The St. Louis Park Schools School Board convened on December 10, 2024, to discuss the academic calendar for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school years, focusing on the inclusion of holidays for Jewish and Muslim families. The meeting highlighted the administration's recommendation to designate two holidays as non-instructional days and two as instructional days, aligning with the district's commitment to racial equity and cultural understanding.

The discussion began with a presentation from the administration, which emphasized the importance of recognizing cultural holidays to foster empathy and understanding among students. The proposed calendar includes Yom Kippur on October 2 and Eid al-Fitr on March 20 as non-instructional days, while Rosh Hashanah and Eid al-Adha would be observed through structured curriculum on instructional days.

Board members reviewed two calendar options, with the first option maintaining the previously approved calendar from January 2024, which recognizes one Jewish holiday and one Muslim holiday as non-instructional. The second option proposed observing all four holidays, which would require adjustments to the school year, potentially extending the last day of school to June 15, 2027.

Concerns were raised about the impact of these changes on instructional days, particularly in relation to testing schedules. Board members discussed the importance of maximizing instructional time before testing cycles and the implications of starting school before Labor Day, which is currently restricted by state law. Some members expressed frustration over the limitations imposed by the state and suggested advocating for legislative changes to allow more flexibility in the school calendar.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to ongoing community input and the establishment of a calendar committee to address stakeholder concerns. The board plans to revisit the proposed calendars in January 2025, allowing for further discussion and potential adjustments based on feedback and legislative developments.