Bibb County school superintendent Romain Dallemand's plans to move the district to a year-round calendar starting in August of 2013.
That's just one of the initiative from his 'Macon Miracle" strategic plan which he outlined in more detail Thursday evening.
"The real work begins," said Dallemand. "We begin to start to formulate or committees that will start working on the specific action steps and pretty soon will start to implement the action steps."
Next school year, starting in late summer, Bibb County students in grades pre-k through 3, will learn to start the day by saying, "nin hao."
That's Mandarin Chinese for "Hello."
On Thursday Dallemand unveiled for school board members part of the timetable for his Macon Miracle improvement plan. And it includes instruction in Mandarin, starting with the school year that begins later this year.
Other key points mentioned in Dallemand's implementation plan:
Planning for year-round school will start during the 2012-2013 school year. Dallemand hopes to implement the process the following 2013-2014 school year.
Dallemand will proceed with his plan to open two new alternative schools next year.
The high school day will be seven periods, not four.
Dallemand willalso bring Glenn Singleton's "Courageous Conversations" program to town to help district employees handle racial issues better. Some critics say that program does more harm than good.
His budget for implementing his plan in the next school year is $340,000, which he'll take from the district's reserve fund.
Thatmoney willcoverhiring three mental professionals to see students, as well as seven career coaches. They'll also create healthy living programs that address issues like stress, illness, and anxiety.
Dallemand promised that board that their taxes won't go up due to his plan.
