In a rare split vote, the Luverne School Board decided not to continue starting classes before Labor Day.
Three of the seven board members supported reapplying for another three-year Flexible Learning Year calendar format. The format allowed Luverne to begin classes before the state-mandated start after Labor Day.
The final vote took place Thursday night, Nov. 19, during the board’s regular bi-monthly meeting.
School board members based their decision on the recent surveys completed by community/parents, staff and students. Results were also split between community/parents and staff in favor of returning to a Labor Day start with students favoring the early start.
“Based on what the community has said in their surveys, they want to go back to a regular calendar --after Labor Day,” director Reva Sehr said. “A lot of staff want the regular calendar, too.”
Of the 1,434 returned surveys, 466 were from community/parents and 78 were from staff. Of the two groups, 313 (57 percent) indicated they preferred the regular calendar.
“The students are speaking loudly, too,” said director Colleen Deutsch.
Students in grades 2-12 completed 890 surveys with 442 (49 percent) preferring the FLY calendar.
However, at the high school level, only 130 students preferred ending the second quarter at the December holiday break (FLY calendar) versus 136 who preferred ending the quarter in January.
Overall survey results had 601 (42 percent) in favor of the FLY calendar and 664 (46 percent) favoring the regular calendar. There were 167 (12 percent) who indicated they did not have a calendar preference.
“It would be nice if we could satisfy both groups,” said chairman Dave Riphagen.
Superintendent Craig Oftedahl presented board members with four calendar examples. Two illustrated the regular school calendar (after Labor Day) start and two calendars illustrated compromise options. Each calendar showed in-service days, holiday breaks and quarter ending dates.
The two compromises showed the same no-class days but one had classes starting five days before Labor Day and the other seven days before. These options would have required Luverne to stay in the consortium.
The compromise was in response to the question posed to those who opposed the FLY calendar as to why they opposed starting classes before Labor Day. Most thought starting classes 10 days before Labor Day was too early to start classes, and it interfered with summer vacation time.
Oftedahl did not indicate a calendar preference but stated he needed time to conduct public meetings if board members decided to continue with the FLY calendar. The public meetings were required by the FLY application.
Deutsch, Riphagen and Jodi Bosch voted in favor of continuing the FLY calendar. Sehr, Katie Baustian, Shelley Sandbulte and Eric Hartman voted against.
The 2016-17 school year will begin Sept. 6. Quarter breaks, holidays and in-service days are yet to be determined. Both of Oftedahl’s regular calendar illustrations had school ending by Memorial Day.
Luverne now is the 18th school to drop from the 22-member FLY consortium formed six years ago.
Earlier this year, Hills-Beaver Creek, Adrian and Edgerton dropped out of the consortium.
Only four districts Windom, Springfield, Sleepy Eye and Redwood Area, are still members of the original consortium formed six years ago.
While not a part of the consortium, Luverne will participate in combined staff development in-service with these schools.
Luverne School Board members have struggled since April to make a formal decision whether or not to stay in the consortium.
An online community/parent/student survey conducted this spring didn’t provide a clear indication on what was preferred.
The latest paper survey was completed in late October and early November.