So who will be on this calendar committee?

Why are the waiting for the 2013-2014 calendar? There are enough statistics from last year to prove the balance calendar was a huge success (higher grades, less student and teacher absences and lower utility bills). We want it back for the 2012-2013 school year!!!!

Why do these people who have been so vocal and so public now want to be anonymous? A "man" asked a question... a "woman" asked a question? Is this a stealth group working to influence the Superintendent? Is that even legal? Hmmmmm.

Hi Lisa,
It is a reporter's responsibility to obtain the names of people when referencing them in an article. Why would you refer to the meeting as a whining session? Those are your words...

Hello Kurt,
I cannot speak for the manner or style chosen by the reporter in his documentation, as admittedy, I thought it was a bit unusual myself. However, I never said the meeting WAS a whining session, I said it was not intended to BE a whining session. We were there to hear about the plans and ideas that Dr. Hinojosa brings to Cobb County that address important educational challanges that we all face. It was not to wrangle yet another person into a "pissing match" that is perpetuated by individuals (on either side), whose vigor, in bandwagon-like fashion, is fueled by the misinformed. To think that he had not heard of and investigated the situation prior to that evening would be insulting; thus to bombard him with reinstated complaints that embody no practical value, would cheapen the discussion. Our time was limited, as was his. The meeting was about moving forward, not dwelling in the past.

Thank you for your comment Lisa (even if it is a little vulgar). It still appears that the reporter was trying to shield individuals by not having their names. In fact, this makes it look like a more deliberate attempt to shield the individuals and keep them anonymous. At best it's poor journalism. It's well known throughout the community that Patch is sympathetic to the pro-balanced calendar crowd. Shoot- the whole controversy helped Patch (a child of it's ailing parent, AOL) get a little kick start when they launched in Cobb last year.

As to Dr. H's plans for the district overall, aren't you concerned that he kept all the same players in his executive team? All he did was move them around a little. We can't have meaningful change in the school district with the same people. I can play chess till my dying day, but the game will never change by moving the same pieces on the same board. Unless and until he (or another Super) goes in there with an ax it will all still be the same.

Hi all, while I was not at this meeting in Kennesaw (I believe Patch was the only media outlet there, but am not 100 percent about that), I can avouch for the reporter in that he was not purposely trying to shield the identity of those who spoke. He is a solid reporter and will be covering this morning's school board meeting, which will include calendar-related news. Personally, it's been my experience at these loosely organized events in which at times dozens of unidentified speakers stand up, make a comment, and then sit down as two or three more are in the process of doing the same, it’s difficult to track down every speaker’s name. Yes, at the conclusion of a meeting, I will try to scurry around the room to secure the names of speakers who made key comments that I might use. But there are times when that is not possible for a variety of reasons, including they might have left early, I can’t find them in a large room of people (many whom are asking me questions, therefore impeding my progress), or often, I’m still working on the story by submitting follow-up questions to the keynote speakers, elected leaders, etc., still in the building. Just wanted to clarify this and as always, thanks for reading and commenting.

And why would only media outlet be there? Might it be because no other was invited? How better to spin a story your way than to limit the attendance and media outlets.