Rep. Jeff Porter’s bill pushing back on state scheduling requirements for some school districts is now awaiting action from a House legislative committee.
Porter, whose 42nd District …
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Rep. Jeff Porter’s bill pushing back on state scheduling requirements for some school districts is now awaiting action from a House legislative committee.
Porter, whose 42nd District includes Montgomery County and much of Warren County, said he presented House Bill 1636 to the House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee last week.
The bill would allow school districts with a four-day school week to be exempted from a new state law restricting when districts can set the first day of school each year. The 2019 law prevents schools from starting sooner than 14 days before Labor Day.
“That bill was formed with schools with a five-day school week in mind,” Porter commented last week. “It was geared to generate revenue by essentially having a longer summer season.”
Porter later told The Record that he proposed exempting schools with a four-day week after getting feedback from school districts in Warren and Montgomery counties. Porter said four-day school districts put money into the state economy using their own model.
“With four-day (weeks), we have a lot of three-day weekends,” Porter explained, which can be used for travel or shopping. “I think the four-day schools put money back in the economy. We’re doing our share.”
Porter presented his bill to the Legislature’s Elementary and Secondary Education Committee last week, supported by representatives from local school districts and others around the state. However, other lobbying groups opposed the bill, leading to uncertainty whether the proposal will actually make it to a vote.
Among other legislators, Porter said there’s a mix of views on the original school scheduling change, as well as Porter’s proposal. He plans to push the bill for a committee vote within the next couple weeks.
Warren County R-III Superintendent Gregg Klinginsmith said he hopes Porter’s bill can restore some control to school districts.
“I believe that local school boards should be in control of their calendars,” Klinginsmith said. “We appreciate (Porter’s) collaboration and his willingness to listen to the needs of school districts.”
Klinginsmith said having a four-day week is a benefit the school district can offer to recruit and retain teachers, but the state’s new scheduling mandate creates a challenge to fit in the required number of learning hours for students.
Whether Porter’s bill passes or not, Klinginsmith said the R-III district’s calendar is already locked in for the 2020-2021 school year. Any change wouldn’t affect R-III’s schedule until next year.
