Decision largely based on parent, staff survey

By Lonnie Adamson
Managing Editor
ladamson@elkintribune.com

The annual battle over the school calendar leaves Elkin students ending 2009 at a similar time 2008 and some school board members scratching their heads.

Elkin school officials completed last week what is typically one of the more contentious battles of the school year, the annual calendar.

In synopsis, the approved version gives students virtually the same start and end date as this year with a shorter break in the spring and a longer break at Christmas. The approved 2008-2009 calendar lets kids out for summer break on June 3. The other option considered would have kept them in class through June 9.

State mandates for the system set the start date at Aug. 25. That was the same for two options pitched by the district's calendar committee to parents, faculty and staff.

"We were left with little wiggle room to get in the required number of days," calendar committee Chairman Toby Cone told the school board last Monday.

The committee was made up of faculty, principals and a parent from each of the three schools. Option I provided a full week of spring break lapping two weekends. Option II offered what is described as a Good Friday holiday over one weekend, including Easter.

The weight of the decision to go with Option II seems to follow the advice of a school system survey. "The committee was not unanimous on that," Cone told the board.

He was a little surprised parents and faculty surveyed didn't opt for the longer spring break.

School board member James Freeman said there seemed to be little break between January and June.

High school Principal Mark Byrd was direct about his concerns over the length of time his students will have been together from January to April considering the tendencies of students their age. "I'm concerned about high school students not having a full spring break. They need a break from one another."

The survey results ran almost two to one in favor of the option that ends the year on June 3.

A ConnectEd call informed everyone connected with the system that the on-line survey was available. A later email to faculty and staff reminded that group to consider giving their opinions.

The option ending on June 3 drew 101 votes to 59 for the option ending on June 9.

Board member Jim Westbrook said he was most concerned to get in the most days of education before the End of Grade (EOG) testing.

Board member Foley Norman said he was surprised at the small response to the survey. "I'm afraid most of the comment will come after approval," he said.

Middle school Principal Pam Colbert said another committee concern was weather. The approved plan offers six make-up days before graduation would be affected by weather-related dismissals of class.

Snow days have been few during the last two years. Board Chairman Stewart Roten quipped, "This is the global warming friendly calendar."

APPROVED

2008-2009 Elkin City Schools Calendar

First day of class Aug. 25

Christmas break Dec. 22 through Jan. 4

Good Friday April 10 through April 14

Last day of class June 3