Local schools wonder who will pay for longer year

While Southeast Missouri public school administrators generally like the idea of extending the school year, they are curious as to who is going to cover the cost.

The question becomes even more pronounced -- and arguably ironic -- given that Missouri school districts were forced to cut summer school budgets late last spring while state funding remained in doubt.

"The real issue is, we don't need to have further unfunded mandates, particularly in a difficult time to ask school districts to incur costs," said Jim Welker, superintendent of Cape Girardeau public schools.

The school system had to trim its original summer school plan before the Missouri legislature restored funding last spring.

Under state law, Missouri public schools must meet a minimum school-year standard of 174 days and 1,044 hours of class time. There is no maximum requirement. U.S. schools through high school offer an average of 180 instruction days per year.

President Barack Obama on Monday called for extending the school year, pointing to the much longer school schedules in countries with the best achievement levels, like Japan, South Korea and Germany.

Check semissourian.com later or Wednesday's Southeast Missourian for more on this story.

mkittle@semissourian.com