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School Board Refuses to Revisit 2012-13 Calendar

David Banks of Post 5: "It would increase the morale of teacher and students, reduce absenteeism, and provide the opportunity for the citizens of Cobb to have a calendar that meets their needs."

Watch live streaming video from cobbschools at livestream.com
 

David Banks of Northeast and East Cobb's Post 5 battled through Wednesday's Cobb County Board of Education work session to have the 2012-13 school calendar issue heard again.

As seen 20 minutes into the Cobb County School District Part 4 work session video, Banks' school calendar proposal was quickly defeated.

"I wish this was not a topic we're still discussing, but it's important to a lot of people. Lots of teachers and parents in my post, and others, have talked to me about it. I don't believe the calendar will change. None of the four people who wanted to change last February are going to change," Lynnda Eagle of Post 1 said. "I'd like us to look at going to school right up until Christmas and not starting again until the 10th," as happened this school year.

Post 4's Kathleen Angelucci, whose area includes Kell High School, reminded the board that it had already voted on the calendar. "The fact it's brought up continuously, almost on a monthly basis, is a waste of this board's time. It is a done deal. We already have a calendar for next year."

Banks, who represents Lassiter, Sprayberry and Pope, shot back that the board was wrong when it voted last February to change it because in November 2010 the previous board voted for a three-year calendar. This board chose to change that balanced calendar to a more traditional calendar.

"Are you going to represent your constituents, and if not, why are you here?" he asked.

Banks requested that the 2012-13 school calendar issue be placed on the agenda for discussion.

The motion failed on a 5-2 vote, with only Eagle backing Banks.

Other News

The board consented to reauthorize the performance contract for Success for All, a school-based mental health support program funded by a grant.

Cobb Mentoring Matters was established through the grant program.

After a yearlong pilot program in Area 5 schools in northwest Cobb, the district’s social work department applied for and received the grant, which is federally funded by the Safe Schools/Healthy Students initiative of the U.S. Department of Education and Department of Health and Human Services.

Related Topics: Board of Education, Cobb County School District, Cobb Mentoring Matters, Kathleen Angelucci, Lynnda Eagle, Marietta, School Board, School Calendar, Success for All, and david banks

laura snyder

9:20 pm on Friday, January 20, 2012

Thanks David Banks for standing up for parents frustrated with the actions of the school board.

Reply

Andy Berman

7:01 pm on Saturday, January 21, 2012

Funny, David ran his campaign on starting the school year later, was elected, and now wants to start the school year earlier. Not sure why he would be elected on one side of an issue and all the sudden all his constituents want the exact opposite, or do they?

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