Beach Park CCSD 3 proposes Aug. 18 start for 2025–26 school year; last day June 1 with early‑release SIP day

Superintendent Dr. Wilcox presented the board with a proposed 2025–26 school calendar that would begin the week of Aug. 18 and end on June 1, with the final day designated as a school improvement (SIP) early-release day.

Board materials and the superintendent’s remarks said the Aug. 18 start date is intentionally scheduled a week after the high school start date; the calendar was reviewed with union leadership, who indicated they preferred that later start for staff and students. A board member noted the high school typically starts earlier to accommodate sports schedules governed by the Illinois High School Association.

The proposal also calls for registration for the 2025–26 school year to begin the week of March 10; district materials require families to provide proof of residency at registration, a practice the district said was implemented the prior year and will continue.

Dr. Wilcox told the board the district’s Multicultural Festival will be held March 15 at EQMS, described as a free event for families; reserved parking will be available for board members who wish to attend, the superintendent added.

Board members asked whether the two-hour SIP early-release on June 1 could be moved to an earlier date in the year to avoid requiring families to return to school at the end of the school year. Staff replied that doing so could require removing or altering other calendar days and cited past schedule tradeoffs (for example, changes to kindergarten schedules reported earlier in the year). No motion to adopt the calendar is recorded in the provided transcript excerpt.