Holtzclaw, DeMarco file bill for local boards to define school year
Sen. Bill Holtzclaw, R-Madison, today announced his legislation to allow local boards to define school year calendars.
Sen. Bill Holtzclaw of Madison
Symbolically, he chose to announce his plan in front of the Central Office of Madison City Schools, where the Madison Board of Education meets and on the opening day of school.
Earlier this year, the Alabama State Legislature required all school boards to fit calendars within a delayed start date and earlier end date — Aug. 20 to start and before Memorial Day to end.
The legislature put control on the side of the state, Holtzclaw said, in what he described as “erosion of local control.” His new bill with an “opt-out provision” is similar to legislation that failed to pass this summer.
Joining Holtzclaw at the announcement was Rep. Paul DeMarco, R-Homewood, who introduced the same legislation in the state house. “Each school system could still stick with the calendar or opt out. We hope this legislation is progress in the right direction,” DeMarco said.
In addition, Holtzclaw is concerned that the existing legislation was passed with the promise of $22 million for the Education Trust Fund. “At the end of the day, that $22 million didn’t show up” when the bill was passed, he said.
Holtzclaw used an analogy that compared existing legislation to a federal law that strips the state from control of an issue. “What if President Obama called Gov. Bentley and said, ‘If you give up control, I’ll give you $22 million?”
“Local school boards want the control of local systems,” Holtzclaw said. “We need to push decision-making to the local level, is possible. Parents are vocal to have local boards in charge.”
Academically, educators are concerned about the “summer brain drain” during an extended summer break. “Elongated periods without critical thinking cause students to have to re-learn and teachers have to re-train,” Holtzclaw said.
DeMarco said Madison and Homewood are similar with residents wanting the best options for students. “The current law doesn’t allow for flexibility,” he said.
Holtzclaw doubts that the summer of 2012 is a good indicator for increased tourism dollars. “We had no storms (hurricanes), increased publicity from BP for the Gulf Coast (after the oil spill), relatively low gas prices and a very hot summer,” he said.
