EAST ELLIJAY, Ga. – The annual calendar for Gilmer Schools has gone through constant revisions and changes in recent years as the board has utilized school governance teams and public input in the decision making process. However, this year is looking to see a major change in that the board will likely be putting restrictions on the teams creating the calendars.

Although this is not the only change, it is the most prominent as Monday saw the Board of Education, in their work session meeting, discussing the topic with Board Member Ronald Watkins heading the drive to modify the calendar creation by placing restrictions on when the schools can “start” the school year on their calendars.

Gilmer’s Board of Education, from left to right, Joe Pflueger, Michael Parks, Doug Pritchett, Superintendent Dr. Shanna Downs, Michael Bramlett, and Ronald Watkins.

Although many begin considerations and ideas for the calendar earlier, the real progress on calendar creation begins in January and February of each year as each school’s student governance team begin the process of creating their own calendars and submitting them for consideration by the BOE. In recent years the BOE has looked to public surveys to help guide them on deciding which calendar to go with. With one year opening the survey without oversight, it was reported that some voted multiple times. Because of that, last year saw the email sent only to students, parents, teachers, and staff.

However, at that time, Watkins opposed the popular vote calendar as the dissenting vote in the 4-1 approval of the 2020-21 calendar. This year, Watkins continue voicing his dissention of a similar calendar to 2020-21 saying that the calendar encroached on July as the summer month, disrupting vacations and summer plans for families. Watkins also questioned details of the survey’s inclusion of students opinions and votes.

On the 2021-22 calendar, Watkins stated, “Last year, teachers started back in July. We’re not Cherokee County, we are Gilmer County. I, personally, like the Murray County Calendar, but that ain’t going to happen. I feel like, as a Board, we need to set parameters on how early do we start back and how late to finish… Nobody should be going back to school in July. Period.”

Superintendent Dr. Shanna Downs later offered the calculations that starting in August would reduce certain breaks and could push closer to Christmas. Though not exact, expectations indicated that if the calendars were to keep a full week off for Thanksgiving, it would be likely that students would be in school the week leading up to Christmas, though not all week. In 2021, Christmas Eve will be on a Friday with Christmas Day on Saturday.

Board member Joe Pflueger said that he did agree that he wasn’t keen on the idea of teachers going back to school in July. Pflueger noted that many extracurriculars  are backed up into the middle of July with that schedule, inching ever closer to July 4.

Many of the schools have already begun discussions in calendar creation and principals reported to the BOE during their meeting that much of the feedback on the 2020-21 calendar was positive.

One principal said that their teachers were happy to trade an earlier start for more breaks during the year. Another principal reported that their students also enjoyed the mid-semester breaks. Another said that their teachers were hesitant at first, but found the overall experience preferable with breaks lined up along holidays, like this years’ week long break in Spring semester aligning with President’s Day on February 15.

Watkins debated the argument for mid-year breaks allowing vacations saying that the calendar was only good for a select percentage of teachers who had spouses who could mirror the vacations. Watkins said, “It’s nice to take 10 vacations a year, but most people in Gilmer County can’t take 10 vacations. You’re messing my vacation up by starting back in [July].”

Although not voting on the official action to set those parameters, Dr. Downs asked for more opinions and direction from board. Michael Parks simply agreed that he didn’t like starting in July. Douglas Pritchett said he wished to let the process continue solely through the teams, keeping the process as it is, without parameters.

Dr. Downs said she wanted to give the governance teams some guidance as to the boards intentions due to many of those teams meeting this week before Thursday’s Regular Meeting where the formal vote will be held. She said that she felt the school governance teams offered the benefit of teacher and parent input through the teams. Additionally, she noted that the last couple of years saw one calendar win by a landslide. She noted that the survey has updated as well, with last year being sent through email so that on specific people such as parents, teachers, and students could offer their opinions on the subject.

However, Watkins and Pflueger both spoke on possibly excluded students from the survey.

Pflueger said, “If you ask a child, ‘Hey, do you want a break here, a break here?’ I don’t know if a child would turn that opportunity down.” He went on to add that his personal opinion would be that it would be a plus to have parents, teachers, and staff to offer their thoughts through the vote.

Watkins also dissented on allowing students to vote on the calendars saying that he knew of a Clear Creek Middle School student who was asked if he voted on the calendar. Watkins said the student replied that he had “voted on something” and that the teacher had told them which to vote for.

The board continued discussions ultimately setting upon the parameters being not to start before August 1 and not to end later than June 3. The board also seemed agreeable to only allow teachers, parents, and staff to vote on the calendars.

The next calendar question to arise asked if the Board might consider doing multiple years of calendars at once. Downs said it was entirely possible to do multiple years and start working on the calendars earlier than January. Planning ahead, Downs said one county plans 3 years out for calendars. Downs added that much of the thought behind starting in January is so that calendar discussions not start without new board members who might be coming in January from elections.

However, Downs recommended that the teams move forward and the board vote on their calendars in March, but consider multiple years as they create the next calendar so that they can have time to create those multi-year calendars.

The Board of Education’s Regular Meeting will be Thursday, February 25, 2021, at 6 p.m. Citizens wishing to comment on the topic at Thursdays Regular Meeting should sign up with the Superintendent by 9 a.m Thursday.