Minnesota students across the state are getting set for an earlier-than-usual start to the school year, with Labor Day falling on September first.
But for students in Stillwater Area Public Schools? They are back in the classroom already, earlier than usual start to the fall semester.
Classes got underway this Monday as the school implemented an earlier start to not only address mental health concerns, but to align end of quarters with natural winter and spring breaks.
Superintendent Dr. Michael Funk says students are getting more time on the front end.
"And really provide more time on the front end for our students that have extra days of instruction so that when they're taking their AP exams, and really their MCAs in the spring, we'll have, seven, eight more days than we would have had previously," says Funk.
Previously, secondary students started a week before Labor Day, and elementary students started after Labor Day.
But, it also comes budget challenges. Funk tells the WCCO Morning News with Vineeta Sawkar they were facing a $500,000 to $600,000 deficit due to moves made at the state capitol, and that they had to make changes based on class sizes reaching and surpassing their cap size.
"In a normal year we would just add staff, but because of the fact that we were short of what we provided by the legislature, we ended up having to create some combination classes," explains Funk. "And the combination classes aren't new to Stillwater. We've done them previously for a number of years, but it's been probably six, seven years since they've done them."
The district's also implemented a no cell phone policy during school for students. Funk says from bell to bell, they will not allow the unse of phones in the school including over lunch break.