About 100 people attended the Albert Lea schools board meeting Monday night, focusing on the proposed calendar. They were given three worksheets and were split into groups. Miles then collected the responses and read them out loud.
The district’s new schedule will start Aug. 22, with a long Labor Day break and a short Thanksgiving break. The quarter ends on Dec. 20, and the holiday break is from Dec. 25 to 26.
Holidays
The Albert Lea School holiday calendar contains all the holidays that are celebrated in this school district. These include federal and state holidays, as well as regional celebrations. Students celebrate these days with complete enthusiasm and zeal. It also helps teachers prepare for the upcoming year. The Albert Lea School holiday list is available online for anyone to view.
The Albert Lea school board voted to start the 2021-22 school year a few days earlier than usual. The decision was based on a recommendation from Superintendent Mike Funk, who cited the low number of internal cases in the district, a positivity rate that’s well below the 5% threshold, and declining county-wide point counts as reasons for recommending the early start date.
This year, the first day of classes will be Aug. 22, and the school’s Labor Day break will be Sept. 1 to 4. The first quarter ends Oct. 2, and the second quarter starts Nov. 22 to 24. The holiday break will be from Dec. 25 to Jan. 2, and classes will resume Jan. 3. The third quarter will end March 8, and the Area Learning Center’s commencement will be May 16, while the high school’s will be May 17.
In addition to the holidays above, other critical dates need to be taken into account when planning for a new school year. In many cases, these dates will be adjusted to accommodate unforeseen circumstances. For example, if the school needs to close due to inclement weather, the closure will be listed on the calendar. In other cases, a day will be added to the calendar for an event that will require additional preparation or resources. This will help ensure that students have the best possible learning experience. Regardless of the reason for the addition, it is essential to be aware of these dates so that you can plan accordingly. This will help ensure that you do not miss any important events or dates.
Quarters
The first quarter of the school year is often a rough one for students. Many of them are still getting back into the groove of regular academic work after a long summer break. They are also tired from long nights spent studying and working on homework. But the first quarter of the year is not the only time that students face hardships. Throughout the year, they must cope with various types of stress, including standardized tests and social pressures.
The district’s goals are to have 70 percent of children ready for kindergarten, 80 percent proficient in reading and math by third grade, and 90 percent of freshmen identifying their career path. They also want students to meet growth targets, which are specific to each student’s abilities.
Despite the high standards, the district struggles with poverty and need levels, with 50 percent of its students receiving free and reduced meals and 20 percent of its students having special needs. The community hopes to address these issues by making a plan for each student, including what they can do after graduation and what their strengths are.
Proponents of the new calendar say that it will help reduce learning loss, allow families to take a fall vacation, and lessen burnout. They argue that students are often restless by the end of August and need a more extended break before starting school. However, opponents say that the new schedule interferes with family plans and can interfere with activities at local events such as the Freeborn County Fair and state standardized testing.
About 100 people attended the first public hearing for the Albert Lea schools calendar. The hearing was facilitated by Bruce Miles, a strategic consultant from St. Cloud-based Big River Group. Miles split participants into groups and asked them to fill out worksheets with their thoughts on the proposed calendar. He then read the responses aloud. Many responses were critical of the school board’s decision to change the school calendar. Some said that the changes will negatively affect test scores and will disrupt summer vacations. Others complained that the calendar would divide the community and wouldn’t improve achievement.
Spring Break
The Minnesota state government announces Minnesota school holidays, which has the same implications as any other public holiday. These holidays can close the Albert Lea schools for the respective days. However, these school holidays can change depending on the government of Minnesota.
At Monday night’s board meeting, several members voted against the calendars. Board member Angie Hoffman argued that parents should have more input into the decision. She also argued that the pre-Labor Day start was similar to a college calendar and could help students prepare for their next step, should they choose to attend college.
The 2024-25 school year will see classes begin Aug. 21 and a long Labor Day break Sept. 1 to 2. The first quarter will end Oct. 16, with Thanksgiving break Nov. 27 to 29. The second quarter will end on Dec. 20, with a holiday break from Dec. 24 to Jan. 2 for students. The third quarter ends on March 14, and the Area Learning Center’s commencement is on May 22.
Summer
A plan to shift the district’s summer break in order to reduce what teachers call learning loss is gaining traction. A committee of 30 invited movers and shakers met Monday with district Superintendent Mike Funk and Director of Teaching and Learning Mary Williams to discuss the idea. They were joined by another 30 or so who heard about the meeting through word of mouth and wanted to be part of the discussion.
District officials cite research and the success of Austin school districts that have balanced calendars. They say a three-month summer break causes students to lose months of knowledge. That learning loss is tough on low-income students who cannot afford to attend summer school. A district official argues that moving the break to August is better for student achievement because it keeps kids in their classrooms longer and avoids summer slumps.
The proposed calendar has some hurdles to overcome. For one, state law says schools cannot start before Labor Day unless they have a three-year waiver from the commissioner of education. That is why the district’s proposal includes a weekend between Labor Day and the first week of school. It also has more five-day school weeks and fewer three- and four-day weeks than the traditional schedule.
Some parents are concerned that the move could mean a loss of income for summer part-time jobs and a disruption to childcare. Others fear that it will result in more heat exposure for children walking to and from school and increased electricity expenses as air conditioning is used more often.
The City of Albert Lea is planning to offer a variety of free supervised activities for youth this summer, starting on June 4. The City Beach and splash pad at 300 Johnson St. open Wednesday and the Thursdays on Fountain concert series begins on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. For a complete list of events, click HERE.