School board approves revised calendars, seeks one-year waiver from 180‑day requirement and files BEA compliance update

The Issaquah School District Board of Directors voted Wednesday to adopt a revised 2025–26 school calendar, submit a one‑year waiver request from the state’s 180‑day basic education requirement for 2025–26, and file an updated Basic Education Act (BEA) compliance report.

Board members and staff framed the changes around two priorities: embedding weather makeup days in the regular calendar to preserve predictability for families and staff, and keeping the district’s end date inside the community’s preferred window where practicable. Assistant Superintendent Donna Hood told the board that each proposed calendar contains 179 student days and 180 staff days, “and that includes the PD day that we anticipate the State will allow us to count as 1 of 180, per the PD waiver that was approved by the Board in our last meeting.”

Why it matters: state policy requires 180 days (or equivalent instructional minutes) for the basic education program; districts that cannot meet that requirement can apply for waivers tied to specific calendars and documented makeup plans. Hood said the district prioritized embedding at least three makeup days and placing some before AP/IB testing windows to reduce disruption during May testing months.

During a lengthy discussion, board members debated how many embedded makeup days to carry in future calendars and whether the district should aim to end the instructional year earlier in June. Director Gallinger urged a consistent standard for makeup days so families and staff can plan, while Director Taylor pressed for earlier June end dates where feasible to preserve summer time for students and staff. Hood summarized community input used to craft options: embedded makeup days were favored by about 82% of respondents, about 63% said they prefer the year to end before Juneteenth, and roughly 25% preferred keeping the Wednesday before Thanksgiving as a student holiday.

The board also amended its application approach: rather than request a three‑year waiver up front, the board approved filing a one‑year waiver for 2025–26 and left future years for later action after calendars for those years are finalized. Superintendent (named in the meeting transcript as “superintendent”) said the one‑year waiver lets the district move forward now while finishing calendar work for subsequent years.

Votes at a glance: - Consent agenda: approved (roll call indicated all in favor). (consent agenda motion) - Revised 2025–26 school calendar: approved. (motion to approve 25‑26 calendar) - Revised 2026–27 school calendar: motion carried after debate; board discussion centered on embedded makeup days and start/end dates. (motion to approve 26‑27 calendar) - Revised 2027–28 calendar: approved. (motion to approve 27‑28 calendar) - Revised 2028–29 calendar (option B selected): approved. (motion to approve 28‑29 option B) - Resolution No. 1246 — request a one‑year waiver from the 180‑day requirement for 2025–26: approved. (resolution) - Revised 2025–26 BEA compliance report: approved. (administrative filing) - Monitoring report OE‑8 (communication and support to the board): accepted. (monitoring report motion)

What board members said: Director Taylor argued staff have a professional obligation to post‑school responsibilities but said she wants the district to prioritize earlier June end dates where possible. Donna Hood described the tradeoffs in schedule design, including keeping at least three makeup days before Juneteenth and placing one or two embedded makeup days before AP/IB testing.

Next steps: The district will submit the amended one‑year waiver application to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) tied to the approved 2025–26 calendar, finalize the BEA compliance submission, and return to the board with calendar proposals for subsequent years as additional public feedback and bargaining steps conclude.