Should school start before or after Labor Day?

After years of debating the issue, the Mat-Su Borough School Board is putting the question to the community. The school district recently sent surveys home with students, asking families if they would prefer school start before or after Labor Day. The surveys are due back May 15.

Community members who do not have children in school and so have not received the survey can respond online by visiting the school district's Web page at www.mat-su.k12.ak.us/schdist.

This winter the school board heard from school staff, parents and students who said it makes more sense to start school in mid-August rather than waiting until after Labor Day. They argued this would allow for more natural breaks, with semester ending before Christmas vacation, and would let students out earlier in the spring, before Memorial Day. Under the current schedule, school lets out after Memorial Day.

Supporters also pointed out that the earlier start date would allow more school days to prepare for state exams in October.

While many board members seemed convinced that starting school in August is educationally more sound, they admitted that such a change could be contentious. In a community where moose and caribou hunting in late August and September often fill the freezer, some families say the earlier start date would be a hardship. Others contend it would interfere with summer employment, such as at the Alaska State Fair, and family vacations.

And perhaps just importantly, it may be a matter of tradition.

"In my mind, school always starts the day after Labor Day," board member Rob Wells said during a February school board meeting.

While the school district waits to hear from Valley residents, students have conducted an investigation of their own. At last week's Mat-Su school board meeting, representatives from the district's Student Advisory Board presented the results of their survey. This school year, the group randomly chose 850 Mat-Su students and asked them whether they like the existing school calendar or would prefer school to start before Labor Day.

Two-thirds of the students surveyed said they would like the earlier start date. The student advisory board has also come out in support of the new calendar.