Schools may need hearing to start early

Missouri's school boards would have to hold public hearings if they want to start the school year more than 10 days before Labor Day under a Senate bill that won approval from the Missouri House on Wednesday.

If the legislation becomes law, many of Missouri's school boards might be forced to hold last-minute public hearings just to start school as scheduled, state education officials say.

Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education spokesman Jim Morris said it's unclear whether the legislation will include an emergency provision that would allow the law to take effect this summer.

New legislation typically takes effect Aug. 28. If that happens with this bill, area school boards won't have to take any additional action to start school as scheduled.

Cape Girardeau and Scott City schools plan to start classes Aug. 16. Classes in Jackson public schools will start Aug. 20.

But local school officials say the bill would require board action in future years to keep their early start dates.

Under Senate Bill 64, a school board would have to hold a public hearing and then approve an early start date by majority vote to start classes more than 10 calendar days prior to Labor Day.

"It still gives some local control, but it does give you an extra step you have to go through," Cape Girardeau superintendent Dr. David Scala said. "Certainly, schools prefer to have flexibility to determine when they want to start and end school."

Jackson schools superintendent Dr. Ron Anderson objects to any state legislation limiting the power of local school boards to decide when school will be in session.

"That is a local district board decision," he said. "It doesn't need to be dictated from somewhere else."

The Missouri School Boards' Association opposes the legislation because it weakens local control.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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