The community has spoken. It’s time for the Albert Lea school board to pass a traditional calendar for the 2015-16 academic year.  It should start classes after Labor Day.

But then there needs to be a discussion about 2016-17 and forward.

Sure, there was a survey last summer that made it seem like many people in Albert Lea favored the idea of what the district called a balanced calendar, which would have started classes in early or middle August. However, as people became more informed, they changed their views. By November, it was easy to see the community was against it.

The largest poll was taken Nov. 4, when the school district’s voters elected Dave Klatt to the board knowing he opposed the balanced calendar. That and the continual showings at meetings of a hundred or more opponents should give enough evidence of the disfavor the early-start calendar had. If there had been so much support, how come the supporters weren’t rallying to attend meeting after meeting after meeting where the calendar would be discussed or voted upon?

Speaking of which, we hope the school board’s resolution for the new year is to restore credibility. Many district residents felt betrayed — like being on the wrong end of a political trick — when the school board agenda twice had the same school calendar issue even though the matter had been voted down on Dec. 1. And it came after the board made a promise last spring to not move forward if the community opposed it.

Many people — let’s be upfront here — were upset with the chairwoman, Linda Laurie, for bringing it back. We applaud the other board members for not making a motion at the Dec. 29 meeting. It was no time to beat a dead horse.

Still, we remind people upset with Laurie that she merely wanted what she felt was best for the children of Albert Lea, particularly those children in poverty who would need additional remedial time to catch up. She had a good and noble cause. There just wasn’t enough evidence to persuade most folks that adjusting the calendar would produce results.

Let’s move forward. Let’s figure out how to work within the system to improve achievement. Let’s build from the vibrant and meaningful calendar discussion this community had.

For example, one notion that was brought forth was the benefit of ending the first semester before the winter break. Perhaps the school board could accomplish that by looking into trimesters, which many districts in Minnesota already use. A quick Google search shows that Anoka-Hennepin, Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan and a handful of others already do.

Another example: We feel it is silly that teachers get the day off for the MEA weekend when most don’t go to the convention. Almost all states don’t grant that time off for teachers. Most workplaces don’t close down for their trade conventions, either. It would be beneficial for the students if Albert Lea classes were in session on that weekend, and it would be a great way for the union to show how much it cares about kids.

In other words, there could be a happy medium in this calendar debate that provides a little bit of what both sides are seeking. Let’s work to find it.