Comments on: Cobb board member defends reversal on balanced calendar

By: Vote on it!

Vote on it! — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 03:05:55 +0000

Still Disappointed – could not agree more… we need to vote on it… none of these back door deals. The good news is that just as in Mass, people are energized by this insidious behavior pf the board…if we can’t vote on the calendar option, we can at least vote them out…

By: Warrior Woman

Warrior Woman — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 19:16:33 +0000

To China_Chuck – Some Cobb County schools, including North Cobb High School, offer Chinese language courses.

By: Still Disappointed

Still Disappointed — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:29:54 +0000

Baffling to me that this cannot be voted on by Cobb County residents. What would the School Board have to lose? If they’re THAT convinced that more people want this, why be afraid of a public vote?

By: T

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:29:49 +0000

For everyone defending the new calendar…. You, along with the school board members, need to start donating to a fund to help pay for all of the court costs and attorney fees for custodial parents who will be unable to comply with their court orders. I’m not worried about paying for a week or two worth of child care, as my son is almost 16 years old. Even if he were at an age where he needed child care, it still would not be an issue. However, I am very worried about how this is going to interfere with a court order, which divides a 10 week summer in half giving 5 weeks to my son’s father and 5 weeks to me. My son goes to visit with his father for two weeks in June, two weeks in July, and the first week of August, as stated in the custody order. So my son will miss the first week of school, which may or may not be excused, lose any chance at a perfect attendance or I deny his father visitation, pay hefty court and attorney fees, a possible contempt of court fee, and risk having my child taken from me? Before my child has to watch his mother and father battle out custody in court, he will watch us team up and file a law suit against the school board for violation of our parental visitation rights and custodial interference. If there is not a precedence already set, then my case will be the one to set it. How much money is the school district saving now? You want to change something that is going to have that much impact on so many families, you might want to poll the families… NOT the teachers… and allow for a transitional period should the change be made… otherwise be prepared to spend a whole lot more money than you plan to save.

By: DMCM

DMCM — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 13:00:11 +0000

I support the balanced calendar. I wrote in an email to the board members that I support it. I think having a shorter summer break and more breaks through the year is better for kids in that they get the breaks they need, but do not fall as far out of their school routine. My guess is that there are many more of these, but in this kind of situation, you usually only hear from those who did not get what they want, the very vocal minority. Just because you are not hearing as much from those who support the balanced calendar do not assume we are not out here. We just do not feel as compelled to speak out because we are happy with the outcome.

By: Teacher

Teacher — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 12:25:39 +0000

The whole problem started when the GA DOE changed from quarters to semesters. Schools could no longer get a clean break before Christmas. Either you had the end of the semester at the end of January, or you start school almost a month ahead of the traditional start date.

One of our stellar leaders from 10 years ago had to make the change. It didn’t make sense then and its more than obvious now. Another ignorant move by our ignorant BOE. Its time to get Glen Brock out of his psuedo educator role. He and his law firm are money grubbing scumbag attorneys.

By: steve2

steve2 — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 05:06:53 +0000

Banks ran on the promise that he was against the balance calendar, and that he wanted to start the school year later in August. He says he changed his mind. Well, many of us who voted for him did not change our minds about the school calendar. Just one more example of another small-time, arrogant, local politician who loves the power. Remember Cobb voters, 3 board members are up for re-election next July. We get to change our minds at the ballot box this coming summer.

By: d

Sat, 28 Nov 2009 04:51:54 +0000

Philosopher, so standing in line at Six Flags in the cooler weather is better than being in the air conditioned building during the same time? Pollution is usually not quite so bad in the early morning hours that kids are “standing” at the bus stop. I don’t know of many kids that stand at the bus stop after school, they usually go home. How do parents find someone to watch kids during the summer? Schools are not day cares, but they are treated as such…. oh gee what will I do with the kids if we have a week off in February? Oh gee, not the school’s problem, they aren’t child care centers. Be parents and figure it out. When I was in high school before we moved the end of the fall semester to before Christmas, I had projects every Christmas break. You’re suggesting that learning can and only should take place during school and in the school house. I don’t know about other teachers, but I’ve been up early this entire Thanksgiving break and have projects I need to and will grade — and doing this on a furlough-reduced paycheck

By: A note to Steven:

A note to Steven: — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 04:27:27 +0000

So glad you “love” this calendar. It means you will love the negative effect this calendar will have on our fine Cobb County marching bands who have had stellar programs in past years. And yes, thanks David Banks. You’ve dealt our schools a devastating blow. You should be very proud.

By: steven

steven — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 01:28:13 +0000

vivian – David Banks is right – there are plenty of us who love this calendar – you just won’t believe it. The only people I know who hate it are people who run summer camps – and you will adjust.

I’m excited about the calendar – thanks David Banks!