Anonymous wrote:Here's a link to the governor. I just sent my letter.

https://governor.virginia.gov/constituent-services/communicating-with-the-governors-office/

Thanks for the link. I'll be sending a letter as well.

To other people who want to write: Remember to stress the business aspects. What you will have to cancel and how many dollars won't be spent in Virginia as a result of school starting a week earlier. That's what will really resonate with McAuliffe.

Anonymous wrote:Are we talking about a one time or permanent waiver to start school before Labor Day or are we talking about waiving days at the end of the school year due to snow. And what's the source of our current angst?

We are talking about a waiver to start school a week early next year. FCPS has indicated they will apply for it if we miss one more day. While ostensibly this is a one-time waiver, anyone who thinks the school board will stick to that hasn't been paying attention.

Are we talking about a one time or permanent waiver to start school before Labor Day or are we talking about waiving days at the end of the school year due to snow. And what's the source of our current angst?

I wish FCPS would just make up their minds on the 2015-16 school calendar. I've got Summer camps to register my child for and/or weeks I have to figure out coverage and it's frustrating to me and DH being both working parents.

If parents can't stop them, Richmond can.

Even if you'd love a pre-Labor Day start, I urge you to lobby against this. Lobby again for the early start next year if you'd like. The point is that Va. taxpayers and school shareholders--i.e., parents--should have a say in these decisions. Unlike SLEEP, etc., there were no referendums or surveys on the waiver issue (even though I believe those are just for show anyway).

Send the message that no, they can't just do whatever the hell they want.

Anonymous wrote:Can they really change the calendar for this upcoming year? I thought it would change for the following year. I'm all for the change.

They have a draft on their home page already! I believe they made calendar changes later than this last spring for the current year. Essentially they do whatever the hell they want.

I thought I was based on a 3 or 5 year average of snow days needed. Didn't I read that?

Here's a link to the governor. I just sent my letter.

https://governor.virginia.gov/constituent-services/communicating-with-the-governors-office/

Anonymous wrote:Can they really change the calendar for this upcoming year? I thought it would change for the following year. I'm all for the change.

The proposed calendar the wavier (if applied for) would adopt changes it for the upcoming year, effectively shortening this upcoming summer vacation by a week.

Can they really change the calendar for this upcoming year? I thought it would change for the following year. I'm all for the change.

Beach trips are not the point.

FCPS deciding on a whim when our children will attend school is the point.

In seven years, we've dealt with three bell schedule changes in addition to this latest nonsense. And the latest bell schedule change is *25 minutes later* than our current start time--nearly an hour later than when my oldest started K. Thank God for SACC or I'd be unemployed.

Good idea to write to the governor.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any wavier will have to granted by Richmond. The Governor is very, very pro-business. Write to him and let him know how many Virginia-based vacations and events you will have to cancel if it is granted. Stress how much money you would have spent. If enough people do it, it could be effective.

Glad keeping your labor day beach trip next year is more important than kids being in school before testing.

Keeping a beach trip or whatever that you've already planned and PAID FOR may not be a big deal to you, but I hazard to say most of us can't just throw money away.

Look, I'd love to start before Labor Day -- but with more advance warning and less subterfuge than this. Take away some of that 2 week Christmas holiday if they're worried about getting the days in. Why we need a big break then when we know half of January and February will be cancelled for "weather" is beyond me.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any wavier will have to granted by Richmond. The Governor is very, very pro-business. Write to him and let him know how many Virginia-based vacations and events you will have to cancel if it is granted. Stress how much money you would have spent. If enough people do it, it could be effective.

Glad keeping your labor day beach trip next year is more important than kids being in school before testing.

Did I mention a beach trip? The point of that post was suggesting a potentially effective way to lobby against the wavier, if necessary.

Anonymous wrote:Any wavier will have to granted by Richmond. The Governor is very, very pro-business. Write to him and let him know how many Virginia-based vacations and events you will have to cancel if it is granted. Stress how much money you would have spent. If enough people do it, it could be effective.

Glad keeping your labor day beach trip next year is more important than kids being in school before testing.

Any wavier will have to granted by Richmond. The Governor is very, very pro-business. Write to him and let him know how many Virginia-based vacations and events you will have to cancel if it is granted. Stress how much money you would have spent. If enough people do it, it could be effective.