2012.01.25
Legislators defend starting school after Labor Day
RICHMOND — Legislators representing some of Virginia’s notable tourist destinations spoke out today against Gov. Bob McDonnell’s proposal to scrap a state law requiring the school year to begin after Labor Day.
McDonnell said earlier this month that he supports repealing a law that requires local school divisions to begin classes after the first Monday in September unless they have a waiver from the state. Lobbyists for the state’s hospitality and travel industries argue that repealing the school calendar law would put a dent in the state’s economy by shrinking the summer tourism season.
A handful of legislators led by Senate Majority Leader Tommy Norment, R-James County, held a news conference Wednesday to reinforce that message before legislators act on bills to repeal the post-Labor Day start date. A Senate committee is scheduled to take up school calendar legislation Thursday morning and House subcommittee has 10 school calendar bills on its docket for Thursday evening.
Norment said tourism generates about $1.3 billion in revenue for local governments “which is very significant, not just to the Historic Triangle area that I represent, but to other areas of Virginia.”
Del. Sal Iaquinto, R-Virginia Beach, said starting the school year before Labor Day also hurts tourism because parents begin preparing for a new school year weeks in advance, using weekends to shop for supplies.
“What we’re going to have to do is stop our planning, stop our vacations, stop our going to the beach and purchasing things at the beach and going to the restaurants,” said Iaquinto, who succeeded McDonnell in the House of Delegates. “This will stop us from spending the money from Virginia Beach residents in Virginia Beach.”
McDonnell wants to let local school boards decide when to start the school year, but said he also wants them to consider the impact their decisions will have on their local economies.
Under existing law, local school boards must obtain a “good cause” waiver from the Department of Education in order to start classes before Labor Day. School divisions typically can obtain a waiver if they compile a certain number of weather-related school closings over a fixed period of time. This year, 77 of the state’s 132 school systems have waivers from the state.
McDonnell said earlier this month that his proposal would “maximize flexibility” for local school boards and serve as a first step in a longer-range effort to expand instructional time for students to meet increasingly rigorous academic standards.
– Michael Sluss
The tax revenue from hotels , restuarants, beaches and theme parks along with all the people coming to VA will be needed for the schools and teachers raises. Cut the tax revenue and there will be less money for schools.IMO
No weather related days so far this school year. I hear school will start now mid HOT August and the kids will still not get out until June.
Comment by Tripp Godsey — January 25, 2012 @ 7:30 pm
If they start in August and there are no weather days, they’ll possibly get out in late May. Is the money spent in late August more valuable than money spent in other times of the year? I cannot believe a self avowed TPer is against local representatives determining their own course.
Comment by Rick — January 26, 2012 @ 11:22 am
As someone who lives by a school. The extended year just means more traffic,more trash,more pollution and more racket. There is absolutely no need to start earlier. And on another level, the school board has elementary start early, and high school late. That extends traffic and pollution from 7am to 6pm instead of 7-3 like it used to be.I appreciate the little brats need to go to school, but some consideration should be given the homeowners in the area.
Comment by Jack Mcguire — January 26, 2012 @ 12:21 pm
Still June from what I have heard. Cost more to air condition the schools in August than in June. This will hurt businesses which will hurt tax revenue. For what we get for opening schools in August I do not see the benefit. Some say the children will do better on the SOLs but that is not proven. See Salems results on the SOL. If the school year starts in Mid August why not let the children out of school Mid May? Not much happens after they take the SOLS. What am I missing?
Comment by Tripp Godsey — January 26, 2012 @ 1:01 pm
#3 Did they build that school after you moved in, Jack? No? Hmm, seems like you could have spotted that school before you chose that place to live.
BTW, the latest school lets out is about 3:35, although a handful of kids stay for extracurricular stuff.
Comment by gdad — January 26, 2012 @ 2:45 pm
#1 Explain to us how other tourist areas get by with school starting in August but Virginia tourism will suddenly go in the tank, Tripp.
I would agree with school ending earlier unless they change the curriculum to do something useful.
Comment by gdad — January 26, 2012 @ 2:49 pm
@5
Im objecting to longer year and extended hrs that were not in play till recently. The students damage property and more, so the shorter the year the better I like it. Its like a different neighborhood when those little bundles of joy are elsewhere.
Comment by Jack Mcguire — January 26, 2012 @ 3:19 pm
Floyd County started something like August 11 this year…the past two school years they’ve tried to finish the first semester (high school) before Christmas break. Unless the winter suddenly turns harsh, they’ll be out REALLY early this spring, even with extra Easter vacation! Unfortunately for the kids & teachers very few classrooms are air conditioned, so they suffer through the heat in August.
Comment by Say What? — January 26, 2012 @ 3:41 pm
What the parents and students of Virginia need to understand is that what the hospitality industry needs, the hospitality industry gets! And what it needs is minimum wage WORKERS, and never mind this weeks of extra preparation for advanced placement tests. Taxpaying parents, just what are your priorities here? Getting your kids to study hard, place well, get into the college of their choice, and get a good job? Or have your kids fill minimum-wage JOBS in Del. Iaquinto’s district so that the hospitality industry can help fund his CAMPAIGN, so that he can introduce more LEGISLATION to preserve a large pool of CHEAP LABOR, and parents can spend more MONEY in his DISTRICT instead of making sure their children get a good EDUCATION?
Comment by MPolkey — January 27, 2012 @ 7:52 am
I’ve asked Tripp and others several times now why other states that depend even more heavily on tourism can start before Labor Day and survive and yet the same start will somehow destroy Virginia tourism.
I’m still waiting for the answer.
Comment by gdad — January 27, 2012 @ 9:28 am
Jack,if you don’t want to live near a school, don’t live near a school.
MPolkey, apparently Virginia’s main educational drive is to create a healthy population of minimum wage drones who have few options outside of sweeping up trash at amusement parks.
Comment by Kristen — January 27, 2012 @ 10:13 am
Why not leave it up to the school district? Let the parents and citizens of the community decide what they want instead of Richmond. I think we all know that our elected official does not represent everyone. Give some power back to the localities and let them make the decisions that best fit them.
Comment by belle — January 27, 2012 @ 10:15 am
This is merely another example of the interference, politicization and stupidity that causes the education system to fail–too many masters.
Comment by Sandi Saunders — January 27, 2012 @ 11:25 am