Luverne approves 2022-23 calendar

Luverne School Board members approved the 2022-23 school year calendar during their rescheduled meeting Monday night, Feb. 28.
The calendar (like the current school year) changes the number of days during key holiday breaks.
The 2022-23 school year begins Tuesday, Sept. 6, and ends Wednesday, May 24, 2023. Graduation is approved for Sunday, May 28, 2023.
A third day was added to the Thanksgiving break (Nov. 23-25) and the number of days off for winter break was reduced (Dec. 21-Jan. 3, 2023.
Presidents Day holiday will be two days (Feb. 17 and 20, 2023) and Easter break will be three days (April 6, 7 and 10, 2023).
Board members discussed six calendar versions during two work sessions on Feb. 11 and prior to the Feb. 28 board meeting before accepting one option at the board meeting.
Luverne Education Association members indicated they preferred the 168 student days option and one in which the two semesters contained even days (84).
Staff also requested extra time during the school year to collaborate with colleagues. Four early outs were proposed for staff development.
“My thought would be to try two early outs prior to Nov. 1 so that any staff development could be beneficial to the current school year and be relevant to student success for 2022-23,” said Superintendent Craig Oftedahl.
Board members agreed to two early out sessions. Specific days are yet to be determined.
 
Retirements
At their Feb. 28 meeting, Luverne School Board members accepted the retirements of three longtime educators.
Theresa Graff, speech/language pathologist, retires effective June 1.
Jennifer Engesser, elementary teacher, retires effective June 30.
Elementary teacher Sandy Klosterbuer retires effective at the end of the current school year.
 
In other business, board members:
•hired Anita Cole-Kraty as middle-high school paraprofessional effective Feb. 7, Danielle Kneip as middle school softball coach, and Katelyn Hart as assistant track coach.
•approved medical/maternity leave for Alicia Reker, elementary teacher, beginning April 11 for the remainder of the school year, and hired Rylie Hokeness as long-term substitute beginning April 11.
•approved JJ Olson as volunteer softball coach and transferred Phil Paquette as ninth-grade baseball coach to head baseball coach.