House Panel Clears Tweak to Law on School Start Dates

By Staff and Wire Reports

RALEIGH —- Schools would be able to start classes before Aug. 25 under a bill a state House panel passed Thursday.

The legislation, which the House Education Committee cleared 38– 13, would allow school districts to request an exemption from the 2004 law that set Aug. 25 as the earliest possible start date for most schools and June 10 as the latest possible end date.

School administrators have argued they need more flexibility in their calendars. Legislators said Thursday that the schedules had become problematic for students who take classes at high schools and community colleges.

Tourism groups like the later start dates for schools because it provides more business and allows high school students to work later into the summer.

Rep. Maggie Jeffus, a Guilford County Democrat, and Rep. Pat Hurley, a Randolph County Republican, voted for the bill. Rep. Alma Adams, a Guilford Democrat, and Rep. Laura Wiley, a Guilford Republican, voted against the bill.

The full House likely will take up the bill next week.

House votes to push back cutoff for kindergarten

With no debate Thursday, the House voted 106–2 to push back the cutoff birth date for children to enter kindergarten each fall by several weeks.

If it becomes law, children starting in 2009 would have to turn 5 by Aug. 31 —- rather than the current Oct. 16 date —- to enter public schools.

The change would require about 15,000 children to enter the school the following year.

Rep. Dale Folwell, a Forsyth County Republican who is the bill’s sponsor, said it ultimately would improve student performance and benefit teachers.

The bill will go to the Senate.

Committee backs measure to kill state property panel

A state surplus property panel that has been unable to generate a single sale since its formation in 2004 would be abolished immediately in legislation a House committee approved Thursday.

The N.C. Commission on State Property is charged with evaluating unused or forgotten state land or buildings and determining whether it should be sold, generating revenues for state and local governments. But the commission doesn’t actually sell the property, and its work has been hampered by politics, resistance from other agencies and ethics questions.

—- Staff and Wire Reports

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