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Minnetonka board reviews proposal to convert final half-day into full professional learning day
Summary
Superintendent and district leaders proposed changing the traditional final half-day of school in June to a full, K–5 professional learning day so teachers can prepare for new ELA curriculum and middle-school programming; board will solicit public feedback and consider approval in May.
Superintendent Law brought a proposal to the Minnetonka Public School District Board of Education to convert the traditional last-half day of school this year into a full professional learning day for K–5 teachers so staff have time to prepare for new English language arts standards and new middle-school programming in the fall.
Dr. Amy Ladoux, associate superintendent, told the board the district has confirmed training for both foundational skills (phonics and morphology) and for comprehension-focused materials, allowing teachers to “go into summer with that initial training behind them.” She said the extra day would give teachers joint time to collaborate on curricular adjustments and special-education IEP changes and would save district professional-development funds that otherwise would be spent outside the day.
The proposal would move the district’s traditional early-release last day (June 10 under the current calendar) to a nonstudent professional learning day and keep the final, noninstructional wrap-up planning day for teachers the following day. Superintendent Law said the board would notify the public the next day that the board is considering the change and that principals would share messaging; the district would seek board approval at the first regular meeting in May.
Board members asked about bargaining-unit support and family impacts. Dr. Ladoux said the district has been collaborating with the Minnetonka Teachers Association, and “the president and vice president of the teachers association both expressed that they are very much in support of this plan.” Board members raised the possibility of adding community-education offerings for families whose children are not already enrolled in Explorers child care on that date; the district said it would check feasibility with the executive director of community education.
Board members also asked about required instructional hours under state law and whether the proposed change would create compliance issues. The district responded that elementary instructional hours already exceed state minimums for the current year and that middle-school hours meet the 1,020-hour requirement; administrators described the change as a “minimum impact” to families compared with other calendar options.
Next steps: the board will share the proposal publicly, principals will circulate information to families, and the board plans formal consideration and a potential vote at its first May meeting. The item was presented for board discussion and feedback; no formal board action was recorded at the study session.
