STURGIS, SD – Meade School District students and staff will have an extended Thanksgiving week break in November.
The 2020-2021 school calendar had designated Nov. 25-27 as the district approved Thanksgiving break. But at a recent meeting, the school board voted unanimously to extend the Thanksgiving break to a full week, Nov. 23-27.
According to District Superintendent Don Kirkegaard, it will give students and staff the opportunity to regroup from what has been a challenging start to the school year.
State law (SDCL 13-26-1) establishes the minimum number of hours in a school term. Kirkegaard said there were extra days available in the second semester but felt it was necessary to explore days available in the first semester. At the urging of some school board members and others, the additional stress of staff and students amid educating during a pandemic should be considered.
He notes that even with the two added non-instruction days during Thanksgiving week, the district still has some snow make-up days available for use if necessary.
