View Policy / Procedure

l. PURPOSE

The purpose of this policy is to establish the procedures for the development of an administrative recommendation to the Moorhead School Board for a timely determination of the school calendar and school day.

II.  GENERAL STATEMENT

It is important to parents/guardians, students, employees, and the general public to have advance knowledge of the school calendar and school day to effectively plan for the school year.  Prior to March 1st of each year, the Superintendent shall submit to the School Board a recommendation for a school year calendar for the next school year. The calendar proposal shall be developed by a process determined by the Superintendent and should involve input from employee and advisory groups.

III.  CALENDAR RESPONSIBILITY

A. The school calendar shall be adopted annually by the School Board.  It shall meet all provisions of Minnesota statutes pertaining to the minimum number of school days and other provisions of law.  The school calendar shall establish student days, workshop days for staff, provide for emergency closings, and other information related to students, staff, and parents/guardians.

B. Except for learning programs during summer and flexible learning year programs, the school district will not commence an elementary or secondary school year before Labor Day, except as provided in Section III.B.1 or III.B.2.  Days devoted to teacher's workshops may be held before Labor Day. 

1. The school district may begin the school year on any day before Labor Day to accommodate a construction or remodeling project of $400,000 or more affecting a school district school facility.

2. The school district may begin the school year on any day before Labor Day if the school district has an agreement under Minn. Stat. 123A.30, 123A.32, or 123A.35 with a school district that qualifies under Section III.B1.

C. Employee and advisory groups shall be provided an opportunity to participate in school calendar considerations.

IV.  SCHOOL DAY RESPONSIBILITY

A. The Superintendent shall be responsible for developing a schedule for the student day, subject to review by the School Board.  All requirements and provisions of Minnesota Statutes and Minnesota Department of Education Rules shall be met.

B. In developing the student day schedule, the Superintendent shall consider such factors as school bus schedules, cooperative programs, differences in time requirements at various grade levels, effective utilization of facilities, cost-effectiveness, employee contracts, and other concerns deserving of attention.

C. Proposed changes in the school day shall be subject to review and approval by the School Board.

D. Once adopted by the School Board, copies of the calendar shall be prepared for distribution through electronic and print media.

V. E-LEARNING DAYS

A. An “e-learning” day is a school day where school offers full access to online instruction provided by students’ individual teachers due to inclement weather.

B. MAPS may designate up to five e-learning days in one school year.

C. An e-learning day is counted as a day of instruction and included in the hours of instruction pursuant to Section III.A, above.

D. MAPS School Board may adopt an e-learning day plan after consulting with the exclusive representative of the teachers. The e-learning day plan developed by MAPS will include accommodations for students without internet access at home and for digital device access for families without technology or with an insufficient amount of technology for the number of children. The plan must also provide accessible options for students with disabilities.

E. MAPS must notify the parents and students of its e-learning day plan at the beginning of each school year.

F. When an e-learning day is declared by the MAPS, notice must be provided to parents and students at least two hours prior to the normal school start time that students will need to follow the e-learning day plan for the day.

G. On an e-learning day, each student’s teacher must be accessible both online and by telephone during the normal school hours to assist students and parents.

H. When the school district declares an e-learning day, it must continue to pay the full wages for scheduled work hours and benefits of all school employees for the duration of the e-learning period. During the e-learning period, school employees must be allowed to work from home to the extent practicable, be assigned to work in an alternative location, or be retained on an on-call basis for any potential need.