By Associated Press
Bay Minette, AL – The Baldwin County Board of Education has decided to begin the school year a week later this year, with the first day of classes on Aug. 16, and tourism officials are pleased.
Alabama Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau President Herb Malone said his organization approached school officials about two months ago and asked them to consider delaying the first day of school.
Malone says the delay will help beach businesses and that the school system could benefit from the sales tax generated during an extra week of summer vacation.
School system spokesman Terry Wilhite said the schedule makers accommodated the Aug. 16 start by eliminating two days of fall break and extending the academic calendar by two days in May 2011.