Category Archives: Calendar

At the 10am Board Meeting this morning, the DeKalb Schools administration will request that the Board of Education approve the following 2020-2021 calendar.

As a Strategic Waiver School System, the DeKalb County School District has flexibility from identified state statutes and associated rules. The District may depart from the strict interpretations of the definition of school year, school month, and school day; therefore, the Calendar Committee reconvened to consider the following calendar attributes:

• 179 days of instruction for the year – 91 number of instructional days in first semester and 88 second semester
• 185 contract days for teachers – 88 number of instructional days in first semester and 97 second semester
• First day of school for students – Monday, August 17, 2020
• All teacher pre planning and learning institute / professional development days will be virtual
• Last day of school for students – Friday, May 28, 2021
• Adjustment to the school calendar of 5 days for 10-month employees that includes one evening workday comprised of four conference nights during the year (This is an official work schedule reduction in contracted days.)
• 4-Day Professional Development Institute (August 5-7, 2020 and January 15, 2021)

Notes
1. The school district will pay for 185 work days. The Learning Institute is paying for 4 days. That makes for 1 furlough day and a total of 189 teacher work days.

Learning Institute
Teachers will get paid a stipend on the 4 learning institute professional development days. The stipend amount hasn’t been determined, but the administration hopes it will be equivalent to their regular salary day. This learning institute professional development will be virtual. The district has been putting this together since April. It will be funded with Title I, Title II, CARES, unused travel/pro development and various other reclaimed budget line items.

Calendars

2019-2020 Calendar
2018-2019 Calendar
2017-2018  Calendar
2016-2017  Calendar
2015-2016  Calendar

DeKalb Schools administration went back to the drawing board and has come out with a new 2020-2021 school Calendar. The first semester ends before Christmas Break, the second semester ends in May and there are 9 furlough days (calendar reduction days).

The Board of Education will meet Monday July 20 to discuss and vote on this calendar.

DeKalb Schools is a jobs program. In a discussion about FY2021 Budget Considerations, the Board was told that the “foundation of that budget is to keep employees working…and not contribute to the unemployment rate.” Over 80% of the budget is salaries. Either the school district has to cut people and programs, or everybody has to take a haircut on their salaries. The school district is choosing furlough days for all employees.

LOSS – $27.5 million – DeKalb Schools Board of Education approved a settlement in the GOLD Case (Tax Shelter Annuity – TSA Case) for $117.5 million over a 5 year period. First payment of $27.5 million is payable at the conclusion of the court approval process and expiration of the appeals deadline.

GAIN – $31 million – Local revenues are up. DeKalb Schools administration is recommending to the Board no change in the millage rate for the 2020-2021 fiscal year. The school district is expected to collect $31 million more in local revenue this year than it did last year.

GAIN – $33 million – CARES Act – The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The bulk of this money will be used to buy Chromebooks, cover infrastructure and sanitation needs and buy back 1 furlough day for all employees.

LOSS – $54 million – State revenues are down. The state is cutting the education budget by 10%. This will be a reduction of $54 million in state revenues.

LOSS – $10 million – With local revenues going up, DeKalb Schools will pay $10 million more for their Local Five Mill Share. The State Legislature built in the requirement that each school system taxes their district five mills, or five dollars for every 1000 dollars of property value. That money goes to Categorical Grants including the Equalization Grant. The idea is to provide money across Georgia for poor districts. Ironically, Gwinnett is considered the poorest district in the state and receives more Equalization Grant money than any other district.

$3,500,000 – Cost of 1 Calendar Day Restored for school-based personnel

$500,000 – Cost of 1 Calendar Day Restored for central office personnel

The typical 180 instruction days has been reduced to 174 days. The typical 190 work days has been reduced to 181 days. First day of school is Monday, Aug 17, 2020. Last day of school for students is May 20, 2021.

Calendars

2019-2020 Calendar
2018-2019 Calendar
2017-2018  Calendar
2016-2017  Calendar
2015-2016  Calendar