Board reviews draft 2026–27 calendar; teachers flag uneven semesters if winter break moved

District staff presented a draft 2026–27 school calendar on March 20 that would move first-semester finals to before winter break, producing an uneven semester split (76 days first semester and 93 days second semester in the draft).

Miss Simpkins, who presented the draft calendar, said the district’s practice is to approve calendars two years in advance and explained statutory constraints that limit how early the district can start the school year (2019 legislation was cited). She said the 2026 start date pushes the first semester shorter and noted the proposed change aims to get finals done before winter break so students who leave for college or the military are not disrupted.

Teachers and board members raised pacing concerns: staff said semester and course pacing may be difficult given the 76-vs-93-day split and noted some semester-length classes would need adjusted pacing. Simpkins said the issue is more pronounced for the 2026–27 draft than it would be for the nearer 2025–26 year and that snow days and testing timing (typically concentrated in second semester) can also affect instructional balance.

The student board representative said she preferred having finals before winter break. The board asked staff to solicit additional feedback from teachers and the community; Simpkins said the draft would return next month after community and staff input. She also explained that any legislative change (relating to allowed start dates) would give the district more flexibility in future calendars.

Staff provided a link for community input and noted the district’s goal to balance teacher professional development, staff recruitment/retention and student contact requirements while complying with state rules.