Split School Board Holds Off on Proposed Calendar Changes

The Henry County school board held off on making proposed changes to the district calendar. This came after board members were split whether to add more early release days.

The school board will revisit the topic at their May 8 meeting. They will also consider final adoption of the budget that night.

Proposed Calendar Changes

District staff have proposed changes to the school year calendar. The changes would incorporate an early release date each month. This amounts to nine early release days during the year. The district is proposing the change to increase teacher planning time. The superintendent’s teacher advisory group supports the proposed calendar changes.

The district placed the changes out for public review between the March and April board meetings. Out of fifty-six comments received, about thirty-five were in opposition to the revisions. The proposed changes affect the 2023–24 and 2024–25 school years.

Board Member Feedback

Board members were divided whether to approve the new calendars. Each member had different reasons for supporting or opposing the change. Each member offered the following:

• Pam Nutt – opposed, in favor of full days off instead. Shared she finds early release days to be ineffective.
• Annette Edwards – opposed, based on parent feedback about the proposal.
• Holly Cobb – in support, based on the teacher’s advisory group recommendation and support for more planning time.
• Sophe Pope – in support, because an early release day allows students to receive breakfast and lunch. In addition, bus drivers and other hourly staff are still able to work.
• McKenzie McDaniel – opposed, following parent and public feedback against the changes.

All board members expressed support for giving teachers more planning time. The difference occurred whether the board should add early release days or full days off to best facilitate it.

Sophe Pope offered the motion to table the item following board comments. The school district will revisit the topic in May.

Featured image shows Henry County Schools logo. HCS photo.