Published: April 10, 2008 08:47 am      

Garrett school board approves calendar that puts students back in classrooms before Labor Day

Business community had lobbied for post-holiday start

OAKLAND — In a close vote Tuesday, the Garrett County Board of Education approved a school calendar that will begin before Labor Day.

“Although we all work hard to bring instruction into June, it’s certainly less productive than instruction earlier in the year,” Wendell Teets, school superintendent, said. “I am very sensitive to the business community. Our first obligation is to do what’s best for instruction and do what’s best for the kids.”

The decision was a 3-2 vote in favor of the earlier class schedule that would have students starting school on the Tuesday before Labor Day. With the four members tied in the vote, Board President Jim Raley cast his vote in favor of the earlier calendar.

Teets said that next year would be crucial for students, as the high school assessment tests were going to be required for graduation for next year’s seniors. He also added that while it was quite possible the time would come when no school system in Maryland was making adequate yearly progress, but as Garrett County is currently one of three counties in the state achieving the goal, the county had to continue to strive for it.

“I’m going to go against the tide,” Thomas Carr, board member, said. “Right now, we’re facing the tyranny of the testing, and every decision is being based on that. We’re giving tests, giving tests to get ready for tests. We have to stop and think, is all of this necessary?”

Carr also said that he felt that there shouldn’t be an emphasis that learning “stops on the first of June.”

Teets said that in talking with educators and administrators, classroom time has been most effective earlier in the year than later.

Charlie Ross, president of the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce, said that he felt the area had a “unique character” as a resort community, and that he felt the business community and educators would need to work together for the benefit of both.

He also added that business fluctuates during the months of June and July, but said that the Labor Day weekend was “decisive.” He added that the first two months, even with the current calendar are ones of growth and if asked to trade having high school employees during the first two weeks of June or up until the Labor Day weekend, most businesses would choose the latter.

“Keep us in mind in the future,” Ross said. “I know this is a difficult move.”

Raley said that the calendar decision next year could be more difficult as Labor Day falls on Sept. 7, 2009, and could greatly delay the school calendar.

Contact Sarah Moses at smoses@times-news.com.