School Calendar Approved, Race To The Top Rejected

Apr. 15, 2010

The Garrett County Board of Education addressed two significant issues at this month's board of education meeting this Tuesday.
The proposed 2010-11 school calendar was voted on and approved with a vote of three to two. The main discrepancies over the calendar were the first day of school for students, set for Aug. 25, and Presidents' Day was set as a possible make-up date.

It was stated that getting students into school on Aug. 25 would allow teachers an additional week of assessment preparation. The main concern of those against the motion was that it would affect the local business industry during the Labor Day holiday, as many high school students are employed during the summer. The motion that was voted on and approved included an amendment to remove Presidents' Day from the make-up list.

A recommendation to sign on to the Race to the Top Program was not approved at this time. There were several items brought to the attention of the board concerning the program, which resulted in a unanimous "no."

The federal program is an initiative that challenges the way teachers and students are evaluated in order to compete for federal grants. It requires states to submit proposals for changing assessment systems for students.

The director of the Maryland State Education Association in Allegany and Garrett counties, Steve Benson, was present at the meeting to share a few points of interest. He felt that signing on to the program would give all control over education to the federal government.

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