YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WYTV) – Ursuline and Cardinal Mooney start the school year on Wednesday. Most school districts in Trumbull County open their doors next Monday.

Thing is, there are nearly three weeks to go before Labor Day. WKBN checked with local superintendents and came up with three reasons given for the earlier starts:

  1. Different standardized tests. With those changes, schools want to take advantage of any classroom time. South Range Superintendent Dennis Dunham says, “This really was born by the fact the state Department of Education has changed our testing dates”.
  2. Labor Day isn’t until Sept. 7 on the 2015 calendar. Boardman Schools on their website point to that for their earlier start.
  3. Of course, the Canfield Fair. Districts want to get started earlier, but still give days off for the fair. Superintendent Ron Iarussi of the Mahoning County Educational Service Center says, “I think there were concerns all around. I know the fair board had some concerns over attendance.

For Springfield Local Superintendent Tom Yazvac, the Canfield Fair comes first, then school, So he’s opening on Sept 9. “It makes sense for the fair to conclude on Monday, Labor Day. Kids have a chance to get home on Tuesday and we start on Wednesday.”