By Ryan Dahnert
During the January 27th School Board meeting, district leaders presented a proposal to revamp the structure of the elementary specialist rotation, including adding STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), shifting from a 10-day to a 4-day rotation, and moving the full band program outside of the specialist schedule beginning with the 2025-2026 school year.
However, following public comment and extensive board discussion, the board ultimately decided to postpone the vote on the proposal until its next meeting on February 10th.
The meeting saw a turnout of roughly 40 attendees, consisting of both staff and community members.
During public comment, five speakers expressed concerns about the new specialist schedule and its potential impact on students. Speakers were concerned about the impact on physical and mental health that the proposed reduction in Physical Education (PE) may cause, and the proposals impact on the band program. Multiple speakers requested that the school board delay its vote on the proposed changes, requesting more time for discussion and evaluation of potential impacts.
Proposed Key Changes to the Elementary Schedule
Nika Summer, Assistant Director of Learning, Teaching & Equity and Stephanie Baker, Eagle Creek Principal, outlined two major recommendations:
Move from a 10-day to a 4-day specialist rotation.
Shift full band programming outside of the specialist rotation while maintaining rehearsal time and concerts.
Superintendent Dr. Mike Redmond expressed support for the changes, emphasizing that inefficiencies in the current model have existed for over a decade and that a committee first identified concerns nine years ago. He noted that, as an example, one specialist sees over 1,200 students every 10 days, and some art classes at Red Oak Elementary have ballooned to 45 students.
Changes in Specialist Time Allocation
Under the current 10-day rotation, students receive specialist instruction in four subjects, but with an uneven distribution of time:
With the transition to a 4-day rotation, the district is introducing STEM as a new specialist subject and creating a more balanced distribution of instructional time:
The introduction of STEM as a specialist subject replaces Media, aligning with the district’s Academies of Shakopee initiative and offering students hands-on, applied learning opportunities.
Board Discussion: Physical Education and Activity Concerns
Board members raised concerns about how the new schedule impacts Physical Education (PE) and overall student activity time, citing a CDC recommendation for 150 minutes of physical activity per week.
On PE days, students receive 80 minutes of movement (50 minutes of PE + 30 minutes of recess).
The district compared its recess structure to surrounding districts, noting that Shakopee provides 10 more minutes of daily recess than some other neighboring districts.
New Schedule Impact:
4-day rotation: 210 minutes of PE per week
Current 10-day rotation: 240 minutes per week
While the new model reduces PE time by 30 minutes per week, Dr. Redmond emphasized that the updated specialist rotation balances learning time while still prioritizing student activity and wellness.
Changes to Band Program
Under the proposed changes, the full band program will no longer be part of the specialist rotation, but students would still receive practice rehearsal time and participate in concerts. This change allows for:
✅ Smaller, more personalized small-group lessons for all 5th-grade students
✅ More equitable scheduling across all elementary schools
Specialist Staffing Adjustments
The transition to a 4-day rotation would also lead to staffing realignments across elementary schools:
What’s Next?
The school board will revisit the proposal at its February 10 meeting and determine whether to approve the changes. If the proposal is approved, significant work will begin in collaboration with staff to define new schedules and curriculum updates by April 1. The Band Program Redesign Team will complete adjustments by April 25, 2025.
The full school board meeting video can be viewed on the district’s YouTube page.
*A previous version of this article reported the current % of specialist time for Music/Band and Media incorrectly.