Dept. of education approves construction waiver

The 2016-17 school year will begin Aug. 24, 2016, for students in Albert Lea Area Schools.

District officials received notification Tuesday from the Minnesota Department of Education approving the early start.

The district had to execute a construction waiver for classes to begin before Labor Day.

“It’s good for kids, that’s why we’re doing it,” said Mike Funk, superintendent at Albert Lea Area Schools.

To qualify for the construction waiver, a district needs to conduct a construction project of at least $400,000. The waiver essentially allows for an earlier start for the project to be done.

The district has $689,000 in projects set for next summer that the school board approved, Funk said, including a tuckpointing project at Halverson Elementary School.

Funk cited several other reasons why the early start was needed, including that starting after Labor Day means Christmas break arrives before first semester ends, cutting into an important part of the semester. Funk said the early start gives students more time to prepare for AP exams and for the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments.

Funk said the district will make accommodations for students who take part in state 4-H and FFA activities.

There was disagreement with the school’s decision.

“With so much pressure on our schools and children to succeed, I believe that the summers belong to our kids,” Albert Lea resident Tom Jones said in an email.

“We have two kids as well as myself as a coach active in summer sports, and our summer vacation time did not begin until mid-August this past summer,” he said. “I believe a traditional post-Labor Day school start is what is best for our kids and their families.”

The decision comes after much controversy in the community in the last year about switching to a balanced calendar.

Funk said community members have told him their children are ready to go back to school after the county fair season.

The school board approved the calendar in March by a 5-1 vote.

“It is unfortunate that the state government does not allow total flexibility for school districts to do what is best for their students regarding the school calendar,” Funk said last week in a submitted letter to the Tribune. “Until then, districts will be required to follow the waiver process as outlined by statute.”