Kicking off the new year with Richmond County School System’s first committee meeting of 2024, members of the Board of Education met on Tuesday evening, Jan. 16, to discuss a number of topics – including the consideration of a new school calendar schedule for 2025-26.
Drawing heavy inspiration from South Carolina’s Edgefield and Aiken County, Associate Superintendent of Academic Services Malinda Cobb presented two calendars to the board – a possible year-round school schedule and the county’s more traditional calendar.
Some of the changes to a year-round calendar would include: fall break being extended to 10 days, Thanksgiving break decreasing from 5 days to 3, and decreasing summer break from 10 weeks to 7.5 weeks.
However, the new schedule would incorporate half semester check-in points and incentives, which will be known as intercession days, to encourage students to keep their grades high, according to Cobb.
Week-long intercession days, Cobb said, will give the county an opportunity to provide additional intervention and enrichment to K-12 students during learning, at the midpoint of each semester.
“That means any student who is not where they need to be at that mid-point in the semester would be brought in [during the break],” she said. “That means we would be providing transportation and school nutrition to students, but if your grades are where they need to be you would have the full two-week break.”
Talking with other schools “across the river,” who have incorporated intercession weeks into the school schedule, Cobb said staff reported students often worked quickly to improve their grades prior to each break to ensure they were able to enjoy the allotted time off from school.
Some teachers would also be brought in to work during the break in order to teach students in need – increasing their 180-190 day work schedule to a possible 200 day work schedule.
If the year-round calendar is approved by the public and passed by the board, Cobb said discussions regarding teacher pay for working during intercession days would need to be voted on at a later time.
“If you think about what you’re doing, you’re giving some of your summertime to those mid-semester breaks,” Cobb said. “It’s the same amount of time in school, but it’s spread out. Personally, I think there are strengths in both calendars.”
Cobb also mentioned how an online survey will be sent out to Richmond County School System families, staff and students via text and email and to gain insight into the public’s thoughts prior to the board voting on which calendar to follow in the 2025-26 school year.
Originally allowing the public to comment and vote until Jan. 31, board member Venus Cain requested Cobb extend the voting period to the end of February to ensure parents and other community members were properly informed of the survey and possible schedule change.
After Cobb’s agreement to Cain’s request of extending the data collection period, several board members shared their opinion and concerns with the possible calendar change.
“I see pros and cons with both,” said Cain. “One of the things I like with the [new calendar] is it probably would help with teacher burnout and give them the opportunity to regroup.”
With the estimated additional teacher pay, transportation and cafeteria employees needed for the year-round calendar, board member Jimmy Atkins said his biggest concern involved a possible long term impact on the school system’s budget.
“I definitely think [the year-round calendar] has some things to be considered that would be beneficial for our students,” he said. “… and I would like to see a rough budget to make sure that we are not crippling a board down the road, because we never know down the road where our finances are going to be.”
Atkins also expressed his concern at eliminating the school schedule’s Masters’ Monday as many county residents rent out their property, while students and staff work the event.
Cobb said it was possible Masters’ Monday could be reincorporated if the board and public agreed on its importance.
While President Charlie Walker said he did not want to give an opinion until public feedback was collected, member Wayne Frazier said he is favorable towards the year-round calendar based on his exposure to other countries who have followed a longer school calendar for many years.
“Those countries that I’ve visited academically perform at a higher rate than the United States, so that says something about year-round school to me,” he said. “That’s why I’m in favor.”
Members Patsy Scott, Helen Minchew, Cain and board Vice-President Shawnda Griffin ended discussion of the calendars by emphasizing their wish to see heavy public input and voting on the school system’s survey.
Following the collection and analysis of public input and feedback from the online survey, each calendar will be further discussed during the board’s regular session in March.
For further information on the calendar change, visit: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/meetings/TempFolder/Meetings/Academic%20Calendar%20Presentation%201.16.24_1604950a1lwuetyfd4gft1afahvwinn.pdf
To vote on the two calendars and give feedback, visit: https://forms.gle/Xs4w8MwyRi7J3k8L6
Liz Wright is a staff writer covering education, lifestyle and general assignments for The Augusta Press. Reach her at liz@theaugustapress.com
