Panel mulls earlier school start in Minn.

A bill that would allow schools to start before before Labor Day came before a Minnesota House education committee on Thursday.

The bill's author, Rep. Jerry Newton, DFL-Coon Rapids, said local school districts should decide when to start classes.

"It's about restoring to the school boards the authority to decide ... when they want to end the school year," Newton said.

Current state law requires classes start after Labor Day, unless school districts apply for a waiver. A few dozen districts in the state have taken that step.

The bill is opposed by Minnesota's tourism industry. Brainerd-area resort owner Tom Cavanaugh said if schools start before Labor Day, families will cut summer vacations short and he'll lose much of his August business.

"The entire infrastructure of the resort industry and tourism in general have been built on that predictable school year," Cavanaugh said.

The House Education Policy Committee could vote on the bill next week.