The Santa Fe R-X School District will seek permission from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for an earlier start date for the 2026-27 school year.

Supt. Derek Lark says the board agreed at their Thursday, Jan. 22 meeting to pursue the waiver request. Lark says should DESE allow the earlier start date of Aug. 18, the district has a plan in place to excuse students who are still exhibiting at the Missouri State Fair.

State law requires school district to wait until two weeks prior to Labor Day before starting their school year. Lark says if the waiver is not granted, Santa Fe could end up with as few as 64 days in the classroom for the fall semester, while the spring semester could last 81 days and conclude just before the Memorial Day weekend.

Lark notes that Santa Fe is presently planning for 1106 hours of instructional time next school year. He anticipates the state board of education to act on the requests from Santa Fe and other districts during their February meeting.

The Santa Fe R-X school board next meets Thursday, Feb. 12.