Parents' input to be sought in school surveys

Columbia County school officials set Feb. 12-16 as the dates they will survey the public on a new school calendar in a school board meeting Tuesday.

Officials also unveiled a sample survey to the board.

The three calendar options, approved by the board in November, feature different start dates of Aug. 23, Aug. 15 and Aug. 6. In addition to start dates, the surveys include holiday dates, graduation dates, test dates and "tweaking" questions, said School Superintendent Tommy Price.

Such tweaking questions might include asking survey participants if school should start two days earlier in order to give students an entire week off school for the Thanksgiving holiday instead of the standard three-day vacation.

The survey also will ask demographic questions, such as if the participants have children in Columbia County schools and where their children attend.

"The questions look good," board member Regina Buccafusco said. "I'm sure when the public reads it they'll think of things we didn't think of."

During the survey dates, electronic versions of the survey can be filled out on the school system's Web site at www.ccboe.net. Hard copies of the survey will be available for pick up at any Columbia County school.

"We don't know of any better process of protecting the survey," Price said, expressing concerns that one person might try to turn in multiple surveys.

Board member Roxanne Whitaker said she will hold a town hall meeting at Harlem High School on Feb. 25 where any county resident can fill out the survey and ask questions about its content.

Should the board approve the most popular school calendar chosen in the survey, it would go into effect in the 2007-08 school year.

Also decided at the meeting:

- Starting with the class of 2009, current freshman students must take at least three advanced placement courses to be considered for valedictorian or salutatorian honors. Special consideration will be given to students if their school does not offer three AP courses during their tenure.

- The board approved finishing the third floor of the system's new administration building under construction on Hereford Farm Road. Bids will go out next month and construction on the floor might begin in May.

- School officials announced they earned $16 million in one-cent sales tax funds in 2005, with about 60 percent of it used to pay old debt.