Estill County Board adopts amended 2024–25 school calendar, cites House Bill 241 for flexibility

IRVINE, Ky. — The Estill County Board of Education unanimously approved an amended 2024–25 school calendar on April 1, adopting a district-variable calendar authorized by House Bill 241 and setting student and teacher make-up rules for the remainder of the year.

Mr. Cornett, a district staff member, told the board the district chose the variable-calendar option provided in House Bill 241 rather than taking specified state days. "They actually gave days if, to be taken if districts chose to or it also gave permission to use, what is called a variable calendar and we chose the latter," Cornett said. He told the board the district is not removing state-provided days but is using its bank of approximately 8.6 banked days and did not draw all of them down.

Under the amended calendar as described at the meeting, the last day for students is listed as May 21, the closing day for the school year is May 22, and the first teacher equivalency/work day is May 23. Cornett said certified staff will have five days to make up; details for classified employees were not finalized and "each department head, bus garage, food service, they're already aware of that" and have planned arrangements. The board also noted a contingency allowance of up to 10 missed days under House Bill 241; Cornett said if additional days are required, academy events may need to move off campus and "all those dominoes will fall."

The board also discussed and the district announced new summer programs: the CREATE Academy (performing arts) and a STEM academy. Cornett said applications are live and the district expects possibly 200 to 400 students. The academies' sessions described at the meeting run May 27–30 and June 2–5, with the last in-person session on June 4 and a community evening performance on June 4; June 5 was described as an off-campus experience day.

The motion to approve the amended calendar was made by Veil Samples and seconded by Carrie Smallwood; the motion carried 5-0.

Board members answered questions from colleagues during the session: one board member asked about families who had pre-planned vacations; Cornett said parents can apply through a district form and principals already have those forms. Another asked about additional built-in days for unforeseen weather; Cornett confirmed a contingency and referenced House Bill 241 as the enabling authority.