February 3, 2006- For Immediate Release
Columbia County Schools - 6430 Pollards Pond Road, Appling, GA 30802
For more information contact Karen Ribble at 541-0650 ext. 204

Columbia County Board of Education Approves Calendar Survey

2006-2007 school calendar remains unchanged

The Columbia County Board of Education has approved a calendar survey as a result of parent requests to revisit the school calendar. A calendar committee made up of parents, teachers, business and clergy members, and high school students was charged to develop calendar options beginning with the 2007-2008 calendar. “The committee did a good job narrowing the choices down to three calendars that addressed specific issues, while complying with state law that mandates 180 day school year for students,” said Dr. Lauren Williams, Associate Superintendent and facilitator for the calendar committee. Some of the questions the committee addressed were:

¨ Is it instructionally sound to complete the first semester and final exams before the Christmas break?

¨ Should the calendar include a fall break?

¨ Should the calendar include a mid-winter break?

¨ Can we adopt a calendar that considers childcare needs/vacation schedules of working parents?

¨ Based on the responses to the above questions, when should the school year start?

All three calendar options that the committee developed can be viewed by going to www.ccboe.net. The timeframe for the survey is February 12-26 and can be taken electronically by going to www.ccboe.net. Households without computer access may contact any Columbia County Public School for a paper survey. Anyone desiring face-to-face discussions with the Board of Education before casting a vote may attend a public meeting at Harlem High School on Saturday, February 25 from 9:00am-11:00am. Results of the survey will be presented to the Board, March 14 at 6:00pm at the Evans Government Complex.

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