Board reviews first reading of 2026–27 school calendar; testing window and spring break timing discussed

The Spearfish School District 40-2 board held a first reading on the proposed 2026–27 school calendar at its March 10 meeting, reviewing a draft that would start in late August and conclude students’ in-person days prior to Memorial Day while preserving two-week winter break and other scheduled holidays.

District staff said the calendar seeks to take advantage of the later possible Memorial Day date, allowing a late August start while still finishing before the holiday. The proposed calendar would also maintain two weeks at Christmas. The board discussed community feedback collected by staff advisory groups, which produced mixed responses about combining a spring break with the Easter period to create a longer break. One concern raised by staff and advisory members was the overlap between a potential spring break and the district’s state assessment testing window; moving spring break into that period would conflict with testing schedules.

Board members noted that spring break timing often aligns with state tournaments or regional schedules and that the district’s testing window extends into the period between late March and late May. The superintendent’s advisory will continue reviewing the calendar; the item was presented as a first reading and could be revised and returned for a second reading in April. No vote to adopt the calendar was taken at the March 10 meeting.