Five Things to Know About Tonight's School Calendar Vote

Patch will have more extensive coverage of tonight's Cobb County School Board meeting, which will include a vote on which calendar the school district will use for the next two years, throughout the day.

However, we put together this list of five things you should know about the calendars and the vote before you head out to work or drop the kids off at school this morning.

1. There are two options on the table: Option A would see school start on Aug. 11, 2014, with the last day of school falling on May 20, 2015. This calendar does not have a break during the month of October.

Option B would start the school year on Aug. 4, with the same end date. Option B includes a week-long break for students and teachers between Oct. 6-10, 2014.

For the 2015-16 school year, Option A would see students in school between Aug. 10, 2015 and May 19, 2016. Option B would run from Aug. 3, 2015 to May 25, 2016, with week-long breaks in October and February.

2. Who supports Option A? According to the Marietta Daily Journal, some members of the Cobb business community support the later start date, arguing that the longer summer break brings more tourists and tourism dollars to the state. 

3. Who supports Option B? Parents and teachers are large supporters of Option B, with one school board member saying that he has received calls in support of this option at a rate of 40 to 1. Board member David Banks said the majority of e-mails he received on the subject supported a longer school year with more breaks.

4. How will the board vote? This does not appear to be a cut-and-dry vote one way or the other. Banks, Board Chair Randy Scamihorn, and Vice Chair Brad Wheeler have all either voiced support for Option B or said that their constituents are in support of it. Board member Tim Stultz grudgingly supports Option A, despite believing neither calendar is ideal.

5. When and where will the meeting be held? The Cobb County Board of Education will meet to vote on a school calendar for the 2014-15 and 2015-16 school years at 7 p.m. Thursday at the central office boardroom in Marietta.