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Litchfield board approves 2026–27 calendar pending day count; removes one name from classified approvals
Summary
At its Sept. 9 meeting, the Litchfield Elementary School District Governing Board approved the 2026–27 academic calendar pending verification that it includes 180 instructional days, adopted the meeting agenda excluding one consent item, and approved classified personnel appointments after removing one employee name from the list.
The Litchfield Elementary School District Governing Board approved the district's 2026'27 academic calendar on Sept. 9, 2025, but conditioned final approval on verification that the calendar includes 180 instructional days. The board also adopted the meeting agenda with one consent item removed and approved classified personnel appointments after removing one name from the list.
Board president Zaidema called for a motion at the start of the business portion of the meeting to adopt the agenda and approve the consent agenda "without consent item 6.1." Board member Mister Mikes moved the motion; Mister Owens seconded. The motion passed unanimously (5-0).
A later, separate staff item (agenda item 7.1) prompted debate about confidentiality for one personnel matter. President Zaidema initially moved to table item 7.1 to a later meeting; that motion failed after members expressed concerns about delaying approvals for others on the list. The board then voted to approve the classified appointments list minus one employee. President Zaidema moved, "I motion to approve this item minus Catherine Quackenbush," and Miss Moran seconded. The motion passed on a voice vote (5-0).
On the academic calendar, Miss Benjamin presented draft calendars for 2026'27 and 2027'28 and described stakeholder feedback and constraints. Board members raised several concerns, most prominently the proposed July start date. Miss Benjamin said the district sought alignment with neighboring Agua Fria district and that keeping the Thursday-start pattern preserved requested fall and spring breaks. Mr. Owens moved to approve the 2026'27 calendar and to approve the 2027'28 calendar pending confirmation that each year contains a full 180 instructional days; Miss Moran seconded. The motion passed (5-0). Board members asked staff to verify and, if needed, correct the day count before the calendars are posted as final.
What the votes mean: the board's action clears most items that had been on the consent agenda, while preserving confidentiality for one personnel matter by omitting the employee name from the public approval. Approval of the 2026'27 calendar gives families earlier notice of term dates, subject to the day-count verification the board required.
Votes at a glance - Adopt agenda and approve consent agenda without consent item 6.1: moved by Mister Mikes; seconded by Mister Owens; outcome: approved (5-0). - Motion to table agenda item 7.1 (to a later meeting): moved by President Zaidema; seconded by Mister Mikes; outcome: failed (majority nays). - Approve classified personnel list minus Catherine Quackenbush: moved by President Zaidema; seconded by Miss Moran; outcome: approved (5-0). - Approve 2026'27 calendar and 2027'28 calendar pending confirmation of 180 instructional days: moved by Mister Owens; seconded by Miss Moran; outcome: approved (5-0).
Board members and staff said additional procedural steps remain: staff will verify the 180-day count for the calendars and will return corrected documents if necessary. The board noted its next regular meeting and the district's October study session as future opportunities to revisit time-sensitive items.
President Zaidema closed the session after other routine reports and motions.
