Fact vs Fiction

FACT: While the number of days students attend school will be less, the school day will lengthen for students for 20-30 minutes, depending on the school. All schools will still be above the required instructional minutes required by the state of GA. (Instructional minutes - minutes of the school day when instruction or instruction-related activities based on state approved courses are provided or coordinated by a certified teacher or substitute teacher. Does not include lunch, recess, passing periods, etc.)

 FACT: The total number of hours worked in the contract year will remain the same. The work day for teachers will extend an additional hour on the 160 school days. 

FACT: The Superintendent met with an administrative team to discuss a modified year. A determination was made that substantial savings could be generated by modifying the school year. Additional admin meetings were held to discuss financial savings and formulate plans to allow employees and the community to have input in the decision making process.  The Superintendent also met with local law enforcement, the Early County recreation department, and other local entities to discuss potential pitfalls and to take suggestions.

Staff and parent surveys were made available and shared via Remind, Social Media, and the ECSS Website in October 2023. A Parent/Community feedback session was held in person on November 14, 2023. A staff Q&A was held on December 4th. The Board of Education voted and approved the calendar on December 12, 2023.

ESPLOST stands for Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax. 

In short, it is a one cent sales tax on all retail sales in Early County.  It is NOT a property tax and it is NOT a new tax; it is a continuation of an existing one-cent sales tax on all retail purchases in Early County.  An ESPLOST provides a method of funding the cost of educational improvements that everyone pays, not just property owners. 

Currently 157 of the 159 counties in Georgia have a 1% sales tax dedicated to K-12 public education.   

There are a lot of ideas about what that area should become, most have either suggested a parking lot or sports complex with softball/baseball fields. That decision has yet to be made and will not likely be finalized until we are further in this process. 

They will be separated as much as possible. Will there be a time during the day when a middle schooler sees a high schooler? Likely. Will there be a time during the day when a middle schooler has a class with a high schooler? No. Keep in mind that there are a lot of other surrounding schools with multiple grade bands in the same building. 

Our goal is to handle that problem through attrition over the next few years.