To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.

Then come back here and refresh the page.

OAK ISLAND, N.C. -- Talk of adjustments to the school calendar has Brunswick County school and tourism officials divided.

Karen Brake, who manages more than 300 vacation rentals on Oak Island, says she looks forward to summer break just as much as students.

"We have three short months to be able to support our year here," Brake said.

And if the school year starts earlier or ends later, she said it affects at least one to two weeks worth of business.

"Parents don't want to go right back to school after a vacation so we see a shortening of the year for our vacation calendar," said Brake.

Right now, North Carolina school systems are required by law to start after Aug. 25 and end before June 10 but Brunswick County Schools Superintendent Dr. Edward Pruden said with those restrictions as well as other mandated days, next year's calendar is tight.

"To the point that if we have bad weather, we would probably have to make up school on Saturdays or take away holidays," said Pruden.

School leaders developed an alternative calendar for lawmakers to consider. In it, school would start on Aug. 22 and end on June 11, but tourism officials said that plan could hurt a nearly $400 million industry in the county.

"A week in Brunswick County could mean more than a $500,000 loss in tax revenues and that's a huge hit," said Karen Sphar, executive director of Oak Island Southport Area Chamber of Commerce.

If lawmakers allow just Brunswick County to follow a different school calendar, tourism officials said that could hurt the state's tourism industry in the future.

"If Brunswick County, a tourism community, asks for an exemption, all 100 counties could ask for one," said Mitzi York, executive director of Brunswick County Tourism Development Authority.

Both groups have expressed their concerns to lawmakers and said they hope to find a happy medium.

School officials said the General Assembly could approve a statewide solution.