Board hears first readings of draft school-year calendars for 2026–27 and 2027–28
Summary
The calendar committee recommended aligning first-day start dates to Sept. 1 for both 2026–27 and 2027–28 (temporary state authorization), keeping a four-day Labor Day weekend, and proposing June 9, 2027 as the last student day; the calendar is scheduled for a second reading and anticipated approval in December.
Joel Miltier presented first readings of draft school-year calendars for 2026–27 and 2027–28 at the Nov. 10 District 196 school board meeting.
The calendar committee recommended a September 1 start for all students in both years, citing a temporary legislative allowance for those school years to start on or after Sept. 1. The committee also recommended aligning elementary and secondary start dates, retaining a four-day Labor Day weekend, and preserving teacher planning and grading days (no-student days at the end of trimesters).
Key calendar details the committee highlighted include an eight-school-day winter break for 2026–27 (counted as school days for instructions), spring break in the last full week of March, and a June 9 last student day in 2026–27 (chosen to meet state-required instructional hours and teacher duty-day constraints). For 2027–28 the committee recommended similar structure with a proposed last day of Wednesday, June 7, 2028, and winter break of seven school days.
Miltier said the committee used stakeholder input from building administrators, teachers, parent leadership groups and representatives from Dakota County United Educators. He said state statutes governing start dates and instructional days (as cited in the presentation) were primary constraints on scheduling.
Board members raised holiday and equity concerns: Leah Gardner asked whether observances such as Eid were being factored in; Miltier said the committee checks multiple faith calendars and may refine dates before the December second reading. Catherine Diamond raised concerns about midweek end-of-year dates and childcare impacts; the committee said state-required instructional hours and teacher duty days strongly influence end-date choices.
This was a first reading; the calendar committee will consider additional community input and bring the final recommended calendars back for board review and anticipated approval on Dec. 8.
