First Day Of Edina Schools Move To September 8 Following Board Approval

Press release from Edina Public Schools:

August 11, 2020

Aug. 11, 2020 – The Edina School Board unanimously approved a recommendation by administration to move the first day of school for the 2020-21 school year from Aug. 31, to Tuesday, Sept. 8, the day after Labor Day. This allows for an additional five days for professional development and teacher preparation for the implementation of two new learning models necessitated by the COVID-19 outbreak.

To accommodate the change, two other professional development days that were slated for later in the year will be “front loaded” to the week before school begins. Feb. 16 and March 12 were originally on the calendar as professional development days for staff, and no school days for students. Those dates will now be regular school days for students and staff in both learning models.

Assistant Superintendent Randy Smasal told the Board that the district is still well within the required student-contact days. This change in the calendar does not alter the date for the end of first semester, which is Jan. 21, nor does it change the last day of school, which is June 4.

The new four-day first week of school, Sept. 8-11, will be orientation days for students enrolled in both the hybrid model and Edina Virtual Academy. Principals and staff are planning activities to acclimate students on their chosen learning model and expectations, as well as safety protocols for those attending in the hybrid model.

Watch for back-to-school information to come from your schools.

This press release was produced by Edina Public Schools. The views expressed here are the author’s own.