The Trevino family trip to Florida is still on for September -- the only problem is now school is on, too.
The Cobb County parents booked their nonrefundable trip to Universal theme parks before board members voted on a new school calendar that eliminates breaks during the year. Sean Trevino said his kids, a second and fourth grader, will have to miss school, but it’s not the loss of vacation days Trevino is ticked about.
“The reason we were so upset about it is because it was such a shock,” he said. “[The calendar] was supposed to be for three years.”
Cobb County switched to a so-called “balanced” calendar this school year after the school board narrowly approved it in 2009. The district was supposed to try it for three years to determine if there was an academic or cost benefit. But Thursday, the board -- made up of three new members -- reversed that decision and adopted a traditional calendar where classes start Aug. 15.
Board members in support of the change said it should not have come as a surprise -- the new members campaigned in support of the traditional format, it was included on the agenda and discussed at a meeting before the final vote.
But angry parents, students and educators have taken to the Internet to voice their opinion, and are trying to organize campaigns to recall board members and protest the new start date.
"This is not over," said parent Dara Fairgrieves, whose children attend Nickajack Elementary. "And that’s what’s sad; it could have been decided on the merits had they let the three years play out. Unfortunately that didn’t happen, so it leaves the debate open indefinitely, which is not in the best interest of the district."
It's unclear which calendar has a cost or academic benefit. District spokesman Jay Dillon said running a balanced calendar is slightly less expensive in terms of utilities savings because of the week off in February. But board chairwoman Alison Bartlett said based on the data she's seen, the district used more energy in fall 2010 than in previous years.
Cherokee County has had a balanced calendar since 2004-05, but other districts have only opted for cost-saving tweaks.
In 2009, Georgia lawmakers gave school districts the right to deviate from the traditional 180-day school calendar, provided students still log enough minutes in school to equal or exceed 190 days, said Susan Hale, spokeswoman for Fulton County Schools. Fulton added 10 minutes to each school day and adopted a 177-day calendar for 2010-11. The district plans to use the same schedule next school year.
DeKalb weighed a balanced calendar about eight years ago, but decided to stick with the traditional format after getting feedback from the community. Clayton County has a traditional schedule except students are in school 175 days.
Cobb's Post 4 Representative Kathleen Angelucci voted in favor of the switch and said she’s gotten several calls from upset parents, but some positive feedback, too. Finding childcare on the breaks is a struggle for some low-income families, she said. And she's not convinced of an academic or cost benefit.
Suspicious parents speculated that Angelucci had a connection with Six Flags or White Water amusement parks because in e-mails she voiced concerns about the parks losing summer revenue. She denied any conflict of interest with the parks, and an Atlanta Journal-Constitution review of financial disclosures appeared to support her claims.
Angelucci is also the discussion of recall efforts, which are extremely difficult under state law and require an official to first be in office for about six months.
"I find it absolutely mind-boggling that people would be talking about recall over the calendar," she said. "It's not a surprise. I've been very vocal about the traditional calendar, and I have always felt it was in the best interest of students."
2011-12 school year
Cobb: Aug. 15 – May 25
Clayton: Aug. 1 – May 18
DeKalb: Aug. 8 – May 24
Fulton: Aug. 15 – May 18
Gwinnett: Aug. 8 – May 23
2011 school year
Cobb: Aug. 15 – May 25
Clayton: Aug. 1 – May 18
DeKalb: Aug. 8 – May 24
Fulton: Aug. 15 – May 18
Gwinnett: Aug. 8 – May 23
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