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McPherson USD 418 board ratifies one‑year deal adding 20 minutes to school day, removing eight calendar days for 2025–26
Summary
The McPherson USD 418 Board of Education ratified a one‑year agreement negotiated with the teachers’ association to add 20 minutes to each school day and shorten the 2025–26 school year by eight days, with the board and district leaders saying they will evaluate implementation after the first semester.
The McPherson USD 418 Board of Education on a recorded motion ratified a one‑year agreement reached with the district’s negotiations team to add 20 minutes to each school day and subtract eight days from the 2025–26 school calendar.
Board members said the change grew from months of committee work and bargaining, including meetings with teachers, parents and two board members. The agreement was presented to the board for ratification after an executive session on contract negotiations.
Board discussion stressed that the agreement is for one year only and that the district will evaluate results and implementation details. "I'm glad it's a one‑year agreement because there's a lot of things that need to be defined ... how that time is used and what are we gaining, what are we losing," said Jeff, a board member who spoke during the meeting. Board members repeatedly asked for follow‑up from the calendar committee and district leadership to report back at the end of first semester.
Superintendent Shiloh summarized the background work presented to the board: a committee of teachers, parents and two board members held several meetings, the district administered a parent survey and the negotiations team presented the proposal for the board's approval. Shiloh said that the calendar committee and building leadership teams will continue work on details for how the added minutes will be used.
Board members voiced practical concerns about the change. One board member asked whether families will face childcare challenges with eight fewer school days; the superintendent acknowledged that concern had been raised and said it would be part of continuing planning. Several members said they were supportive but wanted clear evaluation metrics and a return report in the fall of 2025.
The motion to ratify the proposed agreement was moved and seconded (mover/second not specified in the public record shared) and carried on a roll‑call procedure. The board directed that the calendar committee and district leadership refine implementation details and report results to the board after the first semester of the 2025–26 school year.
The board did not adopt binding, long‑term calendar changes; members emphasized the agreement's sunset after one year and the need for further feedback from teachers, families and staff before considering renewal.
Votes at a glance: the ratification motion passed (vote recorded by roll call; individual roll‑call names were not recorded in the public transcript excerpt).
