The measure is House Bill 1097, which would require local school boards to adopt a calendar "that in no event shall commence the first day of instruction of a school year prior to the third full week of August."
Of course, many Cobb parents would welcome the state-mandated start date later than the first week of August approved by flip-flopping board members who reneged on their campaign promises.
It's not only that families lose summer vacation time and schools have to pay higher energy costs to operate the schools, but the effects on the economy could be substantial - an issue that needs a lot more discussion, especially during the worst recession in decades.
Rep. Dollar made the point that his bill not only would "enhance family togetherness but will save our school systems substantial money and also benefit the state's ailing economy." He said many Georgia tourist attractions have to shut down early in the summer "resulting in economic loss for the attractions, their local communities and the state as a whole."
Estimates from other states indicate that the economic impact is very substantial - either positive for late start dates or negative for early school starts.
In Michigan, where state legislators mandated a post-Labor Day school start in 2005, an analyst for the Michigan Boating Industries Association said the result was an increase of $10 million in the state's tourism tax revenue for the first year, reported WSBT-TV in Indiana, where late-start legislation won state Senate approval this month.
The Southwest Michigan Tourist Council's executive director said that every year since the late-start law was enacted in the state, tourism in lakefront communities in August has exceeded that of July. "That was never, ever the case before," said the official, Millicent Huminsky. "July was always the No. 1 month."
Her assessment of the later school start: "Absolutely positive."
In Alabama, a study released by Save Alabama Summers estimated the state loses $26 million for every August day school is in session.
In Indiana, the Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus supports the bill to prevent pre-Labor Day school opening, saying it's long overdue.
An official of the South Bend/Mishawaka Convention and Visitors Bureau said the local economy loses each summer day that schools are in session. With 8,000 jobs depending our tourism in the county, "It's a big economic driver here," said the official.
Nearly a dozen states have mandated late August, post-Sept. 1 or post-Labor Day school start dates: South Carolina, Florida, West Virginia, Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Michigan, Texas, Virginia and Arkansas.
There's a lot of talk by Georgia legislators about promoting economic growth this session.
HB 1097 is an easy, painless, no-tax way to promote economic growth through tourism right here at home - and save money and family vacations - by preventing schools from starting classes before the third week in August.
dmckee9613@aol.com
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The tax dollars generated by the businesses pay for the education of all our children. More to the point, our school board is not making good use of our tax dollars in very tight economic times. Making the best use of our tax dollars to provide the best possible education for all our children is what I am after. The Balanced Calendar will not be the best use of our very tight education dollars. Sadly, our children are the biggest losers.
if you think the only metric used to judge when kids come and go from school is educational, you're kidding yourself.
if it helps the economy and it was able to educate the current legion of adults, where is the disgrace in suggesting it's good for all to change it?
This is a local issue, not a state issue. If Cobb County voters decide this is best for the children in Cobb County, then we should vote to keep those on the school board who supported the early school start.
If we decide the early school start is not good for the children, then we should vote them out.
How good or bad early start is for business is not the issue. The idea that you should think the effect on business is a factor is disgraceful and disgusting. I would not sell the effectiveness of my child's education for the good of your and anyone else's business.
Yet, somehow they view the system that got them where they are now as being broken and in need of change so our kids learn more.
If we spent half as much time talking about curriculum as we did calendars, we'd all be better off.
Thanks for getting the big picture on this! It wasn't broken before so let's stop trying to fix it! memorial day - labor day. great bookends on a school year.
Plenty of counties have gone to this calendar and have adjusted and are thriving under it.
If you want something changed in CC board - then go vote. Do it the right way!!!
Love, The Teachers