Virginia Senate kills bill that would allow school districts to start classes before Labor Day.
Update: On Feb. 2, the Virginia House approved a bill to repeal the Labor Day Law. Read about it here.
A bill giving local school districts more flexibility when their school year starts hit a major obstacle on Thursday when a Senate committee voted to pass the bill "indefinitely."
The Senate Health, Education and Welfare Committee voted 9-6 to pass by indefinitely the bill introduced by Sen. Adam Ebbin of Alexandria, reports NBC's First Read - DMV.
That action means that particular bill will not be considered again this session.
Officials with Fairfax County Public Schools and other area districts have sought this type of flexibility, and Gov. Bob McDonnell recently showed his support for the idea.
The tourism lobby argued that starting school before Labor Day would hurt their industry because they use many low-wage student workers to increase their staff during the summer. An earlier school start could force them to change that business model.
However, Thursday afternoon a House subcommittee will take up several bills, all which would let school districts set their own calendar. About a dozen bills to repeal the Kings Dominion law are still alive in the House. Even if one passes there and in the full House, it would still need to pass the Senate committee and then get approval in the full Senate.
School districts already have the right to seek an exception to the rule. Advocates for the legislation noted that school districts would not be required to start school before Labor Day. Repealing the rule would make it possible for local school districts to do so without having to seek the waiver from the state.
Faye Codding
7:18 am on Friday, January 27, 2012
Has Fairfax County applied for a waiver recently and if so why was it denied?
John Lovaas
8:18 am on Friday, January 27, 2012
King's Dominion and other entertainment corps continue to buy influence on this issue. Our own Senator Janet Howell has taken significant contributions from them in the past and done their bidding by voting against allowing our schools to extend the school year.
This public policy failure is blocking a major avenue to improving education in this state.
Another example of a corrupted political system.
Mike Ritter
8:46 am on Friday, January 27, 2012
agaiin, the legislature puts educstion LAST... It really is about time that scholl goes year round...
Arielle Masters
8:51 am on Friday, January 27, 2012
Yes, Fairfax County applied for a waiver; I don't remember why it was denied but this is ridiculous.
The Convict
11:44 am on Friday, January 27, 2012
As once more, the Commonwealth puts business before people.
Cat Milton
5:29 pm on Friday, January 27, 2012
The kids receive as many hours in the classroom as those in localities that start in August. The Kings Dominion Law seems to be beneficial for businesses and not detrimental to students. What is wrong with the starting school after Labor Day?
Arielle Masters
9:47 pm on Friday, January 27, 2012
The schools have asked for an earlier start because they feel it would work better for them. What's wrong is that there is a law that says they CANNOT start before Labor Day.
Frank Sogandares
10:44 pm on Friday, January 27, 2012
what would happen if FCPS just started when they wanted to? is anyone going to be arrested? sued? un-credentialed?
Liz Maloney McCoy
7:53 pm on Sunday, January 29, 2012
Simple they would turn off the cash flow. Some state ed funds going to FCPS would suddenly dry up... Oh whoops how did that happen!
If you go to thie link below of FCPS's FYI 2012 approved budget and flip to page 5 you will find that 14.1% of the budget comes from state aid. Another 6.8% comes from the state sales tax (1/8th of every cent taxed in the state sales tax goes to education). In total an estimated $472.1 million comes from the state.
http://www.fcps.edu/fs/budget/docs/ApprovedBudget12.pdf
Frank Sogandares
8:15 pm on Saturday, February 4, 2012
riiiight.... there's that small detail.... <:)
anne gruner
3:25 pm on Friday, February 3, 2012
Editor: In case you would like to update this story: Yesterday, the House of Delegates passed on strong bipartisan vote of 76-23 HB 1063 sponsored by Delegate Barbara Comstock that would allow schools to determine their own opening date and eliminate the King's Dominion Law. Already, 77 of 134 school districts in Virginia had received waivers from Kings Dominion. HB 1063 would bring fairness to the other 57 districts who are not permitted to begin before Labor Day. Interestingly, Fairfax Senate Democrat George Barker was one of those to oppose the corresponding senate bill even though it had been endorsed by Fairfax and Loudoun School Boards, Va Association of School Superintendents, Va Education Association, Va School Board Association and Fairfax Chamber of Commerce!
Karen Goff
3:32 pm on Friday, February 3, 2012
Yes, we had a whole separate story on it yesterday. http://patch.com/A-q88x. Thanks!
anne gruner
2:13 pm on Saturday, February 4, 2012
Yes, and it shoud be noted that the Senate will get another chance to vote on this issue when Comstock's HB 1063 comes before it. Maybe some Democrat Senators such as Senator George Barker will consider voting in favor of the Bill given the very strong support for this in Fairfax that includes the Fairfax Chamber of Commerce!