State to take stronger stance on early-start waivers from schools

By BROOKS TAYLOR

Mt. Pleasant News

For years, Iowa school districts have been able to circumvent a state law.

That may be ending with the coming school year, according to a memo sent last Friday by Brad Buck, director of the Iowa Department of Education, to state schools.

Iowa law requires that ?school shall begin no sooner than a day during the calendar week in which the first day of September falls?if the first day falls on a Sunday, school may begin on a day during the calendar week which immediately precedes the first day of September,? Buck quoted in his letter.

In 2015, the first day of September is a Tuesday, meaning the earliest the 2015-16 school year could begin is Monday, Aug. 31.

While the current state law on the start of school has been around for a while, the state has granted school districts the option of filing a waiver asking to start early (before the first date allowable under state law). In the past, the waiver always has been granted.

Possibly not this year.

Buck said the state ?has received numerous complaints from parents and other community members alike about waivers of the school start date law.?

Consequently, he said the department reviewed its current practice and will be implementing a new procedure that more accurately reflects the legal authority the department has to grant these waiver requests.

The director, in his letter, warned that effective immediately the department will no longer automatically grant waivers of the school start date requested under Iowa Code section 279.10(4).

Now, the state is requesting a reason for the waiver request.

?Moving forward, the director or director?s designee will only consider a school or school district?s request for a waiver of the school start date if the school or school district has demonstrated that starting on or after the earliest start date specified would have a significant negative impact,? Buck said in his memo. ?Each request will be individually reviewed and approved or denied by the director or the director?s designee.?

Some school districts have already been drafting the calendar for the next school year. The Mt. Pleasant Community School District Board of Directors approved an early start waiver at its Dec. 8 meeting and has a tentative start date of Monday, Aug. 17, 2015, for the 2015-16 school year.

Although the WACO Community School District has not yet drafted a 2015-16 school year calendar, Dr. Darrell Smith, superintendent of schools, told the school board at its regular meeting Dec. 15 that it was likely the district would begin classes on Aug. 31, 2015. ?I can?t find a good reason to request the waiver,? Smith said.

Buck said his department will issue guidance on implementation of the current law in early 2015.