MASSP News Center

School districts within a common intermediate school district (ISD) would be required to share a common class calendar under legislation that passed the Senate, 20-17, this morning.

Starting with the 2008-09 school year, the legislation would require all school districts within the same ISD to keep the same winter break, spring break and professional development days.

SB 0549, sponsored by Sen. Ron JELINEK (R-Three Oaks), came as the result of a workgroup with school administrators that saw financial savings in having an ISD-sponsored technology class running on the same schedule as its feeder public schools.

The argument being that it’s a waste for an ISD to keep its printing class running, for example, when only one school district is in session. Since then, lawmakers have cited other benefits to keeping a common calendar, despite concerns from some Democratic lawmakers that the change intrudes on collective bargaining rights.

“This legislation could result in significant savings — especially in rural areas, where sharing services is often common,” said Sen. Wayne KUIPERS (R-Holland). “Having one common calendar would allow for sharing of buses, technology, food services, curriculum and other resources throughout the area served by the ISD.”

Because of the labor concern, the bill only passed on a mostly party-line vote of 20-17, with Sen. Bruce PATTERSON (R-Canton) joining Democrats in voting no and Sen. Mickey SWITALSKI (D-Roseville) joining Republicans in voting yes.

Sen. Gretchen WHITMER (D-East Lansing) questioned why charter schools were not included in the legislation and then sponsored a doomed amendment that attempted to rope them into the bill.

Her argument was that it was good public policy to include all taxpayer-funded schools into the bill. If public schools need to request a waiver to get out of a common ISD calendar, so should charter schools. Jelinek urged his Republican colleagues to pass on the amendments, saying charter schools’ main purpose is to be innovative and tying them into this cost-saving proposal could hamper that innovation.

Whitmer’s amendment failed, 18-19.

Schools that operate on a year-round or trimester program would be exempt from the common calendar. School districts would still be allowed to hold their own mid-winter break or take special extended breaks around Thanksgiving.