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Northland Pines board approves 2025–26 calendar after debate over two-week Christmas break
Summary
At its Dec. 16 meeting the Northland Pines Board of Education approved the 2025–26 school calendar by unanimous voice vote (5–0) after discussing a proposed two-week winter break, staff pay implications and options for in-service scheduling and optional activities during the break.
The Northland Pines Board of Education voted Dec. 16 to approve the district’s 2025–26 school calendar, endorsing a schedule that includes a two‑week winter (Christmas) break.
Board members debated the plan for several months and discussed concerns raised by staff and parents about childcare, lost pay for hourly employees and the difficulty of having only a single school day between holidays. Supporters said the two‑week break gives families and staff predictable time off and can be paired with optional district activities during the break.
District administrator Scott Foster told the board the committee process narrowed several proposals to a single calendar and that administrators are preparing optional programming and supports for families who need them during the two weeks. A board member cautioned the board to seek staff input before treating the calendar as final; another board member said the proposed schedule is rare and may only recur every seven to 10 years.
Board members also discussed a suggestion to move a December in‑service day to a Monday to reduce mid‑December disruption; that idea had not been fully vetted with staff. The board retained the option to add instructional minutes later in the year if weather closures require it.
The motion “to approve the 2025–26 school calendar as presented” was made, seconded and carried by unanimous voice vote, recorded in the meeting as 5–0.
The district said calendar details are included in the board packet and that any future adjustments (for example, to address snow‑day recovery) would be handled through normal board processes.
