District proposes 2025–26 calendar change to lengthen summer for construction work; Jan. 2 retained to meet hour requirements

Travis Olson, director of teaching and learning, and Amanda Heilman, director of business services, presented a proposed adjustment to the 2025–26 school calendar to create more summer construction time and reduce the risk of buildings not being ready for students.

Olson said the district’s schedule changes grew out of site-specific construction needs at Kennedy and Hoover elementaries that require significant HVAC and fire-suppression work tied to secure-entrance projects. To give crews more uninterrupted time in summer 2026, the proposed calendar would shift the school year start to the week before Labor Day and remove planned days off in January and April; under the proposal the last student day would be May 22 and staff’s last day May 26.

When asked why the district is suggesting the Jan. 2 staff day remain, Olson said, "If we don't come back January 2, then our last day with students is the Tuesday after Memorial Day." He and Heilman explained that state statute and collective-bargaining agreements require a minimum number of instructional days and staff days, so shifting days to cover necessary instructional hours affects the placement of other calendar days.

Board members asked about notice to families and staff with preexisting plans. Olson said the committee tried to minimize disruption by moving only one week and that staff who already booked vacations will be handled through direct conversations and standard HR processes. He said the district evaluated alternate options (for example, moving the first day to the end of workshop week) but concluded the proposed timing was the least disruptive.

Board members also asked about impacts on youth programs such as FFA and 4-H that rely on summer show schedules; administrators said other districts manage similar schedules and principals will work with families and coaches to reduce conflicts.

The calendar change was informational at the March 3 meeting; the board indicated it will consider a formal vote in a forthcoming meeting after further review and communication with families and staff.