Agenda - 04-15-2003-5f - Laserfiche WebLink

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a~ ~•~ ~~ lAr~r~ Tuesday, April 1, 2003 12:OOAM EST Businesses seek later ~ school start By TODD SILBERMAN, Staff Writer Time was, schools set their calendars to meet the needs of the farm. Now, the state's tourism industry wants schools to adjust their calendars to fit the needs of the vacation trade. Hotels, restaurants, amusement parks and other businesses that rely on tourism say they're being hurt by a decadelong trend of schools opening earlier in August every year. They're backing a bill being introduced today that would prohibit schools from opening before Labor Day. Exemptions would be granted to schools that follow year-round schedules or in those in mountain counties that need to plan for more snow days. Rep. Connie Wilson, a Republican from Charlotte and a co-sponsor of the measure, said that a later start for schools would provide a needed boost to tourist-oriented businesses. Were looking at how to create more jobs, Wilson said in an interview Monday. "There's not a person in the 'General Assembly who isn't focused on creating jobs. People in beach communities and in the mountains say that if they had the whole month of August, that could generate an additional $200 million in business." Rep. Dewey Hill, a Democrat from Lake Waccamaw whose district includes southeastern beach towns, said August is a key month for vacationers and the businesses that rely on them. "When you start school in early August, it cuts out a whole month," Hill said. But teachers, principals, school boards and other education groups are likely to oppose any effort to impose a post-Labor Day start. They say it would rob them of the flexibility they now have to set their own calendars and would squeeze schools to find the time they need for testing and teacher workdays. "It's hard already to get all the days in," said Jan Crotts, executive director of the N.C. Association of School Administrators. "It sure would make it more difficult for school systems to build calendars. It's getting more and more complicated." Should the bill pass, North Carolina would join at least three other states that already require schools to start the fall term late in August or after Labor Day. Texas legislators in 2001 passed a measure that prohibits schools from opening earlier than the week that includes Aug. 21. Virginia has had a law in place since 1986 requiring schools to resume classes after Labor Day. And legislators and education leaders in South Carolina have been debating the issue since last year. For years, school systems across North Carolina, including those in the Triangle, have set the first day of school earlier in August. Most area school systems go back this year Aug. 11. Educators point to several factors driving the trend: additional workdays inserted during the year for teachers, growing accountability pressures on schools and a push by high schools to schedule exams before winter break. Many high schools also are now following a "block" schedule similar to a college semester, with students finishing yearlong courses each term. "It would severely limit things that schools could do, especially with high schools on block schedule," said Jim Causby, superintendent of Johnston County schools. "I just don't agree with the reasoning about why it has to happen." Tourism leaders say businesses need the help. "Properties along the coast and in the mountains say that the most critical issue impacting their business is school systems' going back to school earlier and earlier," said Jim Hobbs, president of the N.C Hotel and Lodging 1 of 2 4/3/2003 3:23 PM