HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 02-19-2019 4-b - Resolution Supporting Local Control of School Calendars 1
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: February 19, 2019
Action Agenda
Item No. 4-b
SUBJECT: Resolution Supporting Local Control of School Calendars
DEPARTMENT: County Manager
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Bonnie Hammersley, 245-2300
1) January 14, 2019 Orange County
Schools Board of Education
Resolution Supporting Local Control
of School Calendars
2) January 24, 2019 Chapel Hill
Carrboro City Schools Board of
Education Resolution Supporting
Local Control of School Calenda
3) Draft Resolution Supporting Local
Control of School Calendars
PURPOSE: To consider a resolution expressing support for local boards of education and the
restoration of local control of school calendars.
BACKGROUND: Until 2003, local boards of education in North Carolina established calendars
for their respective school years. In 2004 the North Carolina General Assembly seized control
of setting school calendars and imposed a one-size-fits-all mandate on how school calendars
are to be set. It was stated at the time that the goal was to provide uniformity across the state
as well as enhance North Carolina's tourism business.
The current one-size-fits-all school calendar start date is no earlier than the Monday closest to
August 26 and the end date is no later than the Friday closest to June 11. This means high
schools do not complete the first semester until mid to late January, and requires high school
students to take first semester exams after the winter break, which negatively impacts test
scores.
The parameters of the calendar also makes it nearly impossible for high school students or
recent winter graduates to take courses at a nearby community college or university during the
second semester, with the second semester for high schools starting two to three weeks later
than community colleges and universities.
The current calendar structure also results in longer summers, contributing to more "summer
learning loss" for students, which has a disproportionate impact on low-income children, and
negatively impact child nutrition, as low-income children who have access to regular meals at
school through the free and reduced priced meal program may not have access to regular
meals at home.
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The Orange County Schools Board of Education adopted the resolution provided at Attachment
1 requesting that the Board of Commissioners adopt a resolution in support of the restoration of
local control of school calendars. The Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools Board of Education
adopted the resolution provided at Attachment 2 requesting that the Board of Commissioners
adopt a resolution in support of the restoration of local control of school calendars. A draft
resolution for BOCC consideration is provided at Attachment 3.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with consideration of the
resolution.
SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: The following Orange County Social Justice Goal is applicable to
this item:
• GOAL: FOSTER A COMMUNITY CULTURE THAT REJECTS OPPRESSION AND
INEQUITY
The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race or color;
religious or philosophical beliefs; sex, gender or sexual orientation; national origin or
ethnic background; age; military service; disability; and familial, residential or economic
status.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board consider adoption of the
draft resolution provided at Attachment 3, and if adopted authorize the Chair to sign the
resolution.
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Orange County Schools
BOARD OF EDUCATION
RESOLUTION SUPPORTING LOCAL CONTROL OF SCHOOL
CALENDARS
WHEREAS,the North Carolina General Statutes give local boards of education powers of
supervision and control of local school systems; and
WHEREAS, local control over establishing school calendars is an integral component of school
system supervision and administrative powers with which local boards of education have been
vested; and
WHEREAS, in 2004 the North Carolina General Assembly seized control of setting school calendars
and imposed a one-size-fits-all mandate on how school calendars are to be set; and
WHEREAS,the current one-size-fits-all school calendar start date is no earlier than the Monday
closest to August 26 and the end date is no later than the Friday closest to June 11; and
WHEREAS,the State mandated late August start date means high schools do not complete the first
semester until mid to late January; and
WHEREAS,the current law essentially requires high school students to take first semester exams
after the winter break,which negatively impacts test scores, according to students and educators; and
WHEREAS,the second semester for high schools starts two to three weeks later than community
colleges and universities; and
WHEREAS, superintendents report that the calendar misalignment makes it nearly impossible for
high school students or recent winter graduates to take courses at a nearby community college or
university during the second semester; and
WHEREAS, exams for Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate classes are given on the
same day nationwide, and the current calendar law shortens the amount of time North Carolina's
students have to learn the material before test day; and
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WHEREAS, it is well-documented through multiple studies that children will experience a
phenomenon known as summer learning loss,which has a disproportionate impact on low-income
children; and
WHEREAS, long summer breaks can also negatively impact child nutrition, as low-income children
who have access to regular meals at school through the free and reduced priced meal program may
not have access to regular meals at home; and
WHEREAS,with little flexibility built in to the calendar, scheduling make-up days is extremely
challenging; and
WHEREAS,major hurricanes and severe winter snow storms have caused Orange County Schools to
miss 17 school days over the past three years; and
WHEREAS, Orange County Schools was only able to make up 12 missed days over the past three
years
WHEREAS, fall sports and band begin August 1, schedules for extracurriculars have not changed to
coincide with the State-mandated school calendar; and
WHEREAS,local boards of education are best equipped to understand the balancing act of meeting
the community's needs and maximizing student success; and
WHEREAS,restoring local control of school calendars will allow local boards of education to best
meet the calendar preferences of the families,educators, and businesses in our community while
allowing for innovative experimental approaches to improve student achievement.
THEREFORE,be it resolved that the Orange County Schools Board of Education requests that the
Orange County Board of County Commissioners pass a resolution in support of calendar flexibility.
Adopted by the Orange County Schools Board of Education this 14th day of January, 2019.
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Brenda Stephens, Chair Dr. Todd Wirt, Superintendent
Board of Education Orange County Schools
ORO
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Est.1909 S
CHAPEL HILL-CARRBORO CITY SCHOOLS BOARD OF EDUCATION
RESOLUTION SUPPORTING LOCAL CONTROL OF SCHOOL
CALENDARS
WHEREAS,the North Carolina General Statutes give local boards of education powers of
supervision and control of local school systems; and
WHEREAS, local control over establishing school calendars is an integral component of school
system supervision and administrative powers with which local boards of education have been
vested; and
WHEREAS, in 2004 the North Carolina General Assembly seized control of setting school calendars
and imposed a one-size-fits-all mandate on how school calendars are to be set; and
WHEREAS,the current one-size-fits-all school calendar start date is no earlier than the Monday
closest to August 26 and the end date is no later than the Friday closest to June 11; and
WHEREAS,the State mandated late August start date means high schools do not complete the first
semester until mid-to late-January; and
WHEREAS,the current law essentially requires high school students to take first semester exams
after the winter break,which negatively impacts test scores, according to students and educators; and
WHEREAS,the second semester for high schools starts two to three weeks later than community
colleges and universities; and
WHEREAS, superintendents report that the calendar misalignment makes it nearly impossible for
high school students or recent winter graduates to take courses at a nearby community college or
university during the second semester; and
WHEREAS, exams for Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate classes are given on the
same day nationwide, and the current calendar law shortens the amount of time North Carolina's
students have to learn the material before test day; and
WHEREAS, it is well-documented through multiple studies that children will experience a
phenomenon known as summer learning loss,which has a disproportionate impact on low-income
children; and
WHEREAS, long summer breaks can also negatively impact child nutrition, as low-income children
who have access to regular meals at school through the free and reduced priced meal program may
not have access to regular meals at home; and
WHEREAS,with little flexibility built in to the calendar, scheduling make-up days is extremely
challenging; and
WHEREAS, major hurricanes and severe winter snow storms have caused Chapel Hill-Carrboro City
Schools to miss 16 school days over the past three years; and
WHEREAS, fall sports and band begin August 1, schedules for extra-curriculars have not changed to
coincide with the State-mandated school calendar; and
WHEREAS, local boards of education are best equipped to understand the balancing act of meeting
the community's needs and maximizing student success; and
WHEREAS,restoring local control of school calendars will allow local boards of education to best
meet the calendar needs of the families, educators, and businesses in our community while allowing
for innovative experimental approaches to improve student achievement.
THEREFORE,be it resolved that the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education
requests that the Orange County Board of County Commissioners pass a resolution in support of
calendar flexibility.
Adopted by the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education this 24th day of January,
2019.
Margaret Samuels, Chair Dr. Pam Baldwin, Superintendent
Board of Education Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools
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RES-2019-009 DRAFT Attachment 3
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
RESOLUTION SUPPORTING LOCAL CONTROL OF SCHOOL
CALENDARS
WHEREAS, the North Carolina General Statutes give local boards of education powers
of supervision and control of local school systems; and
WHEREAS, local control over establishing school calendars is an integral component of
school system supervision and administrative powers with which local boards of education have
been vested; and
WHEREAS, in 2004 the North Carolina General Assembly seized control of setting
school calendars and imposed a one-size-fits-all mandate on how school calendars are to be set;
and
WHEREAS, the current one-size-fits-all school calendar start date is no earlier than the
Monday closest to August 26 and the end date is no later than the Friday closest to June 11; and
WHEREAS, the State mandated late August start date means high schools do not
complete the first semester until mid to late January; and
WHEREAS, the current law essentially requires high school students to take first
semester exams after the winter break, which negatively impacts test scores, according to
students and educators; and
WHEREAS, the second semester for high schools starts two to three weeks later than
community colleges and universities; and
WHEREAS, superintendents report that the calendar misalignment makes it nearly
impossible for high school students or recent winter graduates to take courses at a nearby
community college or university during the second semester; and
WHEREAS, exams for Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate classes are
given on the same day nationwide, and the current calendar law shortens the amount of time
North Carolina's students have to learn the material before test day; and
WHEREAS, it is well-documented through multiple studies that children will experience
a phenomenon known as summer learning loss, which has a disproportionate impact on low-
income children; and
WHEREAS, long summer breaks can also negatively impact child nutrition, as low-
income children who have access to regular meals at school through the free and reduced priced
meal program may not have access to regular meals at home; and
8
WHEREAS, with little flexibility built in to the calendar, scheduling make-up days is
extremely challenging; and
WHEREAS, major hurricanes and severe winter snow storms have caused Orange
County Schools to miss 17 school days over the past three years; and
WHEREAS, major hurricanes and severe winter snow storms have caused Chapel Hill
Carrboro City Schools to miss 16 school days over the past three years; and
WHEREAS, fall sports and band begin August 1, schedules for extracurriculars have not
changed to coincide with the State-mandated school calendar; and
WHEREAS, local boards of education are best equipped to understand the balancing act
of meeting the community's needs and maximizing student success; and
WHEREAS, restoring local control of school calendars will allow local boards of
education to best meet the calendar preferences of the families, educators, and businesses in our
community while allowing for innovative experimental approaches to improve student
achievement.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of
Commissioners expresses its support for local boards of education and the restoration of local
control of school calendars and requests that the North Carolina General Assembly and Governor
Roy Cooper adopt and ratify legislation returning school calendar responsibility to local school
boards of education.
This the 19th day of February, 2019.
Penny Rich, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners
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