Nodler supports later school start

Sen. Gary Nodler, R-Joplin, told a group of counselors meeting at the Southwest Center for Educational Excellence in Webb City recently that he supported a proposal to require school districts to start the school year after Labor Day.
A Senate bill was proposed during the last session by Sen. Jack Goodman, R-Mount Vernon, and it was approved by Nodler's Education Committee, but never came to a vote of the full Senate. The bill will likely be submitted again in 2007.
Nodler told the counselors school administrators have given him "no credible reason," why schools start earlier than Labor Day.
From what I have been told of the meeting, Nodler did not go as far as his Senate colleague, Goodman, who said his bill would "protect families."
As I wrote in the March 23 Turner Report:

In a news release, Goodman said the bill "protects families' ability to take summer vacations, be involved in sports and summer camps and take advantage of other important non-classroom learning opportunities."
Goodman continues, adding that this simple maneuver will increase student attendance "as parents are relieved of the burden of choosing between their children's education and these other vital activities."

Nowhere in Goodman's news release did he mention the amount of money that the bill is a pet project of the tourism interests since they can make more money off the weeks in August and the first few days in September than they can off the last days of May.

In the March 23 Turner Report, I explored those links between Goodman and the tourism interests:

A check of campaign disclosure forms filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission shows Goodman received at least $10,550 from Branson interests during the special election in which he succeeded the late Larry Gene Taylor.
In the disclosure form filed eight days before the election, Goodman received the following contributions:
Starboard Corporation $600 (the maximum at that time), Mark Still, Still Construction, Branson, $150; Kanakuk Camps $600, Raeanne Presley (of the Presley Theater) $150, Peter Herschend (Silver Dollar City) $300; American Council of Travel, $600; Ozark Travel Service Network LLC $600, Market Source LLC $600, Branson Hotline $600, Vacation Services of America, Inc. $600, Travel More Now, $600,Jack Herschend $300.
The October disclosure form shows Goodman receiving $600 from Grandvista LLC (Branson Yacht Club), and an additional $600 from GV 248 LLC at the same address as Grandvista; $600 from Kelly Swanson of What's Up Dock Marina; $600 from HCW LLC and $600 from HCW Development Corporation LLC at the same address.
On the form filed 15 days after his nomination, Goodman received $600 from Silver Dollar City BACPAC and $500 from the What's Up Dock Marina, as well as $150 from Burch and Associates, the lobbying firm run by former State Representative Jerry Burch. The firm's clients include the Branson Area Chamber of Commerce.