Fulton County Students Will Have Longer Days in 2010

Fulton County students will have an additional 10 minutes added to their school days next year when five half-days are eliminated, resulting in a 177 day calendar for the 2010-2011 school year.

The shorter calendar year will result in $1.1 million in annual savings!

New guidelines allow schools to deviate from the standard 180-day calendar as long as there is no reduction in instructional hours, and there is an 8.85 hour increase in the new calendar year.

In order to reduce the days in the calendar year, the school system has eliminated 5 half days. Although these half days have been eliminated and these days are typically used for teacher meetings and trainings, the staff will still continue to receive both before the school year on scheduled work days.

Critics of this change make a very valid point: Although class days are extended 10 minutes each day, it will not amount to much extra quality learning time as each class period is extended only one to two minutes.

Regardless, the board voted 5-1 to approve the new calendar.

The Fulton County Board of Education was presented with two options for the 177 day calendar. The calendar the board voted against would have students beginning school on August 16th. The board was not presented with a 180 day calendar to vote on.

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