The Free Press, Mankato, MN

Local News

December 3, 2008

School calendar approved

By Tanner Kent

MANKATO — After its first split vote in more than a year, the Mankato Area School Board approved the 2009-10 school year calendar this week.

The chosen option (labeled “Scenario 3” on district documents) has students out of school by June 4 — but there are few breaks for students and teachers. The calendar has a reduced Thanksgiving break, a shortened winter break and has only five non-school days between March and June. Teachers, however, have only two of those days off.

The district received more than 90 comments from parents and staff about the calendar. More than 70 percent favored the approved option.

Dave Sunderman told fellow board members at the meeting Tuesday that the input was overwhelming and the board had a responsibility to listen to the public’s wishes.

Board Member Sara Hansen, however, thought the board had a duty to keep in mind the best interests of students and staff.

“This option is a pressure cooker,” Hansen said before aligning herself with the opposition in a 5-2 vote. “We’re just asking for more sick days and substitute teachers.”

Because the state does not allow public schools to start until after Labor Day — which falls on Sept. 7 in 2009 — schools will start fully a week behind schedule.

In case the state Legislature overturns that law in the next session, the board also approved an alternative calendar in which school begins on Sept. 1 and all breaks are restored to their customary lengths.

But state Rep. Kathy Brynaert, DFL-Mankato, said district officials shouldn’t hold their breath.

The Labor Day law, she said, is vigorously supported by resort and recreation lobbyists who see that weekend as paramount to their industry’s success. In the last session, Brynaert authored a bill to allow individual school districts to choose their own start date, but Tom Rukavina, DFL-Virginia and chairman of the Work Force Development committee, would not grant the bill a hearing.

“I think the community should be able to decide,” Brynaert said. “But I don’t know if there’s a broad enough consensus. ... I can’t promise relief.”

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