ALBIA -- “Back to school” is fast approaching. But is it legal? KTVO’s Fact Finder Team looked into an Iowa law which states that schools cannot begin before September 1st without obtaining a waiver.
Without the waiver, schools could run into some scheduling issues.
“We've got the first football and first volleyball games in late August,” said Albia Superintendent Kevin Crall. “We'd have to back that up and then that backs up into when those seasons end. We're talking inclement weather and so forth, so for the most part, we were kind of thinking it's a local decision and we would like it to start in August because our kids are ready to come back in August.”
Fairfield Schools’ Superintendent Don Achelpohl agreed. Inclement weather was cause for nine snow days in the Fairfield school district last year; inclement weather, coupled with a later start can cause concern for teachers who are working on their own school degrees during the summer months.
With many school districts choosing to waiver the September 1st law, some may question why the law is in place. “I think it's a local decision and the process works fine,” said Crall. “But, I think if you look at the number of school districts that are starting before September 1st, it's probably in the percentages of 80 or 90.”
Crall also said no one spoke out against the waiver when it went before a public hearing.
Heat can be problematic in non-air conditioned school facilities, especially during the mid August month. “Not all our facilities are air conditioned, we're working on that,” said Crall.
“The superintendent has the ability to let students out early in case of heat,” said Achelpohl.
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