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Board debates school‑calendar changes and teacher professional‑development scheduling; DPI requires instructional hours not 'contact days'
Summary
Superintendent Sam Coleman presented draft calendars for 2025–26 and 2026–27 and defended calendar-committee decisions. Teachers raised concerns about concentrated professional‑development days in August; Coleman said DPI counts instructional hours, not "contact days," and the district used state statute, district policy and employee handbooks to
Superintendent Sam Coleman presented draft school calendars and answered questions about professional development days, timing and the district's approach to complying with Department of Public Instruction (DPI) requirements.
Coleman told the board the calendars are based on DPI's requirement for instructional hours rather than the district's former use of "contact days." "DPI doesn't acknowledge contact days. DPI acknowledges instructional hours," he said, adding his responsibility was to develop calendars using "state statute, district policy, and our employee handbook as the parameters." Coleman also said calendar committees include employee-group representatives and that staff survey input will be added to future calendar development.
Teachers and board members said they heard concerns about several consecutive PD days in August and asked how teacher feedback was incorporated. Coleman said calendars are the product of a committee that includes employee representatives and that he will add a district staff survey to obtain broader feedback ahead of future calendar decisions.
Ending: The board was asked to consider approval of the 2025–26 calendar at the next meeting; Coleman said 2026–27 would be a draft to finalize next year.
