Board weighs school-calendar options to protect summer construction schedules

The Haddonfield Board of Education discussed three draft 2025–26 school calendars on Jan. 8, focusing on how start dates, professional-development days and spring break timing would affect summer construction projects at Tatum and Central schools.

Board member Chris Cross presented the timeline options and emphasized that substantial-completion dates for construction are the critical constraint the district must meet before students return. The board did not adopt a calendar but directed staff to prioritize a schedule that gives contractors sufficient time to complete and pass inspections.

Cross told trustees that contractors have proposed work that must be finished, inspected and made ready before classrooms can reopen, and that late substantial completion increases costs because projects requiring overtime or additional crews drive up price. Bids for renovation work on the district—s 1890s building are due Oct. 10, with a planned award date of Oct. 16, Cross said, and some interior work could begin Dec. 1 if contractors are ready.

Board members and administrators discussed three models: (1) staff in Aug. 28, students in Aug. 31; (2) staff in Aug. 31, students Sept. 1 (two PD days before classes); and (3) staff Sept. 2, students Sept. 8 (post–Labor Day start). Cross noted that all three scenarios require a substantial-completion target in late August to allow time for inspections, furniture setup and final cleaning.

Administrators and parents who responded to the district—s calendar feedback survey favored earlier student start dates and preserving a fall and spring break, while administrators said they preferred fewer large PD blocks at once and recommended spreading PD across the year. Several board members said they were open to an interim calendar for the construction years and to revisiting long-term calendar philosophy after the projects finish.

The board asked staff to return in October with one or two draft calendars that (a) maximize summer construction time and (b) show alternative PD distributions. Cross said he will press district contractors and architects for a firm "substantial completion" date and return that information to the board before the next calendar vote.

Next steps: staff will seek updated commitments from contractors and present one or two calendars at the next work session for the board to consider before first and second readings.