Why would moving the school year start date effect local businesses? The Blair County Chamber of Commerce believes businesses would benefit from a later school date. Being an Altoona Area High school student, I take a different position on the case. Moving the start date to after Labor Day is not a good idea. Shortly, after graduating, many students attend basic training for the military. Along with that, students are involved in many other school related activities, including summer school, college programs, and different sports activities and or clubs. Although those reasons are important, I would like to call to mind the job problem. If school starts later, would that not affect tourism and recreational dollars at the beginning of the summer? While those reasons should be taken into account, shouldn't school be a safe place for children? Record High temperatures have been recorded at the end of June into the start of July. Schools do not have air conditioners, so is that not putting the students at risk for health problems?
             Students are involved in several valuable activities during the summer. Shortly after graduating many seniors attend basic training for the military. The start date for basic training would be affected because the surrounding counties and or states would graduate earlier than those of Pennsylvania counties. A surplus of students attend enrichment courses during the summer. Seniors would not be able to attend college in the fall. With school running into the late summer, many seniors would enjoy a respite from school before entering college. Nevertheless, college applications are due two weeks after school ends, so senior applications would be late. Along with school activities, students attend sport activities. Since school would end late in the summer, the sports seasons would be affected. Likewise, the season change would impact the weather and cause the weather to affect a team's performance.
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