Board members weigh pros and cons of options

The 2017-18 school year could begin in late August again for students in Albert Lea Area Schools.

Two school calendars were introduced to the Albert Lea School Board Monday night by Jim Quiram, Albert Lea executive director of administrative services.

One proposed calendar has school starting on Aug. 22. Under the other proposed calendar, school would start on the day after Labor Day, Sept. 5.

Board members discussed the positives and the drawbacks of both proposals.

School Board member Mark Ciota said he has heard a lot of positive feedback about the early start this year, and Superintendent Mike Funk said he noticed students were more relaxed over Christmas break because first semester had already ended.

Board member Angie Hanson said starting school after Labor Day benefits families in coordinating vacations and is in line with other districts across the state.

Board members Jill Marin, Neal Skaar and Hanson expressed reservations about the district using a construction waiver to start school before Labor Day. To qualify for the waiver, a district needs to conduct a construction project of at least $400,000.

The waiver was used this year, as school started Aug. 24.

Funk said about $1 million in renovations will be conducted at Albert Lea High School this summer, qualifying the district for the early start.

He has said the early start gives students more time to prepare for Advanced Placement exams and for the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments.

Hanson and Marin questioned whether the early start would substantially influence student learning.

Skaar said he has mixed feelings about the proposal.

“I’m still working on it,” he said.

Under the early start, each of the first four weeks of the school year would be four days.

Hanson said she has heard from community members who are frustrated about making up snow days.

“I just know, talking to the public, people are anti-having to make up every snow day,” she said. “That’s kind of the perception that I’ve gotten.”

Funk said though the 171 days of instruction Albert Lea has scheduled for next year is more than the state minimum — 165 — it is lower than the 175 days of instruction Albert Lea students used to receive. He questioned lowering the number of days students receive instruction.

A public hearing on the proposed calendars will be Feb. 21. A second public forum on the issue and board action is expected March 6.

Key dates under
pre-Labor Day start:

• Oct 18, 2017: first quarter ends

• Oct. 19 to 20, 2017: fall break

• Dec. 22, 2017: second quarter ends

• Dec. 23 to Jan. 3: Christmas break

• Jan. 15 and Feb. 19, 2018:  scheduled holidays that are potential snow make up days

• March 9, 2018: third quarter ends

• March 12 to 16, 2018: spring break

• May 18, 2018: last day of school and commencement

• May 21 to 23, 2018: potential snow make up days

Key dates under
post-Labor Day start:

• Oct. 19 to 20, 2017: fall break

• Nov. 2, 2017: first quarter ends

• Dec. 25 to Jan. 3: Christmas break

• Jan. 15 and Feb. 19, 2018: scheduled holidays that are potential snow make up days

• Jan. 19, 2018: second quarter ends

• March 12 to 16, 2018: spring break

• March 29, 2018: third quarter ends

• June 1, 2018: last day of school and commencement

• June 4 to 6, 2018: potential snow make up days