By Beth Christian Broschart
The Parsons Advocate
PARSONS – Tucker County BOE members hosted a public meeting Monday to gather public comments regarding the 2016 to 2017 school calendar. Harry Poling, director of transportation for Tucker County Schools, said he could only speak on the part of transportation.
“Last year we had nine drivers off (during Thanksgiving break) and five that would drive,” Poling said. “I had one sub that would drive that week out of all my subs. It does make it tough to get the kids in without drivers.”
Poling said another thing to consider when setting Thanksgiving break is the first day of deer season is a dangerous time for kids to be out.
“A lot of people schedule their break or vacation at that time,” he said. “I just wanted to tell you that is what went on last year.”
Tucker County BOE President Janet Preston said the next step in setting the calendar will come at the next BOE meeting. She said at that meeting, Tucker County School Superintendent Dr. Eddie Campbell will present the BOE with a recommended calendar based on the public survey, the survey of instructors and the survey of students.
“Once the board approves the 2016 to 2017 school calendar, we will submit it to the state,” Campbell said.
BOE member Judy Fairbanks asked Campbell if he looked at the bus driver’s concerns about the week-long Thanksgiving break.
“I think it was well documented in the survey we took that overwhelmingly, most people flip flopped on the Thanksgiving holiday this year,” Campbell said. “I think that was a result of the failed experiment this year with trying to shorten the Thanksgiving holiday.”
Campbell said even with the week-long Thanksgiving break, he can work the calendar so the first semester ends prior to the Christmas break.
“But that failed experiment was due to the public demand,” BOE member Kevin White said. “We only did what the public requested.”
“Yes,” Campbell said. “Last year was the exact opposite. We had more than 1,000 respondents and the majority suggested we not take the entire week off during Thanksgiving. We built that into the calendar as an experiment and it did not work.”
When closing the public hearing, Preston said the meeting was held at 6 p.m. to make it more accessible to anyone who had problems coming to the prior meeting which was held at 4:30 p.m.