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Park City trustees favor refining status‑quo calendar option after large community survey response
Summary
A district calendar survey drew 2,087 responses; a majority favored an option that preserves the full February break and Friday early‑release, and the board directed staff to refine that option for a November vote and to develop a three‑year calendar.
The board heard the results of a recent community calendar survey on Oct. 1 that drew 2,087 responses. District staff presented three calendar options and said a majority of respondents — parents, employees and combined parent‑employee respondents — preferred an option that largely maintained the district’s current calendar while adding two professional development days in August.
Survey findings and district decision: Staff said the favored option keeps the district’s full week February break and Friday early releases, starts school in mid‑August (Aug. 20 in the draft) and includes additional teacher professional development days in August so teachers can prepare classrooms before students arrive. A sizable contingent of respondents opposed an earlier start that would end school before Memorial Day due to concerns about “muddy season” and impacts on community events and fundraisers. Eighty‑four percent of respondents generally favored keeping Friday early releases, staff said.
Why it matters: Calendar changes affect families’ childcare planning, district operations, athletics and community events. Staff noted concerns about traffic and alignment with neighboring districts and said they will study start‑time impacts and potential effects on after‑school programs.
Board direction: The calendar committee recommended refining Option 1 (status quo with tweaks). The board agreed to refine Option 1 and bring a revised calendar back for a November board vote, with the intent to adopt a three‑year calendar so families and community groups have advance notice.
Program considerations: Staff discussed related issues raised by respondents, including guaranteed aftercare for preschool admissions, impacts on community fundraisers (notably events aligned with Memorial Day), and the need to consider high school athletics schedules and AP testing windows when altering start and end dates.
Next steps: Staff will refine the favored option, continue community engagement and present a final calendar for board action in November.
