[Southsider2k12]

http://www.post-trib.com/news/2015354,gask...dar0128.article

Senate committee OKs later school start date
'Family values' bill comes from Carmel Republican
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January 28, 2010
BY JON SEIDEL, (317) 631-7400

INDIANAPOLIS -- School bells might stay silent before Labor Day in Indiana under a bill endorsed by the Senate's education committee Wednesday.

The legislation, written by Sen. Mike Delph, R-Carmel, would prohibit public schools and accredited nonpublic schools from starting classes before Labor Day.

Its original version would have also prevented schools from keeping students in class after June 10, but an amendment added Wednesday would let local school boards make the final call after a public hearing on when to end the school year.

Delph said the amendment was added to garner political support. He lauded his bill as the result of a grassroots "family values" movement in Indiana to save summers. It prompted him to recall his own days as a Hoosier youth.

"Labor Day was traditionally a big family day for us," Delph said. "We'd get together as a family. It was really the demarcation between summer and fall, between playing flashlight tag and going swimming and going to school."

"I believe in lifelong learning," Delph said. "You don't start learning when you go into a classroom, and you certainly don't stop learning when you leave a classroom."

Sen. Earline Rogers, D-Gary, was the only member of the education committee to vote against sending the bill to the Senate floor. Delph said he is working to earn her support.

This week, Speros Batistatos, president and CEO of the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority testified in support of the bill.

The CVA Board of Directors also passed a resolution endorsing the later school start.

The resolution cited local attractions such as beaches in Whiting, Gary and Michigan City, Dunes State Park, the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Deep River Waterpark and casinos and hotels that all depend on tourism.

[taxthedeer]

Our fall sports teams would be almost a full month into their schedule by the time classes start...