Shakopee board approves teacher MOU required by new state statute on holiday instruction

At its Jan. 5 meeting, the Shakopee Public School District board approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the faculty education association intended to comply with a recent change in state law.

Superintendent Dr. Medlin (identified in the meeting) described the MOU as a compliance measure required by statute that addresses how the district and the teachers’ bargaining unit will treat holding school on dates mentioned in the statute. "This is just... to comply with the new statute," the superintendent said while explaining that the MOU does not, by itself, change the district's previously approved school calendar.

Board members asked clarifying questions about scope and whether the statutory language applies only to teachers or to other employee groups; the superintendent and other staff said the current statute specifically referenced teachers and collective bargaining with the teachers’ association. The board discussed possible calendar impacts but was told the MOU in practice is administrative and meant to align contract language with the state requirement.

After the presentation and brief discussion, the board moved and approved the MOU. A member noted that the law prompted this administrative step rather than a substantive calendar change: "We continue to operate with our school calendar," one speaker said.

The board directed staff to implement the MOU provisions as required and to bring future calendar changes through the usual approval process if any substantive adjustments are needed.

Next steps: administration to implement the MOU and confirm whether similar language or agreements are needed for other employee groups if statute or guidance changes.