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The North Branch public schools calendar for 2026-2027 might look different from what their traditional year has been, if the calendar adopted by the school board last week remains as-is.  There was a “first reading” of the dates for next school year approved by the School Board and the second and final reading will take place November 13.  In these interim weeks the public is encouraged to provide feedback.

Superintendent Sara Paul said the mandated number of instructional hours are being met.  The MN Dept of Education website reports instructional hours required for grades 1-6 are 935 and 1,020 for grades 7-12.

The start date proposed is September 1, with Labor Day Monday September 7, being North Branch’s first day-off. 

 End of school is May 28,  before the Monday Memorial Day holiday.

The actual date for high school commencement and dates for spring conferences, have not been established yet. This is something district officials would like input on.   The superintendent commented that, “Between this first reading and the second reading,” there may be changes.  The calendar that cleared this first review will be on the district website for your review. 

Supt. Paul explained the calendar committee opted to shift instructional days to the front of the year to provide more time before key assessments. And, “...research shows that late spring days are less productive due to higher absence rates and competing commitments,” the Board was advised.

In other business, the Board learned school access safety issues were presented to a MN House Capital Investment Committee when the group came to see the layout of traffic problems the city is trying to address with state aid.  The city plans a number of routing and alignment changes if funding for a 400th Street freeway interchange gets approved for state funding. Supt. Paul stated the future i-35 interchange is important to the schools’ overall functionality and the goal was to send a unified safety message to the touring committee members.

The committee uses the weeks when the legislature is not in session to visit greater Minnesota sites being considered for aid.

The district will continue to work with the city as new housing and commercial projects impact the area.  The school district also is assessing adjustments to how existing space is being used.

The facilities study completed by the district architects ATS&R was reviewed in a September 25 work session of the Board. There is a concept the Board supported to move first graders into the Early Education building (next to Kwik Trip)  taking over space the district offices occupy now.  Sunrise Elementary would become a second through fifth grade building.  

The district offices relocated to the middle school.  

The Learning Work Center program remains at the middle school. The ALC stays in the Brooker Building.  Day treatment moves “off site.”

Supt. Paul submitted a column focusing on this plan which is in this week’s paper.  See page 3.

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