Board hears first read of three-year academic calendar as parents and teachers question half-day Wednesdays

Decatur SD 61’s Board of Education received a first read Tuesday of proposed academic calendars for school years 2025–26, 2026–27 and 2027–28, and heard multiple public comments and board members urging a closer look at the practice of eight half-day Wednesdays used for teacher professional development.

The proposed calendars — presented as a first read by Maria (presenter, district staff member) — would keep 176 student instructional days and 180 DEA (employee) contract days, use eight half days that equate to four full professional development days for staff, and include five emergency days for snow or other closures. Maria said the proposal is a “first read” and that final approval will be brought back to the board for a vote at a future meeting (the administration indicated March 4 as the expected date to act).

Why it matters: Teachers, parents and board members said the Wednesday half days can disrupt instruction and create burdens for working families. Board members also raised budgetary and bargaining implications: converting eight half days into full professional days would shift the DEA contract and carry a substantial cost, estimated by administration at about $500,000 per added day of staff time.

Public comment was led by Kathy Briggs, an art teacher and parent, who told the board the half-day Wednesdays produce poor staff collaboration and create logistical problems for teachers and families who must travel between schools or find additional childcare. “This is actually what happened to our staff. It sounds confusing. It sounds like there’s not a lot of collaboration that can happen,” Briggs said. She urged the board to survey stakeholders before approving a three-year calendar.

Board members expanded on those concerns in discussion. One trustee said the district should examine how other districts manage professional development, noting some nearby districts use fewer half days. Another member emphasized potential negotiation obligations with the DEA if the district converts half days to full staff days, and requested clearer financial detail about where money to pay for additional staff days would come from.

Administration explained how the half days currently function: students attend morning sessions on Wednesdays (so the day counts as instructional), while teachers remain after student dismissal for additional training; this structure counts both as student attendance and DEA workdays. The administration also noted new ISBE/ROE guidance affecting holiday observances and waivers and that calendar construction took input from union leadership, the teaching and learning department and executive cabinet.

The first read included several calendar specifics that the board flagged for clarification: which holidays will be observed vs. attended (for example Indigenous Peoples’ Day and Veterans Day observance rules vary across the three proposed years), the district’s approach to optional teacher workdays, and how the proposal intersects with federal funding uncertainties tied to programs such as CEP and other federal pass-throughs. Administration told the board it currently estimates about 16% of district funding is federally sourced (an amount that has been higher in recent years because of ESSER funds).

Next steps: The board did not vote on the calendars Tuesday. Administration will return with a final recommendation and more financial detail, and the calendar is expected to be on the agenda for a vote at a future meeting in March. Board members repeatedly invited additional stakeholder feedback and suggested the board examine alternative models used by other districts and the financial implications before approving multiple years at once.

Details: The proposed 2025–26 calendar lists an August 12, 2025, first day of school; the district includes eight half days that equal four full professional days for staff; administration said changing to four full student-free PD days would add roughly $500,000 in staff costs per day. The administration also said schools could amend a board-approved calendar later if necessary.

Votes and formal action: None. This was a first read; no formal action was taken on the calendars Tuesday.