×

Students to begin next school year before Labor Day

ALPENA — Students in Alpena Public Schools will be starting school before Labor Day next school year after the board of education acted on the waiver the Michigan Department of Education’s approved last year.

The option to move the start date was granted to APS in May 2016 but was not used for this school year because of how the short time frame the district would have had to implement the changes.

For the current school year APS started Sept. 6, the Tuesday following Labor Day, which fell in line with state practice. However, different aspects of the school already were active including the Early College program, practice for sporting events and extracurriculars.

“We’re eligible for the waiver because of our Early College program,” Superintendent John VanWagoner said at Monday’s meeting. “We are the only district in the (Alpena-Montmorency-Alcona Educational Service District) that is eligible for this waiver because of that alignment and our close relationship with Alpena Community College.”

With the waiver granted it was the purview of the APS Board of Education to adopt the start date of the school year. By unanimous decision the board approved Aug. 28, which is the Monday before Labor Day, as the district’s 2017-18 start date.

Board member Jackie Krawczak, who is president/CEO of the Alpena Area Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber consulted with local industry leaders to see if there would be a negative impact on either tourism or employment availability. Following the conversations she did not see any reason to oppose the change and said it was also best for the students.

“We want to do what is best for the kids and we know this is what is best for them,” she said.

Human Resources Director Justin Gluesing said while the start date was finalized, many of the other dates were being negotiated with the district’s teachers union.

“We’ll be working with the different groups for negotiations and hopefully we can get it done as soon as possible,” he said.

Gluesing said he only saw positives out of the change and pointed out the district historically started before Labor Day but changed following a state mandate. He said the move back to a pre-Labor Day start better synced the district’s activities to the school year.

The first year of the change will see a slightly shorter summer break but the following year Gluesing expected a longer summer break for the students.

The first day of school Aug. 28, a Monday, will be a four day school week followed by a four day week for Labor Day then another four day school week. After two four day school weeks the district will resume the normal five day school weeks.

The Aug. 28 start date will be the same start date of ACC.

The waiver also will be good for the 2018-19 school year before the district must reapply for the waiver.

Tyler Winowiecki can be reached via email at twinowiecki@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5688. Follow Tyler on Twitter tw_alpenanews.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today