Judge OKs mountain school district’s early start

By EMERY P. DALESIO
Associated Press

RALEIGH, NC (AP) — A state judge won’t stop a North Carolina school district from starting classes next week despite a state law requiring a 10-week summer vacation.

State Administrative Law Judge Joe Webster ruled Tuesday he didn’t see a reason to stop Macon County schools from opening classes on Aug. 4. A group dedicated to upholding the school calendar law said the exception watered down the mandate against classes beginning before Aug. 25.

North Carolina adopted a statewide school calendar in 2004 at the urging of the tourism industry and parents who wanted to keep summers as free time.

Lawyers for the 4,400-student school district in the state’s westernmost corner say school officials want to start three weeks earlier to allow for week-long remedial reading sessions in October, March and July.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)