Supporters,

I wanted to provide a final update regarding the ongoing efforts around the start time and calendar changes. Over the past few weeks, I have pursued multiple avenues to engage with the board, including requesting a public Q&A session. Unfortunately, these efforts have not yielded any progress.

I recently spoke with Andrew Thelander at Andersen Elementary and reiterated the points I shared in my previous email. However, the board's position on this matter remains unchanged.

At this point, I have reached the limits of what I can do. While there are certainly ways to express opposition and work toward change, these efforts will need to be pursued at a higher level than what I can currently influence. If this issue is important to you, I encourage you to reach out to our local legislators and state representatives for support.

The primary obstacle to addressing the start time issue is the district’s three-tiered busing system. By law, we are required to provide transportation to private schools, such as St. Croix Prep and other charter schools within the district. Without this obligation, we could shift the start times to a more equitable schedule for all grade levels.

Regarding the calendar changes, I believe that Stillwater is misusing the exemption related to earlier start times, particularly in connection with construction needs. This could be a topic to raise with the Minnesota Department of Education if you are interested in pursuing this further.

There are certainly actions that can be taken, but they require a level of advocacy that the board is not currently willing to engage with. While I wish I could do more, this initiative needs additional support beyond just this petition. I encourage you to contact those in positions of influence, and leverage your network to help move this conversation forward.

Thank you for your time and support,

Ashley Cegielski