ELIZABETHTOWN — The board of education discussed calendar options Monday night and information was also shared on a survey about potential calendar changes.

One of the proposed calendars shortens this summer by seven to 10 days, creating an earlier return to school this year coupled with an earlier release next spring.

“Whenever we develop a calendar we always our teacher of the year to be a part of that calendar committee,” said Cheryl White-Smith, director of exceptional children and elementary curriculum for the district. “Our principals and district office staff are invited to be a part of that committee. This year we gave them three draft forms of calendars.”

One of those calendars was an exam friendly calendar. That calendar had 79 days in the first semester and 91 days in the second semester.

“I spoke with Superintendent Dr. Robert Taylor, some other teachers and principals and we thought that the students were getting cheated that first semester,” she said. “That’s 79 days compared to 91 days. So the children that have first semester classes the instruction would be missing some days.

“Then we gave them two traditional calendars. There was an 85-day calendar which is a choice on the calendar and a 179-day calendar. Both of those calendars have 1,025 instructional hours.”

They have one 179-day calendar that the committee is hoping to propose after they get their survey in. For year-round, the first semester would be 89 days and the second semester would be 90 days, balancing out the length of the two semesters.

“On that calendar the teachers would start Aug. 5 and students would start Aug. 12,” said White-Smith. “That would include 10 annual leave days, 11 holidays and also the 10 required and three optional workdays for teachers.”

Graduation would be May 29 and 30. This calendar would align with the draft of the calendar for Bladen Early College and Bladen Community College. It would also align with their virtual public schools.

“Our high schools would also be able to take their exams before Christmas break,” she said.

On the other traditional calendar the teachers would start on Aug. 19 and students Aug. 26. The first semester would end Jan. 15 with 89 days and the second semester would end June 5 with 91 days and graduation would be June 12 and 13.

At the time of Monday’s meeting, there had been 124 responses to the survey. Over 68 percent of the responses were from teachers. Only 30 percent approved of the current start and end dates.

Valerie Newton, the district’s public information officer, shared the latest results during the meeting, reading some of the questions that were asked.

“How would you feel about a modified year-round calendar for the upcoming school year?” she said. “And 50.4 percent strongly approved that.”

Over 65 percent strongly approved that it was “important to get exams finished before winter break. The majority of respondents wanted two weeks for winter break and one week for Easter break.

Of the calendars that were voted on, the Aug. 26 start with an end date of June 5 was the clear loser, coming in at 14.4 percent of votes. The breakdown was as follows:

• Aug. 15 start and a May 27 end, 29.6 percent.

• Aug. 12 start and a May 22 end, 28.8 percent.

• Aug. 19 start and a May 29 end, 27.2 percent.

The vote totals are an update, not a final tally.

“It looks to be very close between the Aug. 15 start and the Aug. 12 start,” Newton said.

“I have also included some communication from Mayor Goldston Womble in White Lake that he wanted to share with the board,” Taylor said. “It has his thoughts on how the calendar would effect tourism in the town of White Lake. Normally we approve it in February but there will be no issue if we approve it in March.”

“We just wanted to share with you what we found to be another viable option.”

Alan West asked about other school systems using exam friendly calendars, meaning before the Christmas holidays.

“Columbus County is no longer doing it,” said Taylor. “I think Brunswick was looking to do something different. Cumberland County is staying with it as far as I know. Whiteville City is going to a year-round calendar.”

Exams after the holidays were a concern for Chairman Roger Carroll.

“What I really think, and I was here whenever it changed, and I thought it was devastating, especially for the children that have to test after the holidays,” Carroll said. “I think we are doing them an injustice and I don’t think it’s fair to them, and I don’t think it’s fair to say we are going to give them a break and then tell them you have got to study the whole time you are on break because they are trying to meet a goal.

“We are just asking for 10 days to start school so that these schools can test before the holiday break. I just think that is fair to them. That’s the way I look at it. I think it would give our grades a boost as well in the high school. I am glad to see it finally come back around.”

Emily M. Williams | Bladen Journal
Cheryl White-Smith briefed the board Monday night about potential calendar changes that could allow students to have a winter break where they wouldn’t have to study along with other options.
https://www.bladenjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_White-Smith-1.jpgEmily M. Williams | Bladen Journal
Cheryl White-Smith briefed the board Monday night about potential calendar changes that could allow students to have a winter break where they wouldn’t have to study along with other options.

Emily M. Williams

Bladen Journal

Emily M. Williams can be reached at 910-247-9133 or ewilliams@bladenjournal.com.