Coronado Unified approves two-year school calendars after public concern over earlier start

The Coronado Unified School District Board of Trustees on March 20 approved the 2025–26 and 2026–27 school-year calendars after public comment raised concerns about an earlier August start date and communication to families.

Board members voted 5–0 to adopt the calendars. The board approved a two‑year rollout intended to end the first term before winter break. For 2025–26 the first day of school will be Monday, Aug. 18; for 2026–27 the first day will be Monday, Aug. 10. The first three days of school in 2025–26 will be minimum days for elementary students only; middle and high school students will attend full days. The last day of school for students is June 4 in 2025–26 and May 28 in 2026–27.

The district said the calendars follow a joint calendar committee recommendation and a tentative agreement with the Association of Coronado Teachers (ACT). Donna Trippi, director of human resources, told trustees the committee — composed of teachers, administrators, parents and students — met several times and that a tentative labor agreement was reached the day before the board meeting.

During public comment, parents said the earlier start would conflict with preexisting vacation plans, risk students missing orientation and registration activities and complicate transitions for families with children changing schools. Jacqueline Hart, a parent, said many families were unaware of the change and asked the district to provide “clear and immediate communication of the revised start date,” offer condensed or makeup orientation sessions and create contingencies for families with prior commitments. Other commenters said site‑level orientation traditions (ID photos, tours, PE uniform purchases) often happen up to 10 days before the first day and need scheduling adjustments.

Trustees and staff acknowledged the concerns. Trustees asked staff to ensure an information campaign; Superintendent Mueller and staff said calendars and related teacher work‑day schedules would be published to families the evening of the meeting or the following morning. Trippi said administrators would work with site principals to schedule and communicate orientation and registration options and to minimize disruption to transitioning families, including military families.

The board’s action is limited to approving the calendars. Trippi and the district said principals will determine site‑level details for orientations, and the district will publish complete calendars and the teacher work‑year schedule after formal board action.

Trustees and staff emphasized the calendars were recommended by the joint calendar committee and that the calendar adoption follows the tentative agreement with ACT. The district said it would run an information campaign immediately following the vote to notify families and community partners of key dates.

The vote followed a motion to approve the calendars and passed 5–0.