Barrow School System to increase length of school year

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Wednesday, January 30. 2013

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Barrow County’s public school students will have a longer school year starting in August. Whether it will be 10 or 20 days longer is up in the air. The Barrow County Board of Education cut the current school year to 160 days in order to save money.

School superintendent Wanda Creel on Tuesday night asked the board to restore half of the cut days for the 2013-1024 school year. She said her preference is for a 170-day calendar that begins Aug. 7 and keeps the full week of Fall Break in October. She asked the BOE to consider adopting the calendar Feb. 4. However, BOE member Rickey Bailey said he would prefer the schools return to a full, 180-day schedule. He said a financial projection presented earlier in the meeting showed a difference of only $250,000 in the cost of a 180-day calendar versus a 170-day calendar.

See complete story in Wednesday's print edition of the Barrow Journal.

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#1 Teacher on 01/30/13 at 06:09 PM [Reply]

Every penny counts. We were just told that we were down to 4 cartons of ink at one of the high schools during a faculty meeting. We were also told at this meeting that the county does not have any order in place for more ink.

As a teacher, I would really appreciate the resources that are essential for me to do a good job because of the out-of-date textbooks that we are provided as well as lack of other materials. I need to make several copies from other, newer edition textbooks, that I acquired because they actually align to the standards for both EOCTs and Common Core assessments so my students can be better prepared.

I do not think that the problem with ink (as well as many more resources) is limited to the school I am in currently. Unless there is a significant rise in revenue that would offset mid-year problems like ink, then decisions like these need to be obvious. Save the ten days and provide us teachers with what we need to help students succeed.

#2 Concerned Citizen on 01/31/13 at 05:38 AM [Reply]

Don't you just love Rickey Bailey's response? "A difference of ONLY $250,000 in the cost of a 180-day calendar versus a 170-day calendar." Really? ONLY $250,000? I'm curious...is that the difference between a 160-day calendar and 170-day calendar as well? If so, that is ONLY half a million dollars! Really! ONLY! I wonder how far ONLY $250,000 would go to purchasing the necessary classroom/school supplies needed? How many math books will $250,000 buy for the high school students without? I would rather my child go to school for 160 days knowing their teachers were provided with the necessary tools needed to properly educate them, than go to school for 10 more days per year in unprepared classrooms because that $250,000 is being spent on operating costs instead of "educating" costs! Really!!

#3 Homeroom Teacher on 01/31/13 at 09:23 AM [Reply]

As a teacher, 160 days is plenty for a school year. I need to have time to travel and relax. There is no more stressing job than teaching and 160 days is enough for one school year.

#3.1 Oh really?!?! on 01/31/13 at 12:00 PM [Reply]

I was an Infantryman in the US Army and was in combat four times from 1996 to 2005. I survived 2 IED explosions as well as more firefights/ambushes that I would care to count and have been awarded two purple hearts along the way. As an assistant platoon Sgt. and full time squad leader my decesions carried real life and death concenquences, sometimes for my own soldiers. So yeah, keep telling yourself that your job is sooooo stressful.

#3.2 Reality on 01/31/13 at 02:58 PM [Reply]

I do hope this post is a joke. 160 or a 170 day work schedule gives a teacher more than half the year off. Not to mention you get paid a full year salary for just under a half year's work. I can think of thousands of jobs that are a heck of a lot more stressful.

#3.2.1 Teach on 01/31/13 at 06:10 PM [Reply]

I am disheartened with both 3 and3.1's posts. I am an educator who does enjoy the breaks. However, I spend the majority of my breaks getting caught up with grading, completing report cards, and preparing for the next school year. Is this truly a break? I love my job and it is my calling in life however stressful it may be. I worry about wether or not I have prepared my kids for the test, are they prepared for the next grade, do they have enough food, etc. Then, I fill guilty that I am short changing my own children. Yes, I do enjoy the breaks, but I also love teaching our future.

On another note, I do want to thank our service men and women for all that you do. I do understand that freedom isn't free. As I keep this in mind, please don't forget what we teachers do in educating our future doctors, presidents, soldiers, astronauts, and yes even educators.

#3.2.1.1 WHAT THE H$%& on 02/01/13 at 07:55 AM [Reply]

You can call it anything you want! A teacher is paid a full year salary for less than a years work!!! (The average teacher salary in Barrow County School District is $45,558.
Grade Level Average 10th percentile 25th percentile Median 75th percentile 90th percentile
Pre-school $22,950 $14,800 $16,410 $20,030 $27,100 $34,470
Kindergarten $43,990 $18,680 $31,840 $46,080 $56,030 $65,500
Elementary $53,450 $37,700 $43,930 $52,780 $62,900 $71,940
Middle school $52,520 $36,760 $43,030 $51,380 $62,050 $71,980
High school $54,880 $37,930 $45,120 $54,980 $64,380 $74,180

Stop whining and go back to work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

#3.2.1.1.1 Anon on 02/01/13 at 08:25 AM [Reply]

Apparently you need to stop whining and go back to your remedial math class. Did you even read comment #3.2.2 or can you just not comprehend it?

#3.2.1.1.1.1 WHAT THE H$% on 02/03/13 at 11:14 AM [Reply]

Moron!!!! You must be a Teacher! No wonder Barrow county is in last place in Education. My mathe is Dead on. NEXT?

#3.2.1.1.1.1.1 Red Ryder on 02/03/13 at 08:19 PM [Reply]

Math? Wrong. Spelling? Wrong.

Teacher salaries are low, based on the responsibilities laid on them. We ask them to educate our children, laying a pathway to employment. It's an important job, with great responsibility, for not a lot of money.

And Barrow isn't in "last place". Where do you get your opinions (because they're not facts).

#3.2.1.1.1.1.1.1 WHAT THE H$%& on 02/03/13 at 11:52 PM [Reply]

You and anon on are both the lowest common denominators! $45.000.00 for less then 6 months work is a full years pay to over 50% of Barrow county! I support our educators in there job. I have 3 friends that teach in the state of Georgia and not one of them is whining about pay. You want to know why? Because they know that there is no other job out here as cushy! THAT WILL PAY A $45000.00 salary for less than a years work!! Call it anything you want !

#3.2.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 anon on 02/04/13 at 12:18 AM [Reply]

Somewhere out there is a tree, tirelessly producing oxygen so you can breathe. I think you owe it an apology.
Pretty sure your teacher friends wouldn't consider their jobs "cushy".
Sounds to me like you are just mad that you didn't choose the "cushy' path in life.

#3.2.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 Sa Vant on 02/04/13 at 11:19 AM [Reply]

As a general rule, education majors are the dumbest students. This is why they choose that major. School teachers, in general, aren't right bright. Going through high school etc., I felt that. But it took a university education to confirm it.

#3.2.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 anon on 02/04/13 at 04:48 PM [Reply]

I'm betting you aren't "right bright" either.

#3.2.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 WHAT THE H$%& on 02/04/13 at 05:00 PM [Reply]

And I am betting you don’t have anything to do! Just sitting home waiting on the mail did you not get your welfare check on Friday?

#3.2.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 anon on 02/04/13 at 05:09 PM [Reply]

Apparently I have as much to do as you.

#3.2.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.2 WHAT THE H$%& on 02/05/13 at 08:21 AM [Reply]

You hit the nail right on its pointy head!!!

#3.2.1.1.1.1.1.2 WHAT THE H$%& on 02/04/13 at 03:47 PM [Reply]

MATH Right!!!!!!!!!!
Grades offered: PK-12

179 West Athens St
Winder, GA 30680-0680
(770) 867-4527
Students: 12703
Elementary Schools: 8
Middle Schools: 4
High Schools: 2
SchoolDigger Georgia District Ranking:

79th (of 164
districts)
Look it up yourself Moron. scooldigger.com
Even a dolt like you should know how!And a type-o in my comments has nothing to do with the truth!

#3.2.1.1.1.1.1.2.1 Red Ryder on 02/04/13 at 08:14 PM [Reply]

Should you like to respond, at least communicate without namecalling. Geez. As far as your correctness, let's see: Your math is incorrect as far as the assumption that it's a full year's pay for a not-full year's work. It appears teachers are paid for the work they do, not for they work they don't do.

The other issue is your claim above that Barrow was in "last place". You should acknowledge the fact that, based on your research, Barrow is 79th of 164 districts, which is obviously not last, as you claimed, but above the 50% range. I may be a dolt, but you're the one that's wrong.

#3.2.1.1.1.1.2 anon on 02/03/13 at 10:09 PM [Reply]

Hmmmmm..........To quote the famous words of John Wayne, "Life is hard. It's even harder when you're stupid." I'll give you a condensed version of remedial "mathe" class: You can thank me later. Teachers are salaried employees whose contracts are typically 190 days. Then the salary is divided by 12 months. Are you with me? They get paid for the 190 days they work, not for those long, leisurely summers they spend by the pool sipping on their drinks and basking in the sun. Nor do they get paid for the countless hours they spend EVERY night grading papers or planning lessons. Let's don't talk about the hours spent on weekends, too. Now, let's review: 190 days salary DIVIDED BY 12 months. Seeing as I saved you the time and trouble of taking your remedial "mathe", you're own your own as far as remedial spelling.
Oh and by the way, I'm not a teacher.

#3.2.1.1.1.1.2.1 anon on 02/03/13 at 10:14 PM [Reply]

Correction: on your own

#3.2.2 anon on 01/31/13 at 08:43 PM [Reply]

Here we go again.

Teachers do not get paid for the time they are not in the classroom. The contract is for 190 days... teachers get paid for 190 days of work. Yes, they get a paycheck in the summer when they aren't working, but that's because their 190 days of work is divided by 12 months.

#4 sovrncitzn on 02/01/13 at 06:26 AM [Reply]

Great more brainwashing time in the state reeducation center. Now we are going to have to double down to unlearn the propaganda our children are forced to swallow.

#4.1 Lisa on 02/05/13 at 09:33 AM [Reply]

You know if you despise the state school system there is always private school your more than welcome to pay for. Before you respond yes I know you pay taxes for the state school system you can just pitch in and pay more for a private school. Where your little Mary or David which ever the case may be can be taught the same lessons as they teach in the state schools. Or better yet home school them.

#4.1.1 WHAT THE H$%& on 02/05/13 at 10:34 AM [Reply]

Hardly the case! Privet school doesn’t teach all the liberal crap our kids learn in public schools!

#4.1.1.1 Lisa on 02/05/13 at 10:52 AM [Reply]

My husband went to private schools and his mother was a teacher in the public school system and the same things were taught. Now this was back in the 70's but the teaching were the same then. The only reason he went to private school was that he was a Juvenal diabetic and the school systems in those days could not deal with it. It's also not the states job to educate your children. You do have other choices. I have friends and family that go the private, public and home school route. All I am saying is if you don't like the public schools you do have other choices.

#5 Anon on 02/05/13 at 11:05 AM [Reply]

Dear What the H$%&,
Please share some personal examples of the liberal crap that children are learning in public school, as opposed to "privet" school. No cutting and pasting. Seriously, back up your accusations with FACTS that you have experienced. No need for another hissy-fit or any name-calling.
Waiting patiently.....

#5.1 WHAT THE H$%& on 02/05/13 at 12:07 PM [Reply]

Try holding your breath. Don’t want to overwork that tree!After all it only gets paid for the days it works. Unlike you get a job!

#6 Anon on 02/05/13 at 12:57 PM [Reply]

Tsk, tsk...... Precisely what I thought! No examples, nothing to back up your nonsensical drivel. What on Earth would make you think I don't have a job? Such assumptions! You know what they say about assuming........

#6.1 WHAT THE H$%& on 02/05/13 at 01:17 PM [Reply]

What makes me think you don’t have a job! It is the size of your nose it is so far up my business I can’t tell if I need to go or what! Stop over tasking the tree! You make me tired!

#6.1.1 Anon on 02/05/13 at 01:33 PM [Reply]

LOL....I love it! You can quit waving your white flag. We all know you came to this "battle of wits" unarmed. Spouting garbage, cutting and pasting and (gasp!) when someone calls you out and asks you to back it up with facts/examples, you are left standing there looking like the fool you are. I've truly enjoyed sparring with you, but I must get back to waiting for my welfare check to arrive. TTFN!

#6.1.1.1 WHAT THE H$%& on 02/05/13 at 02:05 PM [Reply]

It must be nice to bask in the artificial light inside your closet! You have not a clue!

#7 Parent on 02/05/13 at 02:05 PM [Reply]

Let's hope that whatever is decided, it won't change again without any notification to parents prior to the start of the school year.
In the spring of 2011, I planned a wedding thinking the following school calendar was DEFINITE and SET to find out they cut the full week of Fall Break.

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Barrow School System to increase length of school year

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