Survey to go out on modified school calendar question

The opinion of Oconee public school parents and district employees will be sampled in a survey this month to gauge the sentiment on something that causes division over school calendars. At the request of the county’s parent advisory group, according to associate superintendent Steve Hanvey, parents and district employees will be asked to weigh in on whether the district should follow a modified school calendar starting in 2020-21. Regardless the outcome of the question, Oconee public schools will follow a traditional calendar the rest of this year and all of next. Modified calendars are controversial. Traditional calendar supporters say they prefer allowing children a long summer break; others, however, believe modified calendars offer a more balanced, year-round schedule that allows for more restful breaks throughout the year. Hanvey told county trustees last night that the district expects as many as 7,500 responses to the survey.