At the Wednesday morning work session, much gloom and doom ado was made by Post 1 Board member Lynnda Eagle about some letters that angry teachers were writing to the SACS accreditation committee because they’re mad the board reversed last year’s vote (by the previous school board) to go to an August first start date with multi-ple weeks off during the school year — and they believe it somehow endangers the system’s credentials. Hogwash.
This labor issue has been disguised for years at the CCSD as some kind of move towards giving the children time to rest and recuperate from their arduous studies. This school year, I think the only month kids have gone so far without a lengthy break was in October. And that’s much more serious a problem than some board members in their second month of service who made good on a campaign promise.
There is no crisis here. The calendar next year will be almost the same as it’s been for a decade. The traditional people didn’t win, or we’d be starting after Labor Day. The early start people didn’t win, or we’d be heading to school on August 1. What we have is a compromise on the calendar.
If anything, the crisis we should focus on is the trend of very vocal, angry public employees going outside their chain of command to take over parent meetings, such as Ms. Angelucci’s Tuesday night meeting at North Cobb High School. They have overstepped, targeting individual board members for harassment in some cases and writing public letters to their students and parents disparaging them. How fast would they last in the private sector if they did that?
Most egregiously, some of their behavior has been encouraged by the balanced calendar advocates on the board, Banks and Eagle, as well as their principals, who it seems are looking the other way.
At Wednesday’s Executive Session meeting, Banks read a prepared statement re-asserting that the Feb. 17th vote "compromised the trust and respect of the board." (maybe he meant for the board?)
He claimed yet again with no facts to back it up, that is costs more to heat a facility than to cool it, which flys in the face of experts who say certainly the cost of cooling the schools in August far exceeds any savings by having a week off school in February. Of course, Superintendent Sanderson could lay this utility argument to rest almost immediately by releasing utility bills in accordance with Ms. Angelucci’s repeated requests. But he doesn’t seem to want to do that.
Meanwhile, Banks’ e-mailed newsletter claims without proof, yet again, that he and other board members have "received over 2,000 e-mails with over 72% in favor of the balanced calendar." Yet he fails to produce those e-mails for scrutiny. If board members have indeed received that many letters, are they from teachers, which would confirm that this is a labor issue, or are they in fact from parents? Why all the subterfuge, Mr. Banks? Let’s see your proof.
At Wednesday’s meeting, Banks insisted on revisiting the calendar, with no more facts available than the board had previously. Addressing Sweeney, Angelucci, Bartlett and Stultz, he accused, "The four of you have come in and overturned that vote. The community is incensed."
Once again, Banks is wrong. It’s the teachers who are incensed. And the new board members are fully within their rights to change things. That’s why they were elected.
Yet Banks continues to manufacture a crisis, disparaging the newest board members, berating and condescending and even threatening them at this public meeting and through his newsletter.
The great myth on this school calendar issue is that parents, constituents, are for the August first start date. The reality is that this is a labor issue between teachers and their employers, disguised in a bunch of rhetoric that having a week off every month is somehow good "for the children."
The pressure brought to bear on the new board members has been intense. So far they’ve held up remarkably, keeping good on their promises to the citizens who elected them. It’s a heck of a way to begin your public service, and they are to be commended for hanging in there.
And this manufactured crisis, ironically perpetrated by so-called Republicans Banks and Eagle, is a tactic worthy of a leftist playbook. As Yarbrough said last week, it’s time to move on now, and focus on education, not vacation.
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My favorite part of the past year: Closing a school, and yet, calling it restructuring. Oakwood High School 1978-2010 RIP.
It is the fact that the state and SACS let them get away with it. Heck, the media hardly reacted and has not inquired further into the private organization that took over the open campus school. It certainly has me flustered.
No one seems to be concerned about Big Brother if it isn't affecting them.
The idea remains: Who are the watchdogs? Who corrects their mistakes? Who pays for them?
How does a county CLOSE a school and no one notice? No one is holding them accountable? The same mistake will inevitably repeat itself. No research no checks&balances=incompetence and waste.
The word is "flies" not "flys".
For the past few decades, teacher's unions have whined for more "morale boosters" (more pay, more training, more in-school meetings, more benefits, etc.). At the same time, the US has fallen in educational competitiveness. Not to say that this is cause/effect - but it makes one wonder.
What makes one wonder further:
In the past few years, as budgets have been drastically cut and performance expectations on teachers have increased - scores on tests, AYP, etc. have been flat to I believe increasing.
FWIW anyone that tries to tell me that the "87,000" votes logged on the recent CCSD survey-monkey were due to anyone other than a bunch of Cobb school teachers/personnel is a lot dumber than they probably look.
How in the world I was conned into voting for David Banks, I will never know(but I am paying much better attention now, however).
teachers in Cobb want and need. Laura wants to
cast Cobb teachers as disgruntled Wisconsin
public employees. Not the case. Had the Board
decided to change the calendar for year 2012-13
this would not have caused an uproar. But doing
it out of the blocks knowing that many had set
their schedules for a year in advance took many
people by surprise. Pulling the rug from under
125,000 people as a political consideration has
nothing to do with improving education in Cobb. They took the only morale booster that has come
down from the Board in 6 years and rescinded it.
How could they be so politically deaf? Yes, many
teachers are upset. They fully realize that the
majority on this Board cares nothing about them
or other essential ingredients for running a
school system smoothly and efficiently.
Your comments in the above article are doing nothing but adding fuel to the fire about the public's lack of respect for hardworking public school teachers. Sure, some are out there making fools of themselves by turning this calendar issue into such a big deal. However, most teachers, whether we favored the balanced calendar or not, are going along with our lives and doing what we were entrusted to do--teach the children of Cobb County to the best of our ability. The constant criticism from the local newspaper does not make that job any easier. You said it yourself in your closing sentence--it's time to move on and find something more important to write about.
"The School Calendar continues to be an issue each year. I believe that there are too many non-instructional days allotted in the school calendar. If some of these days were eliminated, then the schools could begin on the first day after Labor Day and end no later than the last Friday of May.
The School Calendar policy should state that school begins the first day after Labor Day and ends the last Friday of May. This would give a higher degree of predictability for parents and their summer schedules as well as summer school scheduling for students that have a need to catch up. No longer would there be ambiguity with respect to when does the school year start and when does it end.
This fixed policy would allow for students, who plan to take summer jobs, to be able to plan their schedule with their employer. Also, I believe for those teachers who plan to further their education would have more time to attend classes in the summer.
The parents and teachers need this issue resolved so that they can have predictability in making their plans."
I will not post any links to studies. It is your, the teachers and parents, responsibility to prove your position. What I will share is:
-Studies show no difference in academic achievement in the calendars.
This,of course does not mean that SOME students will not benefit, and some will not.
-The savings on the cost of AC is significant with a later start. I will give you a clue --check Tampa, Tulsa and for heaven's sake, check the Georgia studies of about 8 years ago.
Stop re-fighting the war. This has all been thrashed out in the past.
I do not know why parents want a balanced calendar, but if it is proven that is what the majority wants--then, that is what they should get.
Polls have been exposed as "packed" and as such cannot be relied upon. If it is worth the fight, parents and CCSD should pay to bring in a valid polling company to manage it for you.
The truth will set you free.
As to the blog posts from the teachers. You embarrass me with your vitriol and personal attacks, but you embarrass yourself more.
Some of what I have read here makes me happy that I have no children being taught by you. A mini Wisconsin.
BTW, teachers are citizens too! Just because one works for CCSD doesn't mean they don't have a right to speak their opinion on an issue.
I think this Board's actions are very similar to Mr Obama's during the so-called healthcare debate: Act like you're listening to the concerns of the public, then disregard their expressions and force on them the agenda you had all along!
David Banks,
Please stop embarassing us! Aren't you learning anything about ethics at JFBC? Maybe you need to listen harder to those sermons on Sunday - or - maybe the only reason you are there is to drum up support for your next crazy scheme!
You summers people – you are included, think that balance calendar advocates have to be led by someone. That the wonderful 4 have all the answers – they know what is best for us. Well this parent follows the board closely and I know what I want. Now there is a conspiracy theory that we parents cannot again think for ourselves but have to be led by Banks and Eagle. Again not true. I’ve never talked to either.
My family put this winter break to good use. My son was struggling with division. He just couldn’t break the concept. We spent 30 mins everyday on division during the break, and when he returned the next week to school – he got a 100% on the test. This never would have happened without that break because of my work schedule, his homework load and sports schedule. There are other reasons I like this balanced calendar and it has nothing to do with vacation - another lie you summers people hold on to dearly.
David Banks should be thankful that the current board is more tolerant and professional than the last. He clearly is violating the code of ethics that he signed. The previous board would be censuring him.
And, to Laura Armstrong, October 2010 included an entire week of "half-days." If it takes 28 days to form a habit, then CCSD students make it just past that time - take a huge break - and then get to repeat the process to re-establishing their study habits. It's insanity.