Silver Creek board delays 2026-27 calendar decision after staff and teachers prefer Option 1

The Silver Creek School Corporation Board of Trustees discussed two draft calendars for the 2026-27 school year during its Aug. 12 regular meeting at Silver Creek Elementary School but took no formal vote, deferring final approval to the board's Aug. 26 meeting.

The calendar discussion centered on aligning Silver Creek’s schedule with New Albany-Floyd County Schools and the Prosser Career Center, which serve many of the district’s career-technical students. Superintendent Dr. Briggs told the board both draft calendars reflect the recent regional shift to one-week fall and spring breaks; the principal practical difference between the two options is the start date in August and the final student day in May. Under Option 1, students would begin Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026, and the last student day would be Tuesday, May 25, 2027. Dr. Briggs recommended Option 1 and asked the board to finalize a calendar by the Aug. 26 meeting to give families and staff ample notice.

Board members and staff said alignment with Prosser was an important consideration. "I think if we can avoid being off a week when they're in and vice versa, that's pretty good on our part," said Mister Groen, a board member, noting the effect on students who travel to career-center programs. Dr. Briggs added that missed days at Prosser can represent a substantial loss of instructional time for those students and can require them to make alternate arrangements.

Erica, speaking as a representative of the Silver Creek Teachers Association (SCTA), said teacher feedback from a staff questionnaire favored Option 1 by about 70–30. "The start date of Thursday... was the priority of the teachers as opposed to the end of the school year," she said, adding that many teachers liked starting later in August so a short week leads into the weekend and a full Monday. Erica also noted she polled SCTA members rather than all staff, and the board acknowledged the survey did not capture responses from every employee.

Board member Miss McDaniel said she preferred Option 2 because it ends on a Friday and avoids returning to school for two days after a break, while others emphasized minimizing the number of days students miss at Prosser. The board discussed local observances and single-day closures such as Oaks Day and Memorial Day; Dr. Briggs explained Oaks Day had originally been scheduled to reduce substitute and bus-driver shortages.

The board voted to keep the item in discussion status and asked staff to return a finalized calendar at the Aug. 26 meeting. No formal calendar approval or amendment was made at the Aug. 12 meeting.

The board said it will continue to solicit input and may make small tweaks (for example, avoid returning on the Monday and Tuesday immediately after a one-week break) before voting. Dr. Briggs noted that graduation dates for 2027 were not specified on the two draft calendars and would be set in a separate, short follow-up conversation with the appropriate administrator.

The calendar discussion occurred during the scheduled discussion items; the board said families would receive at least several months' notice after approval.

Next steps: staff will refine the recommended calendar(s) and present a final proposal for action at the Aug. 26 board meeting.