Stillwater board approves 2027–28 calendar after heated debate; postponement motion fails
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Summary
After weeks of public pushback and a failed motion to postpone, the Stillwater Area Public Schools board voted to approve the 2027–28 school calendar as part of a planned three‑year trial; the adoption passed 5–2 and the administration will report evaluation data during the trial period.
The Stillwater Area Public Schools board approved the district's 2027–28 school calendar on a 5–2 vote after a lengthy public comment period and a failed motion to postpone adoption until November 2026.
Supporters said the calendar is part of a three‑year pilot designed to measure effects on student mental health, instructional alignment and scheduling, and that staff will return with data during the trial. Superintendent Funk said the district recommends a three‑year measurement period and pledged to present year‑one results later this summer: "I recommended measurement period of 3 years," he said.
Opponents — including parents, staff and some board members — asked the board to delay the vote until promised evaluation data are released. Parent Peter Shuna told the board the district had committed in January 2024 to evaluate the calendar's effects and said approving the 2027–28 calendar without presenting that analysis risks undermining community trust: "If the board votes tonight to approve the 27‑28 calendar, that would extend this calendar without the evaluation or data that was promised," he said.
Director Parker moved to postpone adoption until November 2026, arguing the community lacked clarity about the experiment's time frame and there was limited data available. The board debated parliamentary procedure, the timing of prior community engagement and whether the timing of the vote (immediately before semester break) was appropriate. The postponement motion failed, and the original motion to approve the calendar passed, recorded on the floor as "Motion passes 5 to 2."
Several board members emphasized they expect regular reporting while the pilot continues. Director Thalander and others said the change is difficult for families but that the board's prior direction was to try the calendar for multiple years to gather meaningful evidence. The board asked administration to continue community communication and to return with measurable outcomes, including academic and social‑emotional indicators, as the district completes the three‑year evaluation.
Next steps: the calendar will be implemented as approved; the superintendent and staff will gather and report data over the pilot period and the board indicated it will reconsider the policy if evidence warrants a change.
