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Classes for the 2021-22 school year at Luverne Public Schools will begin Tuesday, Sept. 7, according to action at the Feb. 25 School Board meeting.
The beginning of the new school year will also signal the end of construction at the Luverne Middle-High School, with students and staff having full access to a new commons, media center and performing arts center.
Construction began in March 2019 and is expected to finish in June.
“Every day you can really see things happening,” said Superintendent Craig Oftedahl. “It is really exciting that things are getting closer to being done.”
Board members adopted next year’s school calendar after survey results with teachers showed a preference for starting Sept. 7 and ending May 27, just before the Memorial Day holiday weekend.
Calendar options were discussed at the board’s Feb. 11 workshop session when Oftedahl presented three options. He presented a fourth at Thursday’s board meeting.
Graduation for the Class of 2022 will be Sunday, May 29.
The school day will be from 8 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.
Junior-senior prom slated for May 1
Luverne High School Principal Ryan Johnson said the school is working with public health officials to plan for a junior-senior prom at the school Saturday, May 1.
Specific health guidelines will be released at a later date.
“This event is especially for the seniors who missed out last year,” he said.
The 2020 prom was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.
After-prom activities organized by parents will also take place and will also be subject to public health guidelines.
In other business, the school board members
•hired Lucas Larson as head boys’ tennis coach, Tara Sudenga as B-squad softball coach and Stephanie Roozenboom as assistant track coach.
•approved a medical leave of absence for Jennifer Radtke, special education teacher, for four to six weeks beginning Feb. 24, and hired Vicky Henderson as the long-term substitute teacher for Radtke.
•accepted the resignation of Staci Bundeson, elementary administrative assistant, effective March 31.