(Arnolds Park)—Local officials who have been longtime proponents of requiring schools to hold off on starting classes until after Labor Day say they’re pleased over recent comments by Governor Terry Branstad who says he wants to do away with a waiver system that allows districts to start classes already in August.
Tom Kuhlman, Executive Director of the Iowa Great Lakes Chamber of Commerce, tells KUOO news they’re cautiously optimistic the Governor’s comments will carry some weight…(click here for comment.) “It is a big step. The Governor was hopeful the legislators would deal with this issue but didn’t want to muddy the water with the Education Bill this year with putting that issue in there. They haven’t dealt with it now for several years. We had a vote in the House last year and it passed, and then it didn’t get a vote at all in the Senate. It’s been going back and forth like that. While it’s passed in both the Senate and the House, it was in different years. So hopefully we can get this changed through administrative rules and get some teeth to the waivers that makes sense.”
Kuhlman says proponents of the later start have another factor in their favor…(click here for comment.) “Superintenents and school boards have been given more flexibility now with the new Education Bill going to hours instead of days. So it’s easier for them to adjust their calendars based on hours for those that choose to do that. So if we can work with that and get rid of the waivers it would be better for all of Iowa.”
Kuhlman says it would certainly be nice to put the school start date issue behind them once and for all…(click here for comment.) “Well the issue has been an issue of local control. Superintendents and school boards say they need the ability to make those decisions in their own communities for themselves. But when the money flows from the state budget and they’re jeopardizing income to that state budget, they’re shooting themselves in the foot. And I think getting them to realize that is an important issue.”
Kuhlman says the fact many schools start already in August not only puts a premature end to the prime summer tourist season, but it also makes it much more difficult for local attractions to get the proper number of employees they need later in the season. He says the financial impact that has on the Iowa Great Lakes and other tourism hot spots in Iowa, along with the State Fair, is huge.
