School board set to vote on calendar change for 2021-22 academic year, sticking with four-day week for students

End of Course Testing results weight lowering requested for one-year waiver; Board honored by GSBA with Exemplary award

The Polk County Board of Education will decide during their January 12 meeting whether they’ll approve a change to the 2021-22 academic calendar to ensure that no matter what happens through the year, students and educators alike can figure out what their year will look like well ahead of time for planning purposes.

Superintendent Laurie Atkins told board members the request to continue into the coming academic year from August 2021 to May 2022 with a four-day week for students and a five-day week for educators will have benefits for all, especially during a time when COVID-19 remains a threat to the community, even with lower numbers within the district compared to the rest of the community.

The main benefit will be allowing teachers to have an extra day to plan for classes during the week and offers the opportunity for cleaning crews to thoroughly sanitize school campuses across the county without issue.

Board members were presented a new calendar for the 2021-22 school year to consider.

Atkins quelled any concerns about any missed time in the classroom, explaining that the minimum number of hours in the classroom required by the state remains well above where the district sat prior to the COVID-19 crisis. Students will still receive an additional 46 hours of education above and beyond the minimum hours mandated by the state, Atkins said.

One additional request that will impact students this year – and only this year – will be decided on January 12 as well. Atkins presented a brief request pushed down for Board approval of a one-time, this year only waiver sought to decrease the weight of an End of Course Test from 20% to 1%.

Board members did ask what other districts are doing around the state, and Atkins explained that this state request is being followed by school boards across Georgia as part of measures meant to adjust to the conditions caused by COVID-19.

Some good news from the meeting from the state level is a new trophy presented to Board Members for their hard work that received a standing ovation from attendees at the January 5 work session. The Georgia School Board Association rewarded the Polk County Board of Education for achieving a Exemplary Board status.

Among some of the routine matters facing the board was election of a chair and vice chair. Board member J.P. Foster will remain the chair this year, and Vicki Mayes was elected to serve as Vice Chair.