldn’t reach a decision and recommended five separate proposals to the superintendent. Hinojosa then added his own suggestion.

“I thought they punted to me,” Hinojosa said. “Maybe I misunderstood them.”

In the meantime, board members Alison Bartlett and David Banks came up with their own proposals.

Board members spent an hour debating which holidays to consider, whether the first day of school should start on a Monday or Wednesday, and when teachers should arrive back to school from winter break.

They decided to discuss it at their next meeting Oct. 25, when they are expected to vote on a final 2013-14 calendar.

Hinojosa said he had no personal preference.

“What happens during the school day is what makes the big difference,” he told board members. “There is no empirical causal data that shows one calendar is better than another. It’s a community preference and that’s what it is.”