Supporters of a state law that restricts school systems from cutting into summer vacation time plan to rally Saturday in Emerald Isle.
Ronnie Watson, owner of the Holiday Trav-L-Park Resort, said at least 400 people are scheduled to a beachside rally from 5 to 8 p.m. in support of a 2004 law that requires the academic year to end by June 10 and start no earlier than Aug. 25, Jerry Allegood reports.
Parents, tourism-related businesses and coastal town leaders contended that longer school years were cutting into family vacations.
Watson is a supporter of Save Our Summers, which championed the 2004 law and opposed a bill this year to weaken it.
Treasurer Richard Moore, a candidate for the Democratic nomination for governor, will address the gathering, according to Watson. Other state politicians will also attend.
More after the jump.
Correction: A previous version of this post incorrectly stated that Watson was a board member.
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Moore says the law should stay as it is. The House passed a bill, which is pending in the Senate, that would allow more school districts to start school before August 25 each year.
"This is only the second year that the August 25 start date for schools has been in effect," he said in a statement. "I think it would be premature to roll back the calendar after such a short period. We have not had time to fully examine the impact that it is having on our schools, students and economy."
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