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St. Paul, Minn.

February 25, 2009 7:04 AM

Mpls schools to start before Labor Day

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Getting to school — School buses.
Photo: Barry & Smith

The Minneapolis School Board has unanimously voted to start class in the next school year on Sept. 1, before Labor Day.

Districts are currently banned from starting before the holiday, except in cases when certain construction projects need to be accommodated.

The Legislature often approves legislation to waive that requirement when Labor Day falls later in September, as it does this year on Sept. 7. That bill is pending at the state Capitol.

Sara Vanderwerf, who sits on the calendar committee, says Minneapolis didn't want to wait for state action.

"I think there's a huge consensus that a lot of schools would like to start before Labor Day when it's that late. And so, I don't think we're alone," said Vanderwerf. "I think we're one of the ones being bold right now, saying we're going to push this, rather than wait for the Legislature to make a decision about whether this year they'll make an exception to that."

Some other school districts have approved two school calendars for the next year -- one with a Sept. 1 start and one with a post-Labor Day start -- to be ready for either option.

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School buses — School buses.
Photo: Barry & Smith

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