February 8, 201511 yr Proposed bill would push back school start dates in Kentucky FRANKFORT, Ky. (WKYT) - According to Kentucky Senate Bill 129, public schools would not be able to start earlier than the Monday closest to August 26. WKYT has learned that the bill was filed by Kentucky Senator Chris Girdler, who represents District 15 in Lincoln, Boyle and Pulaski Counties. The Senate bill states, "The first student attendance day in the school term shall be no earlier than the Monday closest to August 26, except in school districts that have adopted a year-round calendar." If the bill is passed, the change will begin with the 2016-2017 school year. Of course the trade off would be school years ending into June for most schools.
February 8, 201511 yr Author Our school year started Aug 6th and to end May 20th. New proposal would have started on Aug 25th and end on June 9th if in place this year.
February 8, 201511 yr Author What purpose does the change serve? I don't know... One thing that I can think of is that locally it would expand the tourist season by 2 to 3 weeks. This area gets a lot of In-State tourism and that pretty much dies now around the first of August due to schools starting back across the state.
February 8, 201511 yr I don't know... One thing that I can think of is that locally it would expand the tourist season by 2 to 3 weeks. This area gets a lot of In-State tourism and that pretty much dies now around the first of August due to schools starting back across the state. That's true. I guess the water is better for boating down at Lake Cumberland in late August than it is in early June.
February 8, 201511 yr Author That's true. I guess the water is better for boating down at Lake Cumberland in late August than it is in early June. Definitely warmer then!
February 8, 201511 yr The main issue I can see with this is what happens when we have an unusually bad winter, like last year? Some of the kids that live in rural areas would be in school until July.
February 8, 201511 yr Author The main issue I can see with this is what happens when we have an unusually bad winter, like last year? Some of the kids that live in rural areas would be in school until July. It said that schools that miss a lot of school can get a wavier to start the year earlier.
February 8, 201511 yr School ALWAYS started on the first Tuesday after Labor Day where I spent my formative years.
February 8, 201511 yr Author I was comparing local school calendars and I have a question for those in the education profession. Somerset First day of School Aug 6th (for students) Pulaski Co First day of School Aug 7th (for students) Somerset last day of School May 20th (for students) Pulaski Co last day of School May 15th (for students) Somerset has 31 scheduled days with no students during that time frame Pulaski Co has 32 scheduled days with no students during that time frame This does not take into consideration any snow days that may occur that would impact the schedules. How does one school district (Pulaski Co) go 7 days less than the other?
February 8, 201511 yr The main issue I can see with this is what happens when we have an unusually bad winter, like last year? Some of the kids that live in rural areas would be in school until July. In reality, all school years must end by June 30 due to fiscal cycle of funding and employee pay. The issue would then become extended days e.g an extra hour a day time 6 days would make up one day. In extreme circumstances it could mean having school on Saturdays. If students go on Saturday, I will bet attendance will be low and that effects how much funding a school district wuld receive. I would imagine, though, that the legislature or whomever could make the call could waive days. That creates an issue with teacher contracts who are signed to work 185 or 187 days. They will get paid regardless. That would cause some taxpayer and some board members having problems with paying teachers for unworked days. It just makes so much more sense to let those districts that traditionally miss 15-20 or more days start earlier to get everything completed for students and the staff.
February 8, 201511 yr I was comparing local school calendars and I have a question for those in the education profession. Somerset First day of School Aug 6th (for students) Pulaski Co First day of School Aug 7th (for students) Somerset last day of School May 20th (for students) Pulaski Co last day of School May 15th (for students) Somerset has 31 scheduled days with no students during that time frame Pulaski Co has 32 scheduled days with no students during that time frame This does not take into consideration any snow days that may occur that would impact the schedules. How does one school district (Pulaski Co) go 7 days less than the other? District's school boards can require their students to go as many days as they want. The minimum is 175. The local district would also have to pay teachers and staff the extra days, also. This would come from local funds, not state. The state only funds per pupil attendance for 175 days. There have been years the legislature has funded 177, but it almost always has been 175 they will fund.
February 8, 201511 yr That's true. I guess the water is better for boating down at Lake Cumberland in late August than it is in early June. But the fishing is RIGHT, at the end of May and beginning of June.
February 8, 201511 yr School ALWAYS started on the first Tuesday after Labor Day where I spent my formative years. When would you get out? This is what I could never understand. How is it he school year perpetually seemed to get earlier and the endpoint really never seemed to change? I remember starting school in mid-August and yet it was nothing for a few snow days to delay us into June.
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