Post Labor Day School Opening Initiative

~ updated: April 2012 ~

Thank you to all those who helped in our post Labor Day school opening efforts. We now have three school districts - Wallenpaupack, Pocono Mountains, and Stroudsburg - that have adopted a post Labor Day opening!

We will continue our efforts to have other school districts adopt a post labor day school opening after the start of the 2012-13 school year.

The PMVB is actively endorsing post-Labor Day school openings in the Pocono Mountains region for the next three years. Superintendents and school boards throughout the four-county region are being approached regarding this and we need your support in order to be successful! We are asking you and your employees to contact the schools to share your approval. 

Talking Points

Statements of Support to be Used by the Community

School Board Members by District  

Talking Points

What are we asking for?
To have the various school districts within the Pocono Mountains (Carbon, Monroe, Pike and Wayne Counties) begin their school year after the Labor Day Holiday for the next three years. 

Why are you asking for this change in the school schedule?
Historically schools in the Pocono Mountains and throughout much of the Commonwealth did not open until after Labor Day particularly when the holiday fell on September 1, 2 or 3.  When the holiday fell on September 4, it was up to the school district to determine if they would begin classes before or after the holiday.  When Labor Day was on September 5, 6 or 7, school would open prior to the holiday.  We are asking for the school districts to return to their historic trend.  As in the case for the next three years:

            * Labor Day Holiday                          September 3, 2012

            * Labor Day Holiday                          September 2, 2013

            * Labor Day Holiday                          September 1, 2014

Are there economic advantages to a post Labor Day school opening?
A 2006 study done by the Pennsylvania Legislative Budget and Finance Committee and contracted by the research firm of TrippUmbach showed that starting school before Labor Day:

• Has a $378 million negative economic impact on the Commonwealth. This is unrealized spending by residents and non-residents alike who cannot take a vacation during the last week of August.
• Costs 2,348 jobs.
• Equates to a loss of $17.7 million in state tax revenue.
• Students and teachers lose $45.6 million in the inability to work a summer job during the last week of August. This also includes bonuses often provided by employers for employees who work the entire summer season.
• An energy savings of more than $100 million would be derived as the cost for heating/cooling buildings is less expensive in June than in August.

Are there social advantages to a post Labor Day school opening?
A September school opening is a pro-family action as:

• Many families are concerned that opening school before the traditional end-of-summer holiday negatively affects a family's ability to take a vacation.
• Having more non-holiday days off (opening of hunting season, election day, etc.) throughout the school year also forces parents to take off work and find child care for those days, which most likely are not holidays in the workplace.
• An October 2011 statewide survey conducted by Susquehanna Polling and Research found that when asked their feelings about "when school should begin" respondents indicated that they preferred an after Labor Day opening by a margin of 2 to 1.

Do any school districts in the Pocono Mountains open after Labor Day?

• Yes, the Wallenpaupack Area School District has always begun school the day after the Labor Day holiday.

What organizations/individuals support a post Labor Day School Opening?

• Greater Pocono Chamber of Commerce
• Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau
• Wallenpaupack Area School District
• Representative Mario Scavello
• Representative Rosemary Brown
  

PDF of the above Talking Points

~ Back to Top ~

Statements of Support to be Used by the Community

Sample Support Statement Option #1

I am writing in support of the post Labor Day school opening proposed for the next three consecutive years. Public school districts throughout the four-county Pocono Mountains (comprised of Carbon, Monroe, Pike and Wayne Counties) region were requested to wait until after Labor Day to start classes for the next three consecutive years. This request is being made in support of the Pocono Mountains tourism industry, the largest employer and economic driver within the collective four counties. By extending the summer vacation season, the business community will thrive and generate revenue for the regional economy, which in turn generates state revenue, part of which comes back to public schools. I support this effort, and ask you to adopt a post Labor Day school opening for the next three years.

# # #

Sample Support Statement Option #2

I am writing in support of the post Labor Day school opening proposed for the next three consecutive years. Public school districts throughout the four-county Pocono Mountains (located in Carbon, Monroe, Pike and Wayne Counties) region have been asked to follow the national trend of starting school post Labor Day for the next three consecutive years. The Pocono Mountains is a tourism dependent region and requires seasonal assistance to support the business community. Many area students and teachers provide the necessary labor force during this popular vacation time of year. For many of these seasonal workers, the initial work experiences and acquired skills lead to fulfilling career opportunities and in particular, can teach life lessons to youth in maturing. I support this effort, and ask you to adopt a post Labor Day school opening for the next three years.

# # #

Sample Support Statement Option #3 

I am writing in support of the post Labor Day school opening proposed for the next three consecutive years. Public school districts throughout the four-county Pocono Mountains (comprised of Carbon, Monroe, Pike and Wayne Counties) region were requested to wait until after Labor Day to start classes for the next three consecutive years. Labor Day weekend is an important holiday weekend that concludes the end of summer. Public schools that follow the national trend of starting school post Labor Day allow opportunities for families to spend that time reconnecting and recreating. I support this effort, and ask you to adopt a post Labor Day school opening for the next three years.

~ Back to Top ~

School Board Members by District

- Delaware Valley

- East Stroudsburg

- Jim Thorpe Area

- Lehighton Area

- North Pocono

- Palmerton Area

- Panther Valley

- Pleasant Valley

- Pocono Mountains

- Stroudsburg Area

- Wayne Highlands

- Weatherly Area

- Western Wayne

~ Back to Top ~