Board approves 2025–26 calendar; votes to delay decision on 2026–27 and approves levy, consent changes and stadium bid

The St. Louis Park Public Schools board took several formal actions at its Dec. 10 meeting: it approved the 2025–26 school calendar (administration’s recommendation), removed the 2026–27 calendar from today’s action so the board can gather more information, certified the district’s 2025 tax levy, amended the consent agenda to remove donations, and accepted a construction bid for stadium storage, board minutes show.

Calendar: The administration presented two calendar options and community input about observing Jewish and Muslim holidays. The recommended administrative calendar — the one approved for 2025–26 — observes two religious holidays as non‑instructional days and treats two other holidays as instructional days with district lessons (similar to the district’s Indigenous Peoples’ Day approach). Board members debated whether to observe all four holidays as non‑instructional; after discussion the board voted to remove the 2026–27 calendar from today’s approval and to approve only the 2025–26 calendar so that staff can collect additional stakeholder input and report back.

Levy certification: The board certified the district’s FAPEL 2025 tax levy as presented, a routine but required step in the district’s property‑tax process. The motion to approve the levy was made and seconded during the meeting. No public comments were received during the Truth in Taxation hearing for this meeting.

Consent agenda change: The board voted to remove donations from the consent agenda for separate handling and then approved the remainder of the consent agenda as amended.

Construction contract: The board accepted the low bid for stadium storage construction as presented in the board packet. District staff said the bid exceeded their estimate by about 8% but would be funded from the district’s current bond package; staff and the board recorded no questions that changed the recommendation.

Votes at a glance (actions taken Dec. 10, 2024): - Remove donations from consent agenda; approve amended consent agenda — outcome: approved (motioned; passed at meeting). - Approve FAPEL 2025 tax levy as presented — outcome: approved. - Approve 2025–26 school calendar (administration recommendation) — outcome: approved. - Defer approval of 2026–27 school calendar to a future meeting for additional stakeholder input — outcome: board voted to remove it from today’s approval. - Accept stadium storage construction bid as presented — outcome: approved.

What board members said: Several board members urged more stakeholder input on calendar timing (including whether to start school before Labor Day), emphasized the importance of protecting instructional days ahead of testing, and called for clear communication to families about the district’s reasons and instructional plans for observed/recognized days. Administrator Jason (presenter) and Superintendent Doctor Hynes said they would continue stakeholder engagement and bring updates back to the board.

Administrative notes: The district staff explained trade‑offs tied to calendar choices, including alignment with testing calendars, how non‑instructional days affect teacher work‑day accounting, and the effect of shifting days on winter and spring breaks. The board discussed potential legal and policy constraints related to Labor Day start rules and observed a desire among many board members to collect more data before approving multi‑year calendar changes.

The board adjourned following the votes.