Grassroots effort tries to make start of Knox County School year later

Two Knoxville women say starting school in late August, even September would save school districts money. A big chunk of savings would come from lower air conditioning bills.

Amy Olson and Cathy Van Meter want to see the school year start later.

"I think it is outrageous that my children went back August 9th," said Olson. "It's summertime. They are supposed to be out of school."

Olson has three children who attend Knox County Schools. Her friend Cathy Van Meter has two.

The women are part of a grassroots effort aimed at pushing back the start of the school year.

It's called Save Our Summers Tennessee. The movement started in West and Middle Tennessee and has now moved to the East.

The group believes districts that have a more "traditional" school year perform better. "We are spreading e-mails, writing letters, talking to the school board, trying to get parents to e-mail state representatives," Van Meter said.

"Anybody who has an issue with the calendar can submit it to the Calendar Committee or the Board of Education," said Russ Oakes, spokesman for Knox County Schools.

Oakes added that there are a lot of things to consider when planning the calendar. Students are required to attend 180 days. Classes must revolve around holidays and state-mandated testing.

The district also believes first semester finals should happen before winter break.

"It's not really fair to ask a student to go through a semester of classes, take 10 days off, when you come back, we are going to give you your final exam," Oakes said. "That's not appropriate."

"Growing up I studied for mid terms over Christmas," Olson said. "Parents and children need to be responsible for studying to a certain extent. I don't expect Knox County to teach my children how to retain the information. I'm here to do that."

It is a school scheduling debate that has some almost as hot the weather, and Knox County's start date next year is three days earlier.

Olson and Van Meter plan to voice their concerns at a school board meeting in early September.

They said they hope people who share the same views will join them.