Sept. 1 school start date draws lengthy dicussion during legislative luncheon

School district’s in Iowa used to take for granted their waiver for an early start date would be easily approved by the state.

Not anymore.

In December, state school officials learned Gov. Branstad’s Iowa Department of Education will no longer automatically grant waivers to start classes earlier than state law requires, which is the week of Sept. 1.

Many Iowa schools start in the middle of August. However, Branstad has said starting school early in August hurts the state’s tourism industry and Iowa State Fair activities.

“This is not a partisan issue. There are Democrats and Republicans on either side of the issue, probably in similar numbers,” said Sen. Amy Sinclair, R-Allerton, during a legislative luncheon Friday, Jan. 23, at Lakeside Casino. “It’s truly not a Democrat or Republican issue. It’s an issue of what’s best for Iowa and we need to look at it as such.”

A lot tougher

There are now tougher guidelines and restrictions for schools to have an early start date waiver approved.

Sinclair said the new waivers must show a strong, educational benefit proven behind the request.

Finishing the first semester before winter break won’t be considered a valid reason for an early start date.

This issue has frustrated many school districts that have already set the calendar for the upcoming 2015-16 school years.

Bills

Sinclair said there are currently bills in the Iowa House and Senate that essentially remove the Sept. 1 start date.

She said the bill in the Iowa House has passed out of its subcommittee and the bill for the Senate’s subcommittee will be on the docket during a hearing.

“It boils down to a question of local control, or an economic stimulator from the state fair, and some folks particularly in northern Iowa with lake areas who have a big tourism industry,” Sinclair said. “So, the question is, what’s best for Iowa and what’s best for kids?”

What needs to happen, Sinclair said, is to come to a point of compromise on maintaining the level of adequate control for the state’s school districts. Sinclair said she supports local control of the process.

“I don’t want to go down the slippery slope of removing local control,” she said. “Pretty sure my supervisors in the room don’t want that either, because if it happens in education, it will roll over into city councils and school boards, as well.”

The compromise will have to be between those wanting the integrity of local control of the school districts and the necessity of those attending the Iowa State Fair, which is one of the state’s biggest tourism draws.

Where it started

Sinclair said the Waukee and Johnston school districts prompted the entire Sept. 1 school start date issue to come to a head.

Branstad’s daughter is also a teacher in the Waukee school district.

“There were kids who were having their last baseball game the Tuesday night before school started. Summer gone,” Sinclair said. “ ... I do believe Waukee and Johnston were a little out of line starting before baseball was done.”

How it ends?

The solution to the issue needs to be a compromise, Sinclair said.

She discussed a bill that has the fourth Monday in August as the earliest start date possible. She said another bill would totally remove any requirement for Iowa’s school start date, but puts in place a penalization if starting prior to Aug. 15.

Time will tell if any of this comes to fruition.

“Hopefully, we can get that conversation done early so schools can get their calendars in place,” Sinclair said.