Lettow, Widen address September start date announcement

Two Franklin County superintendents have expressed concern following an announcement from state officials last week regarding school year start dates.

     Brad Buck, director of the Iowa Department of Education, announced new plans to adhere more closely to existing laws that require schools to start classes during the first week of September. In the past, the Department of Education had automatically granted requests from districts wishing to start earlier than the September guideline. Complaints from parents and other entities led to the internal policy change, which will take effect during the 2015-16 school year.

     Hampton-Dumont Superintendent Todd Lettow and CAL Superintendent Dwight Widen said the change will have obvious impacts on scheduling procedure this winter. Both districts typically start school in mid-August, but that will change next year if they aren’t granted a special waiver.

    Read the full article in the December 17 edition of the Hampton Chronicle.