CHARLESTON, W.Va. — After debate of almost an hour, delegates narrowly voted down a bill that would have kept West Virginia’s school year between Sept. 1 and June 7.
Right now, counties have leeway with school calendars, with many starting in mid-August.
Advocates for the bill said it would set a standard across West Virginia, although counties that wanted to deviate could request a waiver.
Those who were against it contended the bill would have reduced local flexibility while making it harder to deal with snow days or absences during deer season.
The bill originally was described as starting school no sooner than Labor Day and ending the year no later than Memorial Day, but it was amended on Tuesday.
Delegate Scott Cadle, R-Mason, described the bill as a step back from changes the Legislature had made in recent years.
“About four years ago we passed legislation to let the counties set their own schedule because we had counties that were getting a lot of snow days,” Cadle said.
“So we gave them flexibility to do whatever they needed to do to get the 180 days.”
Delegate Carl Martin, R-Upshur, talked about his time serving on a local school board. He said the current system allows flexibility for weather phenomena like extended periods of snow or cultural phenomena like hunting season.
“I think the current system we have now where the school boards can choose their days works out great,” Martin said.
Delegate Caleb Hanna, R-Nicholas, argued in favor of the bill. He said it would allow families greater certainty about when the school year would start.
“What’s more important, deer season or the education of our students?” Hanna asked.
Delegate John Doyle, D-Jefferson, said he was against a version of this bill last year. But now he was in favor because he had heard from people in his community who believe school starts too soon in August.
Doyle said he was assured that the ability to ask for a waiver would provide county school systems enough latitutde.
“This bill is not the either-or choice that some of the opponents have tried to portray it,” Doyle said. “It has some flexibility still In it, and I think enough.”
Delegates passed another bill Wednesday to further define the responsibilities and powers of the newly-created foster care ombudsman.
That bill is one of several this session meant to affect how West Virginia deals with its growing foster care system, which now includes 7,000 children.
That bill passed 97-0.