Bad Links?
Other glitches?
Notify Webmaster

BoE relieved early calendar bill died

By LEE WILLIAMS
lwilliams@TheCitizenNews.com

State legislators will have to go back to the drawing board if they hope to garner enough support to pass a bill that mandates when schools start and end, but for now local school officials will pump their fists in celebration.

House Bill 285, a bill that would place the ability to set a school calendar into the hands of state officials, was defeated several days after the Fayette County School Board passed a resolution denouncing the measure.

And School Board Vice Chairman Lee Wright, who spoke out against the bill, says he is glad. He said he believes local school officials, and not state officials, should set the school calendar.

“I’m very pleased that the subcommittee of the House did not pass it,” Wright said. “Basically that was the right decision.”

Wright indicated the new calendar is working for Fayette Countians.

Under the new calendar, teacher attendance has increased and disciplinary problems have gone down, Superintendent of Schools John DeCotis reported to the board.

The calendar also allows students to finish their mid-term exam before the first semester break and it allows students and teachers to do college course work without impacting their regular schedule.

“I believe our balanced calendar is right for Fayette County,” he said. “The feedback that we got before we adopted the calendar was very favorable. That’s what I feel like the students, teachers, faculty and parents wanted, and basically it allows us to best serve the needs of our educational process in Fayette County.”

According to HB 285, the board would establish a start date for the school year for elementary and secondary schools of the state no earlier than the last Monday in August and no later than Wednesday after Labor Day.

This would mean schools in Fayette County would start Aug. 29 and end by Sept. 6, and local officials would have to toss their new schedule.

Some members of the tourism industry who blamed early school start dates on their ability to attract teen workers and customers supported HB 285.

However, Wright contends the focus should be on education and not tourism.

Some residents oppose the new Fayette County school calendar and embrace a state-mandated calendar because they say it’s difficult to find babysitters during the breaks. It also takes valuable summer vacation time from the children and their families.

Some residents say they believe the school calendar serves the needs of teachers who get raises when they complete specific course work, and not the students.

Wright balked at the idea.

“Wouldn’t they rather their classroom teachers to be better trained or be better motivated to get a higher education or would they rather settle for the status quo and [have them] not achieve a higher level of education?” he said. “Why should teachers not get a raise if they get more education?”

He said all parents were given the opportunity to voice their opinion. Surveys were posted on the school system’s Web site and copies were given to students to take home to their parents.

Wright indicated that to his recollection there was no huge outcry from the community opposing the new calendar before it passed.

But the time might come again when parents can give their input on the school calendar.

“I would encourage (parents) when it’s time to adopt the next school calendar to voice their opinion and let us know their concerns,” Wright said.