N.C. legislators have submitted a slew of partisan and bipartisan bills with the common goal of allowing public school districts to begin the school year one to two weeks earlier in August. Faced again with stiff opposition from the stateâs tourism lobby, school calendar flexibility proponents may get a boost from the COVID-19 pandemicâs impact on in-classroom attendance. âEverybody is in agreement that our kids have suffered with schools being closed,â said Rep. Jeff Zenger, R-Forsyth, and co-sponsor of bipartisan House Bill 111 that would open schools on Aug. 11. Senate Bill 166, sponsored by Sen. Joyce Krawiec, R-Forsyth, would open Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools and Davie County Schools on Aug. 10.