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Capitol View®
Tim Pugmire

Optional school start bill fails in House committee

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A key legislative panel today rejected a proposal to allow school districts to start classes before Labor Day.

The bill would have lifted the state's current Labor Day rule for the next two school years. School districts won't be able to start classes until September 8th this year and September 7th in 2010.

Opponents, like Rep. Tom Rukavina, DFL Virginia, argued that schools starting before Labor Day would have a devastating impact on Minnesota resorts at a time when they're already struggling.

"I don't know a lot about statistics or numbers," Rukavina said. "I'm not very good at them. But I do know that if you stop families from spending Labor Day weekend out there in rural Minnesota at a resort, it's going to hurt those report owners. I don't think this is the right time to do it."

Rep. Kim Norton, DFL-Rochester, told members of the House Finance Committee that her bill would provide local control and flexibility.

"This bill does not mandate an earlier start, Norton said. "It simply allows districts to make their own choice about what calendar works best for their students, their communities and their staff."

The committee defeated the bill on a 13 to 11 vote.