Price evaluation set for May 9

The Columbia County School Board set the date for School Superintendent Tommy Price's annual evaluation in a Tuesday board meeting.

The board will evaluate Price's performance May 9.

Board members said they preferred to hold off on conducting the evaluation until after holding a budget study session at their April 25 meeting in Appling.

In other action at Tuesday's meeting, board members also tentatively approved a calendar for the 2008-09 school year after recently approving a new school calendar for 2007-08.

School begins in 2008 on Aug. 11, the board decided at the meeting.

"I think this mirrors the (2007-08) calendar," Price said.

The mid-August start date is the latest school can begin and still finish the first semester of school prior to Christmas vacation, which is an important consideration for many parents and educators, Price said.

At the previous board meeting, held March 28, the board approved an Aug. 13 start date for the 2007-08 calender.

Initially, the board adopted a calendar with an Aug. 15 start date, which was the most popular calender in a recent survey of Columbia County residents.

The board modified their decision following complaints by principals about losing the fall break. The two days the board gained with their revision were applied to giving teachers a day off in October and adding another day to Christmas break.

Typically, the board sets school calendars three years in advance, school trustee Regina Buccafusco said.

The board might give final approval to the 2008-09 calendar April 28.