NC School Administrators Take Aim at School Calendar Law

March 2007--Maybe we should feel flattered for the attention we're garnering and not threatened. But a threat is still a threat, especially when it appears in print in an "official" publication.

The North Carolina Association of School Administrators in a recently printed pamphlet, placed "revise the public school calendar law" as its #3 priority for its legislative platform agenda for the 2007-2008 session. In pecking order, that places it beneath only "providing funding for all public school operations" (#1) and "provide salary increases and benefits enhancements for all public school personnel." (#2)

It might be worth stating that this administrators' association was a significant group opposing the passage of HB 1464 during 2004, and apparently the members have decided "not go gentle into that good night."

Rather than dissect what the brochure states, we'll just provide you with the text of that portion of the document pertaining to school calendar law. It is below in blue italic print. If you'd prefer, you can download the entire Legislative Platform brochure by clicking on this link (PDF, 2 page, 411k).

Here's the unaltered text from the NC School Administrators:

Based on responses the North Carolina Association of School Administrators received in an online survey of our membership conducted in September 2006, the following objectives have been identified as issues that the organization respectfully requests the North Carolina General Assembly to address during the 2007-2008 biennium.

• Grant local school systems the flexibility to set the school calendar based on the needs of their students and their communities
• Realign the public school calendar with the calendars of community colleges and universities to facilitate dual enrollment and enhance educational opportunities for students
• Reinstate the five teacher workdays, which were eliminated by law changes in 2004, since those days are essential for professional development of school personnel

NC School Boards Assoc. To Pursue REPEAL of SL 2004-180

March 2007--Every two years, the North Carolina School Boards Association initiates a "legislative process" whereby local boards and their members are surved about issues of concern. The results of this are distilled, and a Legislative Agenda is formed.

Not surprisingly, the agenda promulgated in late 2006 has the School Calendar Law in its crosshairs. Here's the specific verbiage this organization has published:

School Calendar: In 2004, the General Assembly passed legislation that took away the authority of local boards of education to make the best decision for their community and students concerning when the school year begins and ends. This change has had significant repercussions on how education is delivered to the children of North Carolina. This legislation should be repealed.

What can you do about these threats?

• Be sure to keep up with emerging events by checking back to this website OFTEN.
• We'd also like to hear from you and place you on our e-mail update list. Click here to sign up.
• Finally, be proactive with your house representative and senator in the NC Legislature. Communicate with them that you remain in support of a reasonable public school calendar law...which is the foundation of SL 2004-180. (As a point of clarification, when HB 1464 became law, it was written into the books as SL 2004-180.) Inform your representatives that you are aware of impending challenges to the law by various interest groups, and that you solicit continued support on their parts to make sure the present School Calendar Law stays in force. If you need contact information for your legislators, see the "Legislators" links at the top of this page.