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BOE irked by calendar question; Gives up on Aug. 17 start, files for Aug. 24 or 31
by Gregory R. Norfleet · News · March 26, 2015


Frustrated with the state legislature, the West Branch School Board gave up on trying to start the next school year on Aug. 17 and submitted two other calendars with start dates of Aug. 24 and Aug. 31.


State law says schools must not start the school year until the week of Sept. 1, but a provision in the law allows them to ask for waivers if they can prove a negative impact on education; some 95 percent of schools took advantage of this provision.

For the first time in nearly three decades, the Department of Education, at the request of Gov. Terry Branstad, changed how it will define a negative impact on education, making it difficult for schools to receive the waiver. Branstad said he does not want schools opening during the Iowa State Fair, which ends Aug. 23 this year.

School board members expressed frustration at not likely receiving permission to start Aug. 17, but also due to the fact that they still do not know if the Aug. 24 compromise option will pass into law.

“It is a very difficult task to prove detrimental harm,” Superintendent Kevin Hatfield said.

Board member Mike Owen initially made a motion to submit the calendar with the Aug. 17 start as the school’s first choice, but withdrew that motion when further discussion led him to believe the calendar would likely not be accepted.

“I don’t see the point of submitting it,” board member Mike Colbert said.

Board President Kathy Knoop expressed her frustration that the legislature broke its own rule about setting school funding within 30 days of convening, and now West Branch is trying to set its budget — before a state deadline — and negotiate teacher salaries with guesswork.

Colbert agreed.

“They’re making us file a calendar with pending legislation (on school calendars),” he said.

Owen said he thinks that if the legislature passes a bill that essentially allows schools to start the day after the state fair ends, then Branstad will sign it.

The school district is most concerned right now with starting school at least at the same time as Kirkwood Community College — Aug. 24 — for high school students enrolling in new Regional Center courses. The students could start the college-level courses on Aug. 24 regardless if the rest of their classmates have to wait until Aug. 31, but the school district would prefer everyone start together.

Hatfield said parents, students and staff liked how the school district this year wrapped up its first semester right before Christmas break, meaning no one had homework or studying to do over the holiday. That will not happen under the two calendars submitted to the state.



"Compromise calendar"

Aug. 24: School begins

Oct. 23: End of first quarter

Nov. 4-5: K-8 Parent-teacher conferences

Nov. 4-5: High School P/T conferences

Dec. 23-Jan. 1: Winter break

Jan. 15: End of first semester

Jan. 18: Start of second semester

March 11: End of third quarter

March 14-18: Spring break

March 30-31: K-8 P/T conferences

March 30-31: High School P/T conferences

May 19: Last day for seniors

May 26: Last day of school

May 29: Graduation



No Waiver

Aug. 31: School begins

Oct. 30: End of first quarter

Nov. 4-5: K-8 Parent-teacher conferences

Dec. 9: High School P/T conferences

Dec. 21-Jan. 1: Winter break

Jan. 22: End of first semester

Jan. 25: Start of second semester

March 2: High School P/T conferences

March 14-18: Spring break

April 1: End of third quarter

April 6-7: K-8 P/T conferences

May 31: Last day for seniors

June 5: Graduation

June 7: Last day of school