GULFPORT (AP) — School starts in early August in many districts across Mississippi, but some superintendents say they wish they could begin later to control the high cost of utilities.

August is one of the hottest months of the year, and that means air conditioning systems will be cranked up full time.

Henry Arledge is the superintendent of the Harrison County School District. He says he has always wanted to start the school year after Labor Day

But the superintendent of the Biloxi School District, Paul Tisdale, says if school started after Labor Day, some holidays would have to be cut so students wouldn’t be in class through June.

Each of the 152 school districts in Mississippi sets its own academic calendar.