School board approves Option 2 calendar for 2025–26, eliminating early-release days

The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board on Feb. 20 voted to adopt Option 2 for the 2025–26 school calendar, a plan that eliminates all early-release days, makes Feb. 18 an instructional day and increases teacher in-service days.

Board Member Nathan Russ moved the measure; Board Member Emily Soule seconded it. After public comment and discussion among board members and staff, the board called the vote and the motion carried.

The adopted calendar gives students 173 full instructional days and provides nine full teacher in-service days, according to district staff. The district said Option 2 adds roughly 1.5 instructional days compared with the original proposal and that the change carries no additional cost to the district’s payroll under the current salary schedule.

Supporters including Superintendent Lamont Cole argued the change would maximize student time on task. “If I had to pick tonight, I would pick option 2,” Cole said during deliberations, urging the board to prioritize additional instructional minutes for struggling learners.

Teachers and union representatives urged the board to weigh…