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12 BILLS INTRODUCED In 2009 TO
UNDO SCHOOL CALENDAR LAW
(As the State of NC struggled with financial crisis, crumbling
infrastructure and myriad other problems, General Assembly members
spent valuable time debating area-specific bills that seemingly popped up every week!)
It was never a matter of "IF" it would happen...only "WHEN." TWELVE SEPARATE BILLS were introduced in the NC General Assembly in 2009 with the aim of nullifying or weakening the School Calendar Law.
Here is the outcome: only two bills (those at the top of the list below) still remain eligible for consideration for the 2010 session of the General Assembly. Other bills in the list are no longer eligible. All things considered, the relatively low "batting average" for opponents of the School Calendar law is good news for us! We are very thankful for ALL of the emails, phone calls, personal visits to legislators, comments during public debates and all other forms of expression made by the SOS-NC army. Once again, YOU DID IT !
- Still Alive for 2010 Session>> HB 636 Proposed Amendment To School Calendar
(Intro. by Rep. Phillip Haire)
This bill would allow the June 10 closing date to move to as late as June 13 and also provide for changes to teacher workdays to be determined by LEAs.
Click here to go to the General Assembly website to read more.
- Still Alive for 2010 Session>> HB 593 Change School Starting Date
(Intro. by Reps. Paul Luebke, Martha Alexander, Bob England and Ray Rapp)
This bill would change the school start date from August 25th to the second Monday in August and would apply to all school systems in the state. The closing date would remain unchanged from the current law. Depending on each year's calendar, schools could open as early as August 8th but no later than August 14th.
Click here to go to the General Assembly website to read more.
This bill PASSED in the Education Committee on April 21 and moved forward.
- No longer eligible for consideration in 2010>> HB 1177 Restore Flexibility To School Calendar (Intro. by Rep. Larry Bell)
This bill would move the August 25th school start date back to August 18th, but allow any school system to apply for and automatically be granted a waiver to begin school on August 10th. It would also remove the protection of five teacher workdays for in-the-classroom work for teachers at the end of each quarter. Finally, it instructs local community college boards to align their calendars as closely as possible with the local school system.
Click here to go to the General Assembly website to read more.
- No longer eligible for consideration in 2010>> HB 1306 Restore Flexibility To School Calendar (Intro. by Reps. Becky Carney, Douglas Yongue, Will Neumann, and Marvin Lucas)
This bill would repeal the uniform school start date entirely across the state with no parameters for opening and closing dates. It would also specifically allow school systems to set different opening and closing dates for different schools within the same system. Lastly, it would add an additional five teacher workdays (taking the total number from the current 15 back to 20).
Click here to go to the General Assembly website to read more.
- No longer eligible for consideration in 2010>>SB 478 Modify School Calendar Law (Intro. by Sen. Don East) This has been referred to Senate Education/Higher Education Committee. This bill would repeal the uniform opening and closing dates, allowing each school system to set any opening and closing date. No restrictions whatsoever.
Click here to go to the General Assembly website to read more.
- No longer eligible for consideration in 2010>>HB 499 School Calendar Flexibility/2 LEAs (Intro. by Reps. Bruce Goforth, Susan Fisher, Jane Whilden, Ray Rapp)
This has been referred to House Local Government II Committee; if favorable, then it will go to the House Education Committee. This bill applies to Asheville City and Buncombe County School Systems. Opening date could not be before the second Monday in August and the closing date no more than 42 weeks later. As the bill proceeds through the General Assembly, it would be open to amendment to add other counties that also wish to be included.
Click here to go to the General Assembly website to read more.
- No longer eligible for consideration in 2010>>HB 483 /SB 455 School Calendar Flexibility/Some LEAs (Intro. by Rep. Phillip Haire, Sen. John Snow) These bills apply to Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Jackson, Macon and Swain County school systems. Opening date could not be before August 11 and the closing date no more than 291 days later. As the bills proceed through the General Assembly, they would be open to amendment to add other counties that also wish to be included.
Click here to read more about the Senate bill version.
Click here to read more about the House bill version.
- No longer eligible for consideration in 2010>>SB 554 School Calendar Flexibility/2 LEAs (intro by Sen. Martin Nesbitt) Companion bill to Rep. Goforth's bill for Buncombe and Asheville City.
Click here to go to the General Assembly website to read more.
- No longer eligible for consideration in 2010>> HB 547 School Calendar Flexibility/3 LEAs (intro by Rep. David Guice) This bill applies to Polk, Transylvania and Henderson County Schools. The opening date could not be before the second Monday in August and closing date must not more than 42 weeks later.
IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT! [April 2, 2009] Representative Guice voluntarily had this bill removed from consideration. Read his press release about why this was done.
- No longer eligible for consideration in 2010>> HB 931 Modify School Calendar Law/Surry County LEAs (Intro. by Rep. Sarah Stevens and Darrell McCormick)
This bill would apply to Surry County Schools, Elkin City Schools and Mt. Airy City Schools. The opening date could not be more than five days prior to the starting date of the fall term at Surry Community College as established by its board of trustees. The closing date would remain no later than June 10th. (Note: for both 2008 & 2009, Surry County Community College's starting date is Aug. 19. So it's safe to say, if passed, that the school systems mentioned will begin class on August 14.)
Click here to go to the General Assembly website to read more.
- No longer eligible for consideration in 2010>> HB 850 Local Control of School Calendar/2 Counties (Intro. by Rep. Bill Faison and Verla Insko)
Completely exempts Caswell and Orange Counties from any opening or closing date requirements.
Click here to go to the General Assembly website to read more.
- No longer eligible for consideration in 2010>> HB 1001 Modify School Calendar Law/3 County LEAs (Intro by Rep. Justin Burr)
This bill would allow Stanly, Union and Montgomery County Schools to begin classes the second Monday in August (as early as Aug. 8).
Click here to go to the General Assembly website to read more.
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