The Lawrence Aquatic Center does good business in the summer.

Children from Lawrence and surrounding communities can be seen in and around the pool in Buford M. Watson Jr. Park by the hundreds. But this year, the pool will be closed Monday through Thursday beginning Aug. 16.

Fred DeVictor, Lawrence Parks and Recreation director, said the reason was the Aug. 11 start date for schools in the city.

“There’s just a shorter period for swimming,” he said. “Once school starts, interest in swimming is a fourth of what it is in the summer. Interest for parents and kids turns to school events, and that’s fine.”

This is the third year for the Lawrence public schools’ academic year to begin in mid-August, said Sandee Crowther, the district’s executive director of planning and program improvement. If the 2004-2005 academic year seems like it is starting earlier, it’s just how the days fell, Crowther said. School began Aug. 13 last year.

“This was a decision over what was best for the kids and learning,” Crowther said.

Crowther serves on the district’s calendar committee, as does Sam Rabiola, who is a teacher and the president of the Lawrence Education Assn., the teachers union.

Rabiola said he knew some people didn’t like the early start of the school year.

“But no calendar is going to please everyone,” he said. “The district has thousands of students and families. It’s silly to say one calendar would work for everyone.”

Two young boys show off for each other at the Lawrence Aquatic Center on the first day of summer, which was last week. The pool will be closed Monday-Thursday beginning Aug. 16 because of school starting Aug. 11.

Crowther and Rabiola said with the early school start date, the district would be able to finish the first semester before winter break. The Lawrence school board agreed. The board approved the district’s calendars for 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 more than two years ago, Crowther said.

Lawrence resident Korianne Daboda, who has two daughters that attend Kennedy School, said the start date seemed earlier this year. Growing up in Lawrence, Daboda remembers starting school after Labor Day.

“Some of us associate September with starting school,” Daboda said. “Now, you go to school for a couple of weeks and then you get an extended weekend.”

But Daboda doesn’t view the early start date as being bad. She said her family was able to enjoy better weather in May. August in Kansas can be unbearably hot, she said.

“As long as the air conditioning is on, why not have the kids in school?” Daboda asked. “It’s too hot for them to do much else.”

Daboda did say, however, that starting in August might cost the district more money because of the utility costs. Crowther said that was a district concern and a group that includes Rabiola was looking at how other districts set up their academic calendars.

Rabiola said the group was looking at districts with enrollment similar to that of the Lawrence district.

“We’re not advocating for any model,” Rabiola said. “We’re just looking at the options available and what is working in other districts.”