I like it. Two weeks is plenty of off time in the Summer. I'm looking forward to the September break already. Longer hoiliday breaks are good too. I really don't understand what people are freaking out about.

The majority of parents think this plan stinks. Take a poll of parents in Cobb County right now and you will find that the Balanced Calendar would be revoked in a heartbeat if their vote counted. Apparently there is a petition going around to protest. I wrote David Banks as well as many other moms and dads to ask him not to vote for the Balanced Calendar. I support the calendar to start school the second week of Aug., have a winter break in Feb. and end school the Friday before Memorial Day (ending school a week later than the current calendar). David Banks' newsletter said he has made the assumption that 90% of parents approve the balanced calendar. He must have dreamed that in his sleep. Goodbye, Mr. Banks, because you won't be re-elected to the school board. Enjoy your one term! And enjoy reading the thousands of names that will be on the petition that will be coming across your desk soon!
And to the writers who think think that planting a students bottom at a desk on Aug. 1st is going to make him smarter---that is delusional. The only thing making a kid smarter is a family's dedication to their child and supporting the teachers who educate students. Teachers have to endure so much nonsense from arrogant parents, indifferent parents, crazy parents and that in turn effects the child's ability to learn. People need to get back to basics and pull themselves out of their self-centered world and indulgences and make their kids a priority. Of course, that would be too old fashioned for some! But believe me, making a kid go to school a week earlier in the summer, barely getting curriculum introduced in August and then giving a child the week off in Sept. is NOT going to make anyone smarter!! Quit depending on the government to come up with solutions to make our kids smarter and more respectful towards teachers and education! That is all done in the home, my friends! Personal responsibility is the only thing that will save us! My one child has a learning issue and we hire tutors, meet with teachers and talk to the school all the time to make sure he is on track. Takes a lot of time but we do it because it is our job as parents to make sure his needs are being met! And educators respond positively to us on a consistent basis! We love our teachers and schools and support all they do!

Your opinion was asked on the Cobb County School District Website. They posted all the calendar options and who your school board representative was along with an e-mail so you could let them know your opinion on the calendars. Maybe you want to start visting the website so you can be up to date on what is going on.

I would like to clear up some things that I have read, which I laugh hysterically at because people are so self absorbed they can't see clearly and make ridiculous comments.
1.) Teachers don't get "paid vacations" We are 190 day employees, at least in Cobb, and are PAID for that. That just means 190 days pay divided over 12 months. You can do that math, right?
2.) Since when are teachers not also tax payers? One comment below by Gregg Leng says, "Why is it that the opinion of the School Teachers carries more weight than that of the tax paying parents who pay their salaries? " You really are selfish, you know that? How dare you think you are an almighty taxpayer god who has all the say in everything and that you are the only one that matter. If you really wanted to be asked, be proactive and check on the Cobb County website, since the bulletin about the calendar has been up FOR A LONG TIME. If you are so concerned as a parent, check it once in a while instead of whining later on.
I love teaching, I just hate this nonsense from whiny people who CHOOSE not to be proactive. It is very frustrating that people are saying,"Oh no, not my vacation time." Do you know how many students I have had that have gone on a vacation in September and pulled their children out of school? You might be appalled! My parents NEVER did this when I was younger, and that is because they cared about me and my future. I had awesome parents then, and they are still awesome now, because they taught me to DO SOMETHING AND QUIT COMPLAINING. Maybe if we had a few more people that did a little less complaining, and a little more working for the FUTURE generation, we can actually turn this generation of childen around.
By the way, if you want to think about something to REALLY be upset about, visit this: http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/iraq_casualties.htm. And we are concerned with changing a calendar....

I understand that you feel that my comments are out of line- but I speak also as a person, my role as teacher does not define my whole identity - nor does my political ideology. If you were in the position, I feel that you would actually be disgusted with educational policy and theory. Obviously, what I have said does not apply to everyone, but a point must be made - our kids will not be competitive in the global market. Calendars are not the issue - our culture does NOT VALUE education, and DOES treat it like daycare. India and China shall surpass our nation in both number of English speakers and number of successful math and science students. We dumb down curriculum and "have some place for the kids to go for the day", and my frustration stems from the fact that education truly is undervalued by students and parents alike (and over worshipped by some politicians). I love my job - and so many of my students are good kids who I adore, but understand - my frustration lies with government and those parents who really don't care (some of the comments here are outrageous - it's not about vacation and there has been research into this issue). They need to be addressed. Soft words make hard people. Hard words make soft people - and either we will avoid telling it like it is, or we will confront the issue and get someone's attention (finally). I have no problem with my school - liberal government I do, but my principal is great, so are our assistant principals. I speak on the whole, and there are some exceptions, there is good.

I wish my county would get a balanced calendar. The students like it, the teachers like it. The students get to catch up. I may have your student in my class. :) I also work in a fringe (a county outside of the major metro), and parents are a different breed out here. Until you see the reality, I think you are misunderstanding the way that I feel - I love teaching, but it's hard when no one turns in work (which, I need SOMETHING to grade) and I have parents email me THE night before a test saying that their child doesn't understand (we've been covering the material over 3 weeks). Believe me, my issue isn't with students or teaching, it's with ignorant people who do nothing about their ignorance, then complain. Didn't mean to offend, just meaning to be real. Of course, my previous comments are not a reflection of how I feel about everyone, just some people who feel that government takes the kids so that the household can have more income or that the purpose is to babysit. Teachers, by the way, pay taxes as well; so do administrators; so do board members. Everyone has the right to an opinion.

I happen to think the balanced calendar is a good idea. I think the children need to have more time in the classroom learning and I think this schedule will indeed give them and the teachers a better balance of time in class and time off. The type of people I think they need to be in the classroom with being taught by though should not be like you. You need to find another line of work. You're comments are totally out of line and a teachers job is to teach all of the students. It would be helpful if all parents were involved in their childrens lives, as the child didn't ask to be brought into this world. The real truth is that all parents aren't involved and some just really don't care. You decided to become a teacher and I think a teacher should show a little class in not only their work ethic and behavior but also in the way their express themselves and by reading your comments you have no class. I would not like to be the parent of a student who has you for a teacher. If you are so confident about your comments why don't you let us know the school where you teach so we can contact your boss to discuss your situation. You really need a new line of work or a total attitude adjustment.

If the FREE transportation (to a FREE education) isn't good enough for you, take more responsibility and drive your kids yourself to school!!!

“Balanced calendar”????????
there is nothing balanced about it making our kids go to school in biggest heat when usual day hits 90-100 degrees in Atlanta,with no AC on the bus for so many hours while riging on the bus road. And then parents trying to figure out what to do all these brakes in between ( total of 28 days)trying to keep kids on board. Who has 30 days paid vacation? - not here may be in Europe..It all about money of course not about our kids. If it was about them They will let them have nice and long summer to rest and relax . They are claiming they have asked the teachers< may be they have but the teachers don’t care any way they are on pay all year around and having longer paid vacation or more vacations throughout the year doesn’t make difference. What about the parents?? As far as I know we are the ONE providing money for the whole system without tax bills and $$$ We should be considered in these important decisions. Don’t you think???

Can't say I am surprised by this, but still unhappy. We contact David Banks more than once regarding this schedule and he pretty much was hell bent on doing what HE wanted, not the tax payers. DISGUSTING. Can't wait for the 2012 elections for now one more reason.

Well..any of you who are complaining could have gone to the board meetings and expressed your opinion. Don't blame the teachers and administrators when you lack the motivation to find out when the meetings are, go, and express your opinion. Furthermore, as a resident and graduate of Cobb County who now teaches in a county which uses the "balanced calendar", I can tell you that the calendar is very beneficial. The students only start ONE WEEK earlier (if that ruins your summer vacation plans..maybe you should just plan them a little earlier), and they get quick breaks during months that they traditionally would NOT get breaks. It cuts down on student stress, teacher stress, and, consequently, classroom behavioral issues. A great deal of research has gone into the relative pros and cons of all the different types of calendars, and the "balanced" calendar has many benefits over the others (including in terms of behavior, retention of materials, and general achievement). There are many more problems with out current educational system which could be addressed with equal fervor which would result in a more worthwhile end than "Oh no! I had to plan my vacation earlier! What happened to that week of summer?"

I laugh about this as a teacher. Parents are angry because they have to provide for their children? Are you serious? It's not the government's job to raise YOUR child. Since the burden has been placed on teachers to rear children, I need a vacation from your dumbass kid(s) who can't read. School is education, NOT daycare. Unless you want to pay higher taxes, DEAL. I'm tired of parents complaining when they had the kids in the first place. The role of government is not to do YOUR job. I have to have some sanity - and, it's not vacation for us - it's intercession (i.e., your kid makes up the work that they were too lazy to do in the first place). It gives failing students who have uninvolved parents (or parents who don't step in till the last minute) the opportunity to catch up. Welcome to education - you've elected your choice. Now you must live with it.

cherokee county schools has been doing this for years. every 6 weeks progress reports are sent home anyway, and so every 6 weeks, the students would get a week off. to the lazy mother who worries about the 'extra vacation time', the students are not gaining more vacation, or losing more school time, the days off are just being re-arranged, and her daycare and summer camp expenses would remain the same. kids and teachers need a break and often come back quite refreshed after the time off. Cherokee county school district has become one of the leading districts in the state with the balance schedule.

Wow, more vacation around summer, Thanksgiving break and Christmas break. Is our children learning. Stupid is as stupid does. More hours and more days IN school MIGHT help, not less or "balanced" days in mediocre Southern Schools.

As a working parent, this helps me how? Now I have 3 additional weeks of expenses putting my kids in camps and/or trying to find something for them to do.

I would like to see how the board voted on this one. It seems if they wanted to save money, they would lengthen the school day and shorten the calendar. Instead, they will spend more money to air condition the schools in August and will spend more on fuel for buses.

Actually, past time.

Start right after Labor Day and end in mid-June. July and August are traditional summer months. And I never understood how August could be rationalized, given that's one of the hottest months we have, and a/c would need to be run non-stop.

Why is it that the opinion of the School Teachers carries more weight than that of the tax paying parents who pay their salaries? I do not recall being asked for my opinion on the matter.