School Board to hold listening sessions on school start/end times recommendation

As part of its ongoing study of optimal school start/end times for student learning, the School Board plans to hold two listening sessions in February to gather student, staff, parent and community input.

School Start/End Times Listening Sessions
(Both sessions are tentatively scheduled to be recorded for later viewing on the district's website.) 

• Thursday, Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. (Edina Community Center, Room 349)
• Tuesday, Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. (Edina Community Center, Room 349)

At a work session on Jan. 18, the Edina School Board discussed a draft administrative recommendation of a three-tier schedule that would flip elementary and middle school start/end times.

According to Superintendent John Schultz, “Based on past discussions, research and information provided, Edina Public Schools administration recommends that students will be better served when middle school students start school later (third tier) and elementary students start earlier (first tier).”

The majority of Board members noted that they agreed with the proposal but would like to continue to seek input from students, staff and families on how the changes would impact them. The Board plans to continue discussion of the study in the coming weeks in accordance with its study timeline.

The School Board launched the second phase of its school start/end times study earlier this fall. This phase follows the 2016-17 study that included a community task force and administrative recommendation. At the time of their decision in February 2017, the Edina School Board voted to implement a one-year interim schedule to allow more time for study and data gathering.

The first listening session on Feb. 8 will include a presentation of the proposed schedule as well as comments from Schultz about the recommendation. There will also be time for attendees to ask questions and share comments.

On Feb. 27, the School Board will host an additional public input session. The School Board will also respond to questions at this meeting. Participants are asked to please submit questions one week in advance to Sarah Schandle, executive assistant to the Superintendent and School Board. Questions can also be asked at the input session and the administration will do its best to answer them that evening. 

The School Board is scheduled for a second reading/discussion of the administrative recommendation at its meeting on Feb. 26, with Board action slated for March 19. In addition to a school start/end time schedule, the Board will make a decision on the timeline for implementation (i.e. 2018-19 school year or 2019-20 school year).