N.C. House Tentatively Approves Changes To School Calendar

For Rep. Connie Wilson, R-Mecklenberg, the push for longer summers made for a long day of lobbying colleagues. Wilson's

bill

would require schools to start after Aug. 25 and end before June 10. It keeps the same number of instructional days, which means 10 fewer teacher workdays, which will make some parents happy.

"In talking with parents, their frustration is almost every other week, their children are out on teacher workdays. For working parents, this is a major obstacle," she said.

Wilson pointed out that many teachers also support the bill. Opposition has come from local school boards, school administrators and some lawmakers who said the bill needs more study.

"I don't serve on the Commerce committee and I don't serve on the Appropriations committee, but I do serve on the Education committee and I have not had an opportunity to ask some of the education policy questions that I have," said Rep. Deborah Ross, D-Wake.

A motion to send the bill back to the Education committee failed on Tuesday. The full state House will vote on the measure on Wednesday. If approved, it would go to the state Senate and Gov. Mike Easley. The changes would go into effect for the 2005-06 school year.