Letting NC school systems violate the calendar law hurts small businesses like mine | Opinion
Almost every little girl dreams of getting a pony. That was my dream, and at age 6 my parents got me one. I’ve since spent my whole life surrounded by horses. It seemed almost inevitable that I would work in that environment as an adult. I started teaching riding at age 12 and never stopped.
I grew it into a thriving business, and now own Honeysuckle Riding Academy in Monroe. June, July and August are my favorite months of the year. Camp season!
When I found out that the Union County school board adopted a calendar that starts the school year earlier than state law allows, I was at first heartbroken, then sick to my stomach. The sick feeling came when I realized how much money my small business will lose. That’s why I decided to be part of a lawsuit against the school system.
By adopting that calendar, the school board basically took August from small business owners like me who operate summer camp programs. For me, the funds brought in during August help support my business through the winter, and horses cost a lot to feed during the winter months.
The camps are also important because they allow us to offer lessons during the year at a much lower rate than most to those who may not be able to afford horseback riding otherwise.
Due to the loss of income from August camps, it’s not just the horses that will feel the negative impact. So will my children. The loss of this income will take a personal toll. To make up for the financial loss I will have to find time to do extra activities on the farm. This calendar change will take time away that I would spend with my two children and my husband.
As a small business owner I rely heavily on the Union County public school system calendar. Parents were sent a tentative schedule and start date for 2023 to vote on in November 2022. The Aug. 9, 2023 start date was not even mentioned in that survey.
In making my camp schedule for 2023, I went by the law and what I saw on that survey from Union County schools. As a result, I face losing a minimum of 75 potential campers in summer 2023.
I’ll lose additional camp weeks due to the new May 22, 2024 end date for the 2023-24 school year. With Memorial Day close on the heels of that closing date, few families will send their kids to camp during that week after schools closes and before Memorial Day when many families head to the beach. Again, I am heartbroken.
The saddest thing about all of this is the Union County Board of Education blatantly broke a law and without any real notice.
Parents like to sign up as early as November of the prior year for camps. I feel like my business and others like it were completely forgotten about when this decision was made.
I’m by no means putting profit before children. I’m simply stating that there are more lives affected by these types of decisions. The fact that we had no chance to voice any opinion is unfair.
It’s also unfair that the state isn’t enforcing its own school calendar law equally. That gives businesses I compete with in nearby counties an unfair advantage.
This business is my family’s blood, sweat and tears. Besides getting that pony for my 6th birthday, my dream as a woman was to own and operate a camp and riding academy business. The horse industry is tough and I’ve definitely had my challenges, but never a challenge like this — where a group of adults can just pull the rug out from under us and not even address our concerns.
I’ll stand up for our businesses like mine and for what’s fair. What I’d simply like to see is the Union County school system follow the law. If they want to change the school calendar, do it in a fair and legal manner. The example set for our kids of breaking the law and doing so without giving business owners like me a chance for input is not one to be proud of.