Randolph County Board approves 2026–27 school calendar; discusses remote-learning makeup days

The Randolph County Board of Education approved the second reading of the 2026–27 school calendar on Feb. 10, adopting an academic year that begins Monday, Aug. 24, 2026, and ends Wednesday, June 9, 2027.

The calendar includes 180 student days, 14 teacher work days, 11 holidays and other scheduled early-release or makeup provisions. The board approved a committee change made between readings: a professional development day originally scheduled for Aug. 17 was moved to Wednesday, Aug. 19.

Why it matters: the calendar sets instructional and assessment windows for the district and establishes the inclement-weather makeup approach. The administration reminded the board that state rules currently allow school systems to use up to five remote-learning days as makeup days; the district’s stated approach is to absorb the first five missed days and use remote instruction only when necessary and feasible.

Discussion highlights

- Remote-learning readiness: Superintendent Dr. Ganey and other staff cautioned that calling a remote day requires preparation so students and families actually receive instruction. "Before I can call a remote learning day, we've gotta be ready," Dr. Ganey said, noting packet distribution and teacher preparation are necessary to make a remote day meaningful.

- Inclement-weather sequence: The district will first use five available days (absorbed into the calendar as allowed by state policy) before moving to additional remote or make-up mechanisms, but board members debated whether remote days should be the immediate next step after the first five or only used later. The administration proposed adding language to the calendar noting the statutory availability of up to five remote days and confirming that the district will not switch to remote instruction without adequate preparation.

- Calendar timing and assessments: Board members and staff discussed pressures at the high school level when exams fall after winter break. Several trustees asked about flexibility used by charter or cooperative innovative high schools; staff noted those schools operate under different statutory arrangements and that district-wide calendar flexibility is constrained by state law.

Vote and follow-up

The board voted to approve the 2026–27 calendar on the second reading. The board directed staff to add an explanatory note to the posted calendar that the district may use state-authorized remote-learning days as part of its inclement-weather makeup plan and to clarify the district’s process for calling a remote day. The motion to approve was made and seconded; the transcript records the vote as "aye" and the motion carried (no roll-call tally recorded in the transcript).