LOWER LAKE — Labor Day Weekend traditionally marks the end of summer but students in Konocti classrooms have traditionally been back in school for one week by the time of the three-day weekend.
For this coming school year, however, Konocti will consider moving the first day of school until the Tuesday after Labor Day. Discussion of the change is part of a consideration to align the Konocti calendar with other districts around the lake. An earlier decision by the board aligned winter and spring breaks for the next three years.
“Several parents have asked me for an after-Labor Day start,” said Board Clerk Anita Gordon. “I also like the idea of the community coming together.”
Traditional summer employers have weighed in with support for Konocti postponing the beginning of school. Toni Scully with Scully Packing said that 64 Lake County teens earned more than $945,000 last August by working in its pear-packing shed.
The pear-packing season traditionally ends after Labor Day and students must be available in order to complete the work.
“Last season was unseasonably early so we hired a few students from Konocti,” Scully said. “Eight students from Konocti earned $9,731.
“This is hard work that the kids come and do,” Scully added. And the kids who do it, learn a sense of responsibility they don”t get any place else.”
Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa also employs teens for the summer. According to General Manager Greg Bennett, a large majority of its summer workforce is made up of high school students. “Without this core group of employees, it would be difficult, if not impossible, to produce the major events and operate the high volume destination resort that Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa has become.”
Bennett added in his letter to the Konocti district that the resort”s Lake County Summerfest takes place during the last 10 days of summer. Some of its signature events, such as the Pepsi Celebrity Quarterback Golf Shootout and its “Takin” It to the Streets” motorcycle road rally, occupy the last week before the Labor Day holiday as do many shows.
Most school board members seemed supportive of a later start.
Board member Hank Montgomery said that with astronomical college costs, “The big talk at our house was ?What will you do for the summer? Do you have your job lined up?”” He added that an early start “killed” 4-H in Konocti because showing animals at the fair put Konocti students behind in school.
Speaking as a retired teacher, board member Carolynn Jarrett said that by the end of summer, most students were ready for school but as soon as the weather got warmer toward the end of the school year, their attention in school would wane. “An earlier start would mean a longer struggle at the end of school to keep students engaged,” Jarrett said.
Gordon disagreed, however. “I”m not seeing results that an early start is educationally better.”
Curriculum and Instruction Program Coordinator Monte Gregg said that an early start has been more for the benefit of teachers.
Speaking on behalf of the teachers” union, educator Paul Leiferman said that the Konocti Education Association was “not necessarily interested” in a later start. Board President Herb Gura said he hoped the district could work with KEA”s concerns about a later-start calendar.
The board”s consensus on Wednesday was to consider a later start for the school year. The calendar will need to come back before the board for formal action.
Contact Cynthia Parkhill at cparkhill@clearlakeobserver.com.
