On the last day of the 1997 session both chambers of the Legislature took action on the issue of supporting MichiganÕs tourism industry by starting schools after Labor Day. However, because of the stranglehold opposition by the school lobby to our efforts, both the House and Senate bills had to be dramatically altered in order to advance.

Even with a compromise, the House defeated, by a 35-71 vote, H.B. 5080 which would have required all public schools to open after Labor Day unless the local school board voted at a regularly scheduled meeting to Òopt-outÓ of this requirement. However, this bill is not yet officially dead, and there might be a vote to reconsider the measure when the Legislature reconvenes in 1998.

On a more positive note, S.B. 300 cleared the Senate by a single vote. However, in order to secure passage, the mandatory opening after Labor Day was dropped. Instead the bill simply requires that any school that begins after Labor Day must also be closed the Friday before Labor Day. In addition to this four day weekend, the bill creates a commission of tourism and education officials to study the impact of school opening on tourism.

Although these bills fall far short of our desired goal, the two sponsors of the House proposal, Rep. Pat Gagliardi (D- Drummond Island) and Rep. Bev Bodem (R-Alpena), along with the sponsor of Senate measure, Senator Walt North (R-St. Ignace), deserve our praise for their steadfast efforts on behalf of the tourism industry.