"Pre-Labor Day school start" hearing to be held in Berrien County

There could be more schools starting before Labor Day in Michigan.

The Berrien Regional Education Service Agency, or RESA, will host a public hearing Wednesday night with the Michigan Department of Education.

The hearing is set to discuss the county's application for a pre-Labor Day start.

RESA officials say a majority of school districts within Berrien County already start classes before Labor Day.

The Labor Day holiday used to feel like the unofficial end to the summer months.

Kids would head back to the classroom, but now, many school systems start before Labor Day.

This stands true for many school districts in Berrien County.

"There is a law on the books in the state of Michigan that school districts start after Labor Day," said Eric Hoppstock, Berrien RESA Superintendent.

Hoppstock says the law came into place during the mid-2000's to encourage tourism in the state. But in 2020, Berrien County applied for a pre-Labor Day start.

With 180 days of classroom learning required, starting before the holiday allows an earlier end of the school year.

"It really allows us to start prior to Labor Day so we can coordinate better with the Universities like Lake Michigan College Andrews University, Southwest Michigan College for those students that are doing that work," said Hoppstock.

Currently the county's application is set to expire this year and will need a renewal.

If approved, any school district in Berrien County will have the opportunity to opt out of participation.

Officials say if approved, each school district will have the opportunity to start before or after Labor Day.

The majority of Berrien County school districts started prior to the Labor Day just last August.

But one school district still started after Labor Day.

Hoppstock says New Buffalo Area Schools is one of the only schools in Berrien County to start after Labor Day.

"With New Buffalo being a tourist town, you know, many of our students are working throughout the summer months and, you know, Labor Day is kind of like that last "hooRah" of our local businesses," said Adam Bowen, New Buffalo Area Schools Superintendent.

Bowen says it can be challenging due to fall sports starting up in August.

But he has heard nothing but positive reviews from parents and students about starting after Labor Day.

"With me being superintendent going on my fourth year. You know that was discussed a few years ago since I began, and that was kind of the recommendation from the board is that we're gonna continue to have our start day after Labor Day," said Bowen.

The public is invited to attend the Berrien RESA public hearing on Pre-Labor Day start dates Wednesday evening.

The hearing takes place in the Berrien RESA Administrative Conference Center at 5 p.m.

https://wsbt.com/news/local/hearing-set-pre-labor-day-school-start-berrien-county-resa-berrien-regional-education-service-agency-education-michigan

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