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Rockford Public Schools to start before Labor Day

Posted at 6:10 PM, Mar 28, 2016
and last updated 2016-03-28 18:10:53-04

ROCKFORD, Mich. – Rockford Public Schools will be back in session before Labor Day for the next few years.RPS classes are slated to begin with an Aug. 29 start this year.

State law requires public schools to begin each school year after Labor Day to benefit Michigan tourism, but Rockford Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Mike Shibler said the district has been working with the state the last four years for a waiver. He said the waiver was approved last week.

This waiver stems from the requirement from the Michigan Department of Education that districts increase their instructional days from 175 to 180 days beginning with the 2016-2017 school year.

Some families are apparently protesting. “We’re giving them, what, several months advanced notice and so forth,” said Dr. Shibler. “But at the same time, we’ll accommodate parents that want to go on vacation that last week.”

Dr. Shibler also told FOX 17 the district is looking into a so-called "balanced calendar" where students would go to school 45 days followed by 15 days off, then repeat this cycle year-round.