Board approves June 10 professional development day; K–8 last day moves to June 9

The Minnetonka School Board approved a late calendar change for the 2024–25 school year at its May 8 meeting, making June 10 a professional development day for elementary and middle school teachers and moving the last student day for grades K–8 to June 9.

Superintendent David Law told the board the adjustment responds to a newly required curriculum adoption process under the state’s REED Act and the district’s transition to a new middle school program. Law said the selected curriculum materials could not be guaranteed in teachers’ hands until recently, and district leaders and the teachers’ association prefer providing teachers time before the fall to prepare. The high school schedule, Law said, will be unchanged.

Administration acknowledged the change creates difficulties for families—late notice, child-care burdens and the disruption of end-of-year events—and said principals would work with parents and staff to lessen impacts on celebrations and transitions. Law said the teachers’ union indicated that the majority of teachers supported the preparation model.

Board members noted the tradeoffs: an end-of-year day off for K–8 versus scheduling a teacher work day during the school year or a fall disruption. The administration said that if the change had not been made, the alternative would likely have been a fall work day, which officials judged a greater disruption.

A motion to approve the calendar change passed by voice vote. The district said elementary teachers will use the day for literacy curriculum preparation and middle school teachers will work on implementing the new middle school program.