If you have strong feelings one way or the other about schools in Southwest Michigan returning to the classroom before Labor Day, you might want to take your argument to the Berrien RESA Administrative Conference Center later this month.
With an increasing number of public school systems arguing that they want to waive Michigan’s rules that classes cannot begin until after Labor Day, the team at Berrien RESA will hold a public hearing on the issue on the evening of Tuesday, February 25th in Berrien Springs.
The Berrien RESA Administrative Conference Center, located at 711 St. Joseph Avenue in Berrien Springs, will host the public hearing that evening at 5pm with the Michigan Department of Education and other local school districts to discuss the County’s recently requested Labor Day waiver.
The three-year waiver requests the exemption for all public school districts and academies in Berrien County to begin the school year before Labor Day. If approved, it will be up to each individual district if they wish to take advantage of that option.
The required hearing will be held to allow area superintendents to share a brief presentation followed by an opportunity for community members to provide comments and ask questions.
An official from the Michigan Department of Education will participate via phone.
The argument for holding off classes until after Labor Day has long been led by the tourism and hospitality industry who want family vacations to be able to run up to and through the Labor Day weekend, coupled with their need to maintain youth workers in that critical tourism period in order to maintain customer service expectations.
