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ISD 197 approves 2026–27 academic calendar, reallocates days for READ Act training
Summary
The School Board of Independent School District 197 on Feb. 9 unanimously approved the 2026–27 academic calendar and posted a draft 2027–28 calendar, reallocating professional development and student days to meet READ Act training deadlines while applying the district’s equity test.
The School Board of Independent School District 197 voted unanimously on Feb. 9 to approve the district’s 2026–27 academic calendar and to post a draft 2027–28 calendar for planning purposes.
Administration told the board that the calendar revisions follow School Board Policy 602 and Minnesota statutory requirements and aim to provide predictability for families and staff. To meet the READ Act’s secondary educator professional development requirement — which must be completed by July 1, 2027 — staff recommended reallocating existing professional development days, converting selected student days to staff collaboration or training days, and adding specific dates to the 2026–27 calendar to accommodate CAREIALL Secondary training.
The district said it applied its four‑way equity test — an internal rubric used to assess equity impacts on families and staff — when choosing which days to convert, and noted administrators tried to minimize disruption for families while meeting statutory obligations. Board materials said the 2027–28 calendar remains unchanged in structure and will be posted to aid family planning.
Board member Morgan Steele moved to approve the calendars; Marcus Hill seconded. The motion passed on a 6–0 roll call vote (Sarah Larsen, Tim Aune, Marcus Hill, Morgan Steele, Jon Vaupel, Randi Walz voting aye; Byron Schwab absent).
The approval follows administration’s presentation outlining statutory drivers and training timelines. The board did not amend the calendars during the meeting; no public comment opposing the calendars was recorded. The district will post the adopted 2026–27 calendar and the draft 2027–28 calendar on its website and communicate specific no‑student and professional development dates to families.
Background: The READ Act requires certain professional learning for secondary educators, and administration told the board that the district must complete required training by July 1, 2027. The board packet noted the calendars were reviewed by the Meet and Confer Committee and that future calendars are expected to follow the same multi‑year structure.
