By Lori Ehde
Luverne School Board members made the unpopular decision of scheduling class on Easter Monday, a day previously scheduled as a vacation day.
The move during the Thursday, Feb. 22, meeting was prompted by six snow days so far this winter, not counting late starts and early dismissals.
"If we knew Mother Nature wasn't going to cancel anymore school days, we wouldn’t have to discuss this," said Superintendent Vince Schaefer, "but we all know there are still six weeks of prime snow time left this winter."
Since the school calendar called for snow days to be made up at the end of the year, the last day of school is now Thursday, June 7.
With any more snow days, that last day could be Friday, June 8, or into the second week of June.
When Schaefer recommended the board approve Easter Monday as a school day, he did so with quality of learning in mind.
"We're so programmed to end school early in June that productivity falls greatly the longer you go," Schaefer said.
He said he'd go so far as to recommend school on Good Friday, but he said he knew there was little support among staff for that option.
"There are people who have plans in place that allowed for a four-day weekend on Easter break, which is typically a strong family time," Schaefer said.
"As superintendent, I work anyway on June 11, but this is a decision that needs to be discussed tonight."
Before deciding on the matter, board members asked for input from staff members at the meeting.
High School Counselor Craig Nelson didn't hesitate to share how he felt about making up a snow day on Easter Monday.
"You wrote a calendar that said they'd be made up at the end of the year. I don't think it's fair practice to go back on that now," Nelson said, pointing out that some staff have purchased airline tickets for the long weekend.
"I feel pretty strongly about this. I haven't made plans myself, but a lot of people have."
He told board members he believed the majority of staff members opposed scheduling class during Easter break.
"It’s not a perfect world," board member Steve Tofteland said. "Even if we had snow days built in, someone was going to have plans disrupted."
Board Chair Don Bryan agreed. "People make plans for June 6 and 7, too," he said. "There are likely some staff who would just as soon have school on Easter Monday than go longer in the summer."
Board member Cary Radisewitz sympathized with staff members but hoped they'd understand the board's predicament.
"This is an uncommon situation," he said, referring to the harsh winter.
Knowing the decision would be unpopular with staff, Schaefer still recommended the board make up a snow day on Easter Monday, April 16.
"I don't want to take on 102 staff members who have made plans," Schaefer said, "but educationally, I think it's better to go to school on Easter Monday than to extend the school year into June."
Radisewitz made the motion, Tofteland seconded it, and it passed unanimously.
Trees on campus
In other snow-related business, board members decided to extend tree-planting plans to include a row of more mature trees along the base of the hill just west of the elementary school.
"We have one heck of a drift to the north of the school. It took two days just to dig through to get the door open," Schaefer said, pointing out that the buried playground equipment is suffering under the weight of the snow.
"We need to find some way to impede the progress there."
The district has long been considering a plan to plant seedlings around the periphery of property west of school, but at their Thursday meeting they also agreed to plant trees on school property to act as a snow break.
Initial tree plans last year called for a single row of seedlings around the ball diamonds and agriculture/prairie land to the west.
Now, in addition to the snow break trees on school property, plans call for a double row of seedlings with biodegradable matting, plus trees along the ball fields driveway for shade.
The decision to expand the project was driven by state and federal funds to help cover expenses. Plus, Tofteland said, "Funds in the farm fund are more than sufficient to cover it."
Expenditures for the project are estimated at $12,000. Board members approved the first half of that expense Thursday night.