Twain almost meets in tight House vote over school calendar

Everything seemed upside down last week about the House’s vote to reject HB 2433.
First off, our newspaper applauds this vote for turning down an effort to modify the school calendar to not start earlier than Sept. 1 and end later than June 7.
In 2013, the state school board gave counties the flexibility to determine their own calendars to allow for fulfilling a 180-day mandate for classes.
That action came as a result of harsh winters and mass absences during deer season that prevented districts from achieving that mandate.
Today, many school districts start the school year in mid-August and have little problem meeting this mandate, especially after a string of mild winters.
In other words, this local control is working as intended. We might add that county residents also have a say in the creation of their district’s school calendar.
Anyhow, the arguments for HB 2433 included helping families’ plans for vacations, opportunities for teachers and students to take summer jobs. Others argued against school boards’ flexibility to set their calendars by noting some classrooms don’t have air conditioning during August’s heat.
Meanwhile, the NRA found itself arguing against this bill because the early start many counties have adopted lets them build in certain days for deer season.
But all that said, what’s probably most interesting about this narrow vote was its truly bipartisan tally.
After almost an hour of debate, the bill was rejected, 50-47. Three delegates were absent.
But a breakdown of this vote is even more telling of the schools of thought that emerged over this bill.
Of the 50 nay votes, 36 were Republican and 14 Democrats, including all five of Monongalia County’s delegates. Voting no alongside them were Delegates Amy Summers, R-Taylor,; “Buck” Jennings and Terri Funk Sypolt, both R-Preston.
Of the 47 yea votes, 26 were Democrats and 21 Republicans. Among the Democrats were all three of Marion’s 50th House District and the House Minority leader.
True, many House votes result in several members from either party crossing over to vote with a majority of the other party. But rarely do votes occur in the House where so many delegates from both parties align with the other side for and against a bill.
Especially so many delegates with liberal and conservative pedigrees joining together, who might be hard pressed to agree on what day it is.
Often we are inclined to think that lawmakers’ consciences and thought as a moral compass has gone astray.
Their voting has stuck us with a government divided by politics — where lawmakers look to party loyalty instead of their conscience or the state’s best interest.
But this vote looked to be about what’s best for our children not out politics.
You might even say it was upright.