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By MICHAEL MARTZ
Arundel Newspapers Staff Writer
RICHMOND — Public schools throughout Virginia won’t open until after Labor Day the next two years, under legislation that passed the Senate on Thursday and now awaits only the governor’s approval.
The Senate voted 24-14 to approve the bill, introduced by Del. Al8on H. Smith Jr. (D-Winchester), who watched with approval from the Senate gallery.
The bill would mandate post-Labor Day school openings only through 1988, as an experiment to judge its effectiveness and consequences. Thereafter, the State Board of Education could waive the requirement “on a showing of good cause.”
Fauquier County Public Schools in recent years have opened a week before Labor Day. The current school year began Monday, Aug. 26, 1985 — seven days before Labor Day.
The measure had been dubbed “the King’s Dominion bill” because tourist industries, such as the theme park north of Richmond, lobbied
egeapedwi Senate committee... ’ Because no changes were made in * the House version, the bill will go directly to Gov. Gerald L. Baliles.
Early school openings had damaged the tourist industry, the bill’s supporters said, by depriving them of summer labor over the Labor Day weekend, when people take their last vacation of the season. It also prevented many families from taking vacations at the end of August or forced them to take children out of school, proponents said.
Sen. Charles L. Waddell (DLoudoun/Fairfax), who voted for the bill, said parents view the legislation as “a measure that protects a family holiday and vacation opportunity of which they have been deprived.”
Also voting for the bill were Sen. William A. Truban (R-Fauqiiier /Clarke/Warren/Shenandoah) and Kevin G. Miller (R-Fauquier/Rappahannock/Page/Rockingham).
In the House, which approved the measure on Feb. 11, Del. Raymond R. “Andy” Guest (R-Fauquier/Rappahannock/Clarke/Warren),
Del. Kenneth B. Rollins (RFauquier/Loudoun) and Del. Thomas M. Moncure Jr. (R-Fauquier/Stafford) voted for it.
The bill’s opponents attacked both the bill and the motive for proposing it.
“This is special interest legislation at its finest,” said Sen. R. Edward Houck (D-Spotsylvania), a school principal.
Opponents argued that constitutionally the authority to operate public schools rests with local school boards, not the General Assembly.
really think it’s a local decision,” Del. Kenneth Plum (D-Res: ton) said, “and that’s where it ought to be left.”
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