Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Schedule Change topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Stillwater board delays move to 4x4 block schedule, cites planning and budget needs
Summary
District leaders recommended switching Stillwater High School to a 4x4 block schedule to expand electives and support student mental health, but the board agreed to delay implementation to fall 2026 to allow course development, systems work and budget planning.
Stillwater Area Public Schools officials told the school board they plan to move the high school from a six‑period day to a 4x4 block schedule to increase elective options, create in‑day flexibility and allow deeper instruction — but the district will delay the start to fall 2026 to complete planning.
"We settled on the 4 by 4 block schedule as the preferred schedule," Principal Rob Bakken said during a detailed presentation on planning work that began in spring 2023. Bakken described site visits to Edina and Wayzata high schools, staff workshops and three working groups (academic, culture and student engagement) formed to develop courses, supports and implementation steps.
Bakken said the delay gives staff time for curriculum writing, course approvals, student information‑system changes and professional development: "we are actually proposing that we delay 1 year" and aim to implement in fall 2026. The district expects to refine graduation credit requirements, build intervention and support models, and develop new course proposals this year and next.
Presenters said course‑proposal workshops yielded more than two dozen new course ideas — including applied options such as 'science of food' and classes tied to career pathways — and that moving to a block schedule increases annual course opportunities from 48 to 64 over four years, creating space for pathways, internships and a potential ninth‑grade seminar.
Board members pressed district leaders on attention span, attendance and cost. One board member cited an earlier cost estimate of about $1,500,000 for conversion work and asked for a detailed budget plan; Superintendent Funk said district staff will include budget options and phased rollout possibilities in upcoming budget discussions.
The district also committed to continued community and student engagement: curriculum advisory committees and the student engagement working group will include parents and students in vetting course proposals and designing supports before final decisions are brought back to the board.
Next steps: staff will return with more detailed credit‑requirement proposals, course approvals for curriculum committees and a budgetary plan in the coming months ahead of the planned 2026 implementation.
