School Start Date

By Julie A. Miller
Catholic Herald

Educators debate school start date

SUPERIOR -- The biennial state budget that passed the Wisconsin legislature on July 26 includes provisions requiring public schools to start classes after Sept. 1 beginning with the 2002-2003 school year. Gov. Scott McCallum has until Aug. 30 to sign the bill.

Catholic schools will not be subject to this rule and each school is free to set its own schedule. But as a practical matter, most of the diocesan schools closely follow the schedule of the nearby public schools, said Phyllis Schlagel, superintendent of the diocesan schools.

"The fact of the matter is that since as Catholic schools we are using public school transportation, it is important that (the schools) choose a start date that is the same as the public school."

The legislation raises the issues of who should control the school starting and ending dates and what schedule provides the best learning environment for the students.

The Wisconsin Tourism Federation and the Association of Wisconsin Tourism Attractions supported legislating a starting date after Labor Day.

The Wisconsin Association of School Boards, the Wisconsin Federation of Teachers and other education groups all came out in favor of local control. Many educators want the flexibility to start the school year before Labor Day. They feel that by August most students are anxious to return to school and are ready to learn, while in June they are restless and ready for vacation.

In addition, starting with a partial week in August, followed by a four-day week after Labor Day, eases students into the pattern of full five-day weeks.

Reaction in the diocesan schools was mixed. Our Lady of Sorrows School in Ladysmith follows the public school schedule because children ride the buses. Principal Tami Stewart favors local control. "I think that we should be able to make our own decisions. I don't think the government needs to tell us when to start," Stewart said and added that the emphasis should be on what would be best for the students and for learning.

On the other hand, Betty Swiston, principal of St. Louis School in Washburn, sees an advantage to uniform schedules. "I think it's good. Everyone will then be uniform ... especially when you have school districts close together." She said different dates are confusing, especially when families have to coordinate the schedules of children going to different schools. Swiston's school closely follows the schedule of the local public schools and will start on Sept. 4.

Another factor for schools that start before Labor Day is the interruption caused by the long weekend. Mari Zarcone-Patterson, principal at Immaculate Conception School in New Richmond, said "I would prefer starting after Labor Day. ... I like to get the momentum going and keep it going with no interruptions." Her school will start Aug. 29, the same day as the New Richmond public schools.

The possible hot weather is another factor in determining the best schedule. Is it better for children to be in school during the heat of August or June? Schlagel said children are ready to come back in August and are ready to learn. They are more restless if the weather is hot in the spring.

Stewart said Our Lady of Sorrows will start on Aug. 21. "We have started around that time for quite a few years now and that's what we're used to. I think kids are ready to go back to school." With the early starting date she said they usually finish before Memorial Day -- when the children want to get outside.

Sr. Felissa Zander, principal of St. Francis Solanus School in Reserve, said both children and parents are ready for school to start in August. Because of the many tourists who visit the area, Zander prefers the school year to end before Memorial Day weekend. This year's starting date is Aug. 29.

Because of transportation considerations, St. Bridget School in River Falls starts on the same date as the public schools -- Sept. 6. Principal Teresa Goodier said the public schools are starting after Labor Day this year because they wanted to be sure the district's new high school building was ready.

Goodier said she has seen a trend toward starting after Labor Day, and likes the idea. "I think that Labor Day is a natural closure to summer. You have a lot more hot and humid days in August than in June. People are psychologically ready to go back to school." She added that schools lose instructional time if August is very hot.

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