May 15th, 2015 by WCBC Radio

The 2015-2016 school year for students in Allegany County will begin August 24^th- despite the best efforts of Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot to see the kids get a long summer vacation. The comptroller was on the Boardwalk in Ocean City in August of last year to launch a petition drive seeking 10,000 signatures advocating a mandated post-Labor Day start to the public school year in Maryland as part of his “Let Summer Be Summer” campaign. At the opening of the 2015 session in January, the campaign appeared to be gaining momentum as Franchot and its other major supporters, which included Governor Larry Hogan, business owners and tourism officials, turned in the petition with over 13,000 signatures.  Despite failing to even get a committee hearing in either the Senate or the House, the bid for a state-mandated post-Labor Day start to the school year will continue. Among those who opposed the concept: Allegany County School Superintendent David Cox and Garrett Superintendent Janet Wilson. Franchot blamed the defeat on what he called the “education elite”….