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School Board rules on holidays

NEW ULM — The District 88 Board of Education approved a resolution to determine that Columbus Day and the Friday after Thanksgiving [Black Friday] are not legal holidays during its board meeting Thursday.

Superintendent Jeff Bertrang said the resolution is not an annual resolution considered by the district and is only filed one time pursuant to Minnesota Statute 645.44, Subd. 5.

The statute defines the term “holiday” and states that branches of state governments and political subdivisions have the option to determine if Columbus Day and the Friday after Thanksgiving are holidays, and if public business may be conducted.

Bertrang said the school district has no intent to have school on the Black Friday.

“I know it goes against conventional wisdom but there’s a state statute that says that you need pass this resolution one time to make sure you’re cleared to have school on Columbus Day and the Friday after Thanksgiving,” Bertrang said.

While Columbus Day is observed as a national federal holiday, some states, including Minnesota, either do not observe the holiday or rather observe Indigenous People’s Day.

According to 2018 Minnesota Statutes, section 120A.42, school districts may contract with teachers to hold school on holidays such as Martin Luther King’s Birthday, Washington’s Birthday, Lincoln’s Birthday, Veteran’s Day and Columbus Day. At least one hour of the day “must be devoted to a patriotic observance of the day.”

In 2019, Columbus Day is Monday, Oct. 14.

Board members also approved

• The adoption of 2019-2020 Parent and Student handbooks and faculty handbooks with changes to language regarding truancy and definitions of excused absences. Bertrang said smartwatches are no longer allowed because of the potential distraction they may induce with students.

• Annual Designation of Jeff Bertrang as the identified official with authority for the MDE external user recertification system. The annual designation allows an individual to provide authorization to people within the district to view secured reports on MDE’s website.

• Accepting the resignation of Adam Kluver as Jefferson Elementary School Principal. The board approved a change in assignment of Julie Hall, Assistant Principal at Jefferson, to a new positions as Principal at Jefferson Elementary.

District building tours will be held 5 p.m. Thursday Aug. 15. The next regular school board meeting is 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 22, in the district boardroom at 414 S. Payne St.

Gage Cureton can be emailed at gcureton@nujournal.com.

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