Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, April 29, 1994 TAG: 9404290142
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
At the urging of the state's tourism industry, the General Assembly rejected requests by many school systems to open schools before Labor Day so they could complete the school year before the middle of June.
But now the state Board of Education has agreed to allow local school divisions to begin classes before Labor Day this year if they meet certain conditions.
Under the policy, schools will be allowed to open before the holiday if they were closed for at least 10 days because of bad weather during the 1993-94 school year, and if they intend to close Sept. 6 and 7 this year for Rosh Hashana, the Jewish new year.
Margaret Roberts, public affairs director of the state Department of Education, said Thursday that the local schools must meet both conditions to be eligible to open before Labor Day,
Except for Roanoke, almost all school systems in Western Virginia missed at least 10 days for bad weather this year. Roanoke missed nine days.
Roanoke's inability to open before Labor Day might affect plans for Salem and Roanoke County. Traditionally, all three school systems have opened at the same time.
Superintendent Wayne Tripp said Salem will consider the possibility of an early opening, but will confer with other Roanoke Valley school divisions. Salem shares a special education program with Craig and Roanoke counties.
Craig has already asked for permission to open schools early. If Craig is on a different schedule, it could affect the regional program.
Roanoke County already has proposed a school calendar for next year which would have schools opening on Sept. 7, the second day of Rosh Hashana.
Superintendent-elect Deanna Gordon said Roanoke County would look into the possibility of opening before Labor Day. But she said there are some reasons why it might want to stick with the calendar already proposed.
If the schools are closed for three days of the Labor Day week - one for the holiday and two for Rosh Hashana - it might be tempting for some students to stay out the entire week, Gordon said.
Gordon said school officials will confer with the School Board and calendar committee before deciding whether to seek a waiver. Gordon said that the county also participates in the Roanoke Velly Governor's School for Science and Technology, which operates on the Roanoke City school calendar. If city and county schools don't have the same calendar, it could create problems for the Goverbor's School, she said.
The county school board decided Thursday night to delay action on the calendar for two weeks until county school officials can confer with Roanoke and Salem.
Tripp said he wonders if the argument by school divisions in Western Virginia for a pre-Labor Day opening might be weakened if they don't take advantage of the waiver.
Superintendent Clarence McClure said Botetourt County probably will seek a waiver. Botetourt has approved a calendar with school opening on Sept. 7. But McClure said the School Board might be willing to close for the Jewish holiday if schools can open before Labor Day.
Officials in Bedford and Franklin counties said they would have to confer with their school boards before deciding to seek a waiver.
Montgomery would be eligible to open school early next fall because its students missed 17 days this past winter, and its School Board already has decided not to open classes during Rosh Hashana.
The Giles County School Board has not yet set its school schedule. The school calendar committee, however, did not recommend remaining closed Sept. 6 for the Jewish holiday, according to Superintendent Robert McCracken.
by CNB