Screen Photo Board president Mike Gessner, at right, listens as, Minot Public Schools Superintendent Mark Vollmer, left, reviews the various drafts of the proposed school calendar.

The Minot Public School board held a special virtual board meeting Monday to approve the calendar for the 2024-2025 school year.

Superintendent Mark Vollmer presented three drafts of the school calendar prepared by the district’s calendar committee. The proposed drafters were developed from surveys with staff, students and parents.

Though there was a slight split between staff and the other groups, with staff preferring draft three and students and parents favoring the second draft. The district’s calendar committee recommended the third draft, which sets the start day for the fall semester for Aug. 21. The third draft had two fewer days for Christmas break, running from Dec. 23 through Jan. 1. Vollmer noted the calendar committee also favored the inclusion of a teacher comp day on Feb. 17 which he said would be a nice break for students and staff.

Board member Bonnie Berryman moved for the board to vote to approve the third draft. Board member Mitch Kraft inquired why the calendar committee didn’t offer another week off for spring break in 2025. The third draft included a spring break beginning with parent/teacher conferences on March 5 and would run through March 7. Vollmer said the lack of spring break was born from feedback from families, who have difficulties finding childcare if they don’t travel during the break.

“The calendar committee talked quite a bit about that. Spreading out those breaks over a period of time was appreciated a bit more by many of our families.” Vollmer said.

The board voted, and the motion passed unanimously. The last day of the 2024-2025 school year will be May 22, 2025. A copy of the approved schedule can be viewed via a link on the school board’s website.

The board also decided to extend the sick leave/honorarium deadline from Feb. 15 to March 15. Vollmer explained this item had been a topic of discussion with the bargaining units for both teachers and administrators in light of the board’s recent decision to close Bell and McKinley Elementary Schools.

The board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for March 14.