Iosco County News Herald
By John Morris
EAST TAWAS - Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm signed legislation Thursday that will help the tourism industry in Michigan by requiring schools to begin the school year after Labor Day. And local tourism leaders are applauding the new measure. "To pick up those two extra weeks is really a shot in the arm for the industry," said Thomas Ferguson, executive director of Michigan Sunrise Side Travel Association. "People in our communities really pushed this thing over the top. "It shows, when the tourism industry speaks with a single voice, it can be heard and with an impact," Ferguson also credited northern Michigan state legislators for their efforts in getting the measure to the governor's desk. "Tourism is Michigan's second-largest industry and the leading industry in my northern Michigan," State Rep. Joel Sheltrown (D-West Branch) said. "This legislation will extend the summer tourism season, allow school students to work longer and will generate much-needed revenue for our area. "This is good policy and a much-needed shot in the arm to northern Michigan's economy." The Michigan State University Tourism and Recreation Resource Center projected an additional $10 million in tax revenues will be generated by extending the state's summer by two weeks. "This legislation will give our economy a boost," Sheltrown said. "Lengthening the summer by two weeks will increase tourist spending, provide more jobs and, just as important, will provide more funding for our police, our roads and our schools. This is a win-win situation." "I'm pleased the governor signed it," said State Sen. Tony Stamas. "Tourism is a large part of our economy. "There's a direct connection between schools and tourism. Tourism generates sales tax and a large part of sales tax goes to the school aid fund." Schools will still have to meet the requirements for 1,098 hours in a school year; if a school was meeting before Labor Day, then that school can choose to go later in the year, change its vacation lengths or lengthen its school day. Granholm called the legislation "a great economic tool" for northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula." House Bill 4803, which was sponsored by Representative Ed Gaffney (R-Grosse Pointe Farms), requires that, beginning with the 2006 school year, all Michigan schools begin after Labor Day. The exception is for districts with existing staff contracts which may choose to start prior to Labor Day until those contracts expire. Other local tourism directors were equally as pleased the governor passed the bill. "We're really happy about it," said Rose Mary Nentwig, executive director of the Oscoda-Au-Sable Chamber of Commerce. "Our membership did a lot of work in contacting state legislators. "In the long run, it will be good for everybody." Tawas Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Mike Modrzynski agrees. "We're happy a decision has been made and it was the right decision," he said. "But there's a long way to go until they iron out the wrinkles." "It's going to give us two extra weekends of summer. As long as the weather stays the way it did this year, we'll be happy." Granholm said the bill will not negatively impact Michigan children's education since it does not impact the amount of time children are required to be in the classroom. Hale Area School Superintendent Rhonda Provoast said she is "disappointed" by the governor's decision to sign the bill. "I thought her decision was to leave it at the local level," she said. Provoast said the local district is at 170 calendar days but is at the required 1,098 hours per school year. She added that the district does not have a calendar negotiated and officials meet each spring with the calendar committee to work out dates. Oscoda Area Schools, during the 2002-03 and 2003-04 school years, started after Labor Day. Superintendent Christine Beardsley said the current contract extends for two more years; however, the school calendar is negotiated annually. Tawas Area Schools Superintendent Jerry Youngs said there is a contract in place for one more year. That pact is a four-year agreement which was extended one more year. "We'll probably go along with that calendar unless teachers want to change it," he said. "We'll have to get with the other schools in the county." One factor they'll consider is having a common calendar for courses such as at Iosco Regional Education Service Agency. School superintendents have a regularly scheduled monthly meeting today (Wednesday) and the post-Labor Day start-up is likely to be a topic of conversation, Youngs said. At Whittemore-Prescott Area Schools, Superintendent Ted Matuszak said the measure means the district will start classes seven days later than it did this year. He said teacher contracts are currently negotiated yearly.