March 15, 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 Gives Tentative Approval

for School Calendar Based on Results from Survey

Board selects Calendar B for 2007-2008

The Columbia County Board of Education has given tentative approval for the 2007-2008 calendar based on the results from the calendar survey conducted February 12-26. The Board unanimously approved Calendar B – with a start date of August 15. The features of this calendar will also serve to guide calendar development for the next three years.

While there were over 5000 responses collected for the calendar survey, not one of the three calendars showed an overwhelmingly majority. However, the breakdown of the results by demographics did show that over 60% parents supported a later start date in August. The top three reasons that parents selected Calendar B were the final exam schedule before Christmas break, later August start date and shorter breaks throughout the school year.

“Calendar B is a good compromise between a later start date and finishing up semester exams before the Christmas break,” said Board Member, Regina Buccafusco. The last time Columbia County Schools had a school start date the second week in August was in 2001.

As school systems across Georgia have moved their school start date to the first week of Augusta, the state testing periods have moved too. The state sets the testing periods for the Georgia High School Graduation Test (GHSGT) held in mid-March, the Criterion Referenced Competency Test (CRCT) held in mid-April, and the End of Course tests (EOCT) held the first week in December and May.

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 narrowed the choices down to three calendars that addressed specific issues, while complying with state law that mandates 180 day school year for students.

The Board is looking for any additional comments on Calendar B before they take action on final approval for Calendar B at the next scheduled Board of Education meeting on March 28 at 6:00pm in Appling.

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