This survey is for PreK-12 grade parents of students in the Braham Area School District.

What?

• During the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 school years, school will start one hour later (9:00 a.m. vs. 8:00 a.m.) on every Monday (total of thirty-one Mondays during the 2023-2024 school year).  When considering bus pick-ups, etc. simply add one hour to the time your child is normally picked up.  All other weekdays will be at our regular (8:00 a.m.) start time.

 
Why?

• ISD #314 is always looking to improve academic instruction.  The district is fully aware the #1 factor influencing student achievement during the school day is the classroom teacher (parents are #1 overall).  With that in mind, the district is interested in utilizing additional evidence-based practices which increase teacher effectiveness.  Teams of teachers - working together with a focus on common goals - provide stronger instruction.  To make this happen, teachers need time to meet on a REGULAR basis; discussing what we will teach, how we will teach, and how we will know if students are learning.  

When will a decision be made?

• District staff have been studying this concept over the last nine months.  The plan is for the district to consider survey results, along with staff input, and make a final decision at the Dec. 19, 2022 or Jan. 23, 2023 school board meeting.  The results of any decision will NOT impact this current school year - only starting in the fall of 2023.
  

 
What if this change does not meet its objectives?

• The district is planning to study the impact of this decision over the next two school years. At that time the district could choose to continue with the schedule modification, go back to the current system, or try something different.  Slight modifications could be made during the two year period based on results but this would need the approval of several parties.

What will these days (Mondays) look like?

• Student days will begin one hour later on Mondays (9:00 a.m. vs 8:00 a.m.).  HS class periods will be adjusted to 44 minutes vs the ‘regular’ 49 minutes and there will be no opening advisory period as occurs on other week days.  Due to schedule modifications, no instructional time will be lost due to the late start.
• The teachers day will begin at 7:07 a.m. on Mondays.  Teachers and other staff members will be engaged in work devoted to improving academic performance in the district.

Will the school year be extended two additional days?

• Because the district does not want to lose any instructional time, two additional student contact days are being added to the calendar.  These days will show up during the regular school year which will still begin the day after Labor Day (per MN statute) and is scheduled to end on Friday, May 24, 2024.  In other words, the starting and ending dates of the school year will still follow our traditional calendar as the two added days were simply days off for students (not for teachers) that occurred during the regular school year.

May I drop my child off early?

• Braham Area Schools has offered before and after school care (BASK) for several years.  BASK is available for PreK-6 students starting at 6:30 a.m. until the start of the school day and again after school until 6:00 p.m.  There has always been a fee for this service.
• As part of Flight 707, the morning session of BASK would be free for PreK-6 grade students starting at 7:30 a.m.  Students arriving prior to this time would still pay their regular fee.  
• Students in grades 7-12 should not be in school until 8:45 a.m. unless there for a specific purpose and under the direct supervision of a teacher/coach.

Will breakfast still be available?

• Yes, breakfast will still be served.
• BASK students will be served breakfast as early as 7:30 a.m.  Other students will have breakfast available one hour later than traditional days, meaning breakfast would be served starting at 8:40 a.m.

Will any instructional time be lost?

• No.  Due to modifications of the student schedule and the addition of two student contact days (within the regular school year - this will NOT extend the school year), there is no loss of instructional time.

I’m nervous about this change.  Why are you doing this?

• The district understands change can be challenging, but teaching is also challenging.  Our state, and the nation as a whole, are in a teacher shortage crisis.  We feel strongly that changing the model will improve the experience for your children AND our instructors.  We understand the system may not be perfect at the start (what is?) but we feel the need for a bold move is necessary.  We care deeply about student success and feel this step (regular team meetings focused on specific goals) - practiced by many in the business community - can move us forward.

 
Why the name Flight 707?

• We are the Bombers, so an airplane based name seemed appropriate.
• The teacher day will begin at 7:07 a.m. on Mondays.
• We want our students and staff to FLY HIGH :)

 
Why not release students early one day each week?

• The key reasons this option was not strongly considered is this change would result in the loss of instructional time (we VERY MUCH VALUE the time we spend with your children) OR after school activities would have to start much later.  With nearly 70% of our 7-12 students involved in some activity, we decided having students wait around for 90 minutes followed by a late afternoon/evening practice was going to be a significant challenge.

 
Will any employees be adversely affected from a financial standpoint?

• The current plan calls for no employee to be impacted financially.  A few would see a slight increase in available hours (transportation would add two days).

 
I want to learn more.  Who can I speak with?
Supt. Gagner is happy to answer any questions (see below for contact information).  There are also many staff members who would be happy to share information.  Simply reach out using the directory on the school website.

Phone: 320-396-5199 (office)  320-288-6634 (cell)
Email: kgagner@braham.k12.mn.us
In-person Contact Nickie Nelson (320-396-5199 or nnelson@braham.k12.mn.us) to schedule.