An August Debate

Legislators and Legislatures come and go, but the debate over when Iowa schools should end summer vacation and start the school year never, ever ends. Ever.

One more time, with feeling.

Iowa has a law that prohibits districts from starting classes before Sept. 1. But the Department of Education grants a waiver to every district that seeks one, which is pretty much every district. And that's why my kids will be going back to school on Aug. 15.

Folks who promote tourism and own tourism-related businesses hate that summer ends earlier and earlier every year, taking dollars and young workers with it. There ought to be a law, they say, while pointing out there actually is one that should be enforced.

And each year, they lose the battle to folks who argue that local schools should have the freedom to set their own calendars. And you can then depend on the whole thing to return next year, like clockwork, or the solstice.

Now there's a proposal that would still allow waivers, but for start dates no earlier than the fourth Monday in August. And seeking that waiver would cost a district $100.

DOA, right? Well, House Speaker Kraig Pauslen, R-Hiawatha, says not so fast, according to Kathie Obradovich's account of his appearance on "Iowa Press" today:

He said in the past, he didn't understand why legislators would intervene in such decisions. "At this point, I sort of do - especially as we look for more opportunities for school districts to work together," he said. "I will tell you it has, I believe, the most support in the House that I've ever seen in the 10 years I've been there."

He made his comments on "Iowa Press. He said after the show that he believes the bill has enough support to pass.

But before anyone starts making mid August vacay arrangements, later school start efforts have passed legislative chambers before, only to melt like a twist cone in the August sun. So we'll see.

I basically side, grudgingly, with the local controllers on this one. The state already dictates so many things that schools must do that allowing them to pick a start date seems reasonable. I think the state should repeal the Sept. 1 law, instead of doing this odd waiver dance.

That said, starting school on August 15 seems very early. At our house it's a real scheduling hassle because my wife's job requires that she be at the State Fair for several days. And now, school starts during the fair. But our little students be there when the bell rings, perhaps with some funnel cake powdered sugar on their faces, but ready to learn. Mostly.

Back in my day, just after summer turned from black and white to color, school never started before my birthday, August 18, which suited me just fine. But times change. And honestly, it's possible that school reforms favoring even more calendar flexibility and experimentation will make this whole debate moot.

But it's a certainly a worthwhile debate. For instance, I've realized that a funnel cake would be awesome with a big glob of twist ice cream on top.