School calendar fight to enter round 3

Will the upcoming school year start Aug. 7?

That question is expected to be decided tomorrow night when the School Board meets to vote on the 2008-09 school calendar. Due to the likelihood of a large crowd, the meeting will be held at the Warren County Middle School library.

In recent years, tensions have flared over the school calendar as the start of school has been pushed earlier and earlier in August. In the mid-1990s, the Warren County School System had a policy to start the Tuesday after Labor Day, but that policy no longer stands.

‘There’s always been a great deal of thought about the start of school,’ said Director of Schools Dr. Jerry Hale. ‘You always have people who want to start school at different times for different reasons.’

The calendar proposal that’s on the table blends the so-called alternative schedule followed by Bobby Ray Elementary with the more traditional calendar observed by the rest of the school system. It would create one calendar for every school in the system, which has generated a great deal of feedback.

‘I’ve gotten more response to this than anything we’ve ever done before,’ said School Board member Bob Young. ‘I’ve gotten phone calls, e-mails and letters from both sides, and I’m glad to see people want to be involved in schools. The information has all been very helpful.’

The school system’s Calendar Committee produced the current proposal the School Board will vote on. It features an Aug. 7 starting date, a May 27 ending date, and week-long breaks in the fall and spring.

‘To me, you either go in August or you go in June,’ said School Board member Larry Judkins. ‘And you can flip a coin on which one is better. I think the calendar that has been presented is a good compromise. It gets Bobby Ray back on the same calendar as everyone else.’

During last month’s school board meeting, the proposed calendar failed to get the necessary 4 votes to pass as it ended in a 3-3 deadlock.

Judkins, Gordon McGee Jr., and John Turner voted in favor of the calendar. Edd Cantrell, Mike Holland and Young voted against it.

The school calendar was the focus of a specially called School Board meeting two weeks ago. In that meeting, several teachers held up signs to support a Bobby Ray type schedule.

Cantrell, a former WCHS principal, says while he’s not in favor of the proposed calendar, he’s willing to go along with the idea if that’s what the majority wants.

‘When I was a principal, spring was when you needed more time off because of behavior problems,’ said Cantrell. ‘On this calendar, I’ve counted it up and the kids have 22 days off before the first of the year, and 14 days off the second semester. My opinion is I’d like to see it balanced out more.’

One thing the early August start date accomplishes is it allows the first semester to be completed by Christmas break. That’s especially appropriate at the high school because it allows exams to be given before students are off for two weeks.

‘When the dust settles, we’re all going to be on one calendar and that’s a good thing for Warren County,’ said Young. ‘Some people are going to be happy and some won’t.’

McGee indicated he’s still upset the School Board didn’t approve this calendar at its last meeting.

‘I am still disappointed in the board’s actions when we did not approve the calendar when it was presented to us at the February board meeting,’ McGee said. ‘We have an obligation to provide the best education we can for the students in this county. I feel as if we did not live up to that obligation during that meeting by allowing personal agendas to interfere with sound judgment.’

Committee meetings start at 5:30 p.m. Thursday night at the middle school, followed by the full School Board meeting.

Calendar highlights

Aug 7:

Start date

May 27:

Last day of school

Oct. 13-17:

Fall break

Dec. 20-Jan. 4:

Christmas break

March 16-20:

Spring break