By By ERIN VER BERKMOES / Niles Daily Star
NILES - How would you like two extra weeks of vacation?
Children in Michigan could have their summer vacation extended two weeks, if a bill in the Michigan legislature passes. If the bill passes, districts would be required to start their school year after the Labor Day holiday.
Tourism is the second largest industry in Michigan and would greatly benefit from the passing of the bill. Starting school after Labor Day would provide families with two additional weeks of summer tourism.
Proponents believe families would be able to benefit by this expanded vacation time in August. They would be able to get back to the traditional summer vacation which starts in the beginning of June and has the students returning the Tuesday after Labor Day.
Niles area residents and school officials feel very differently about making this a requirement for school districts.
Sarah Gowen of Niles said, "Making it so school doesn't start until after Labor Day makes sense. It would give us more time to spend together as a family and for vacation."
Katrina Andrews of Niles said, "It would be a great thing, if they made it so that the kids had to go back to school after Labor Day. It would make sense for places like Northern Michigan who depend on tourism for their economy."
Andrews added, "It would give people more time to take advantage of vacation time and I think that my family would definitely do some thing over the Labor Day weekend if they didn't have to go back to school beforehand."
One school superintendent sees a few problems with this legislation.
Law added, "There is also a disconnect with our high school athletics that are now starting earlier. With school starting later, if we were to start school after Labor Day a fourth of the football season would be played before the students started school.