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Board adopts 2026–27 calendar adding four professional development/virtual days for high school students
Summary
The board adopted the 2026–27 instruction calendar that adds four professional development days for staff; grades 7–12 will have four virtual learning days while K–6 students will be off those days, a change staff described as a trial to boost teacher collaboration without extending the school year.
The Waunakee Community School District board on Monday approved the 2026–27 instructional calendar that builds four additional professional development days into the year; district staff said the change will not extend the school year or violate state instructional-minute requirements.
Superintendent Dr. Brown said the calendar’s premise is to provide additional time for staff collaboration and professional development. To preserve statutory instructional minutes while adding staff development, the district will designate four days when K–6 students will be off and grades 7–12 will learn remotely (either synchronously or asynchronously depending on teacher plans). “The premise behind the new...calendar is looking for additional professional development or collaboration days for our teachers,” Dr. Brown said.
District leaders told the board they designed the schedule so K–6 will retain sufficient instructional minutes — K–6 schedules already include a surplus of minutes — while 7–12 students will complete virtual learning on those days. Staff described the change as a trial for 2026–27 and said they will survey outcomes and continuity of instruction over time. Board members discussed access concerns for families without reliable home internet and asked staff to ensure device and Wi‑Fi access options for students who need them.
Several board members noted the calendar committee included building principals, teachers and other staff and that the committee met multiple times to balance building-level needs. The board approved the calendar by voice vote; a few members said they expected to revisit the approach after evaluating the pilot year’s results.
