Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) would like to exempt, at minimum, nine schools from the state calendar law.  Unfortunately, state legislators do not support the idea of leaving school calendar decisions to local school boards.  I think they should.

Certainly, I understand the concerns of those who favor a strong calendar law that prohibits school boards from starting the traditional school year in early August.  School boards should be responsive to the desires of the community they serve.  Perhaps one way to keep school boards accountable would be to give citizens a referendum option.  This option would allow school calendar changes to be vetoed by a vote of the residents of the school district.