Board approves 2025–26 school calendar that ends before Memorial Day; district outlines Friday professional learning plan

The Liberty Hill ISD board on Wednesday adopted a 2025–26 school calendar that moves to a student-year end before Memorial Day and formalizes a Friday schedule for staff development.

District staff presented two calendar options during a budget-related workshop and recommended the calendar that reduces student instructional days slightly (to 157) while adding minutes to the school day so total instructional minutes meet state requirements. The board approved the staff-recommended calendar.

Why it matters: The adopted calendar shifts instructional time rather than simply shortening or lengthening the year. Staff said the change allows the district to provide district-wide professional learning on selected Friday mornings and preserve afternoon blocks for teacher planning and grade work. District leaders said the Friday model is intended to give campuses autonomy over campus-directed morning sessions, while meeting the state’s documentation requirement for a minimum number of professional-development minutes.

Key points from the plan

- Student days and minutes: The adopted calendar reduces student days from the district’s prior count (160) to 157 but adds daily minutes (about 10–15 more per day) so the district maintains required instructional time.

- Friday professional learning and campus autonomy: The calendar designates specific Friday mornings as district professional learning days (two in fall, two in spring) and campus-directed mornings. Staff emphasized principals will be able to tailor campus sessions and that principals oppose long, four-hour mandatory sessions.

- Blackout days and exceptions: Staff proposed blackout rules (days staff are discouraged or not allowed to request leave) tied to district professional learning days and days adjacent to holidays; the board asked staff to clear exceptions for documented medical procedures, family emergencies, weddings, UIL events, and other immediate-family events and said principals should have discretion for exceptional circumstances.

- Community comparisons and logistics: Presenters showed neighboring districts’ calendars and said many area districts finish before Memorial Day. Transportation considerations — including requested spacing between bell times — will determine final start and end times for each school level. Staff plans further engagement with principals to finalize school start/end times.

What trustees said

Trustees discussed trade-offs between a longer day and a longer year and heard principals’ feedback that they can make either calendar work. Several trustees emphasized that the quality of the professional learning matters more than the schedule and urged clear communication to families about the plan.

Action taken

Trustee Neighbors moved to approve the proposed calendar; Trustee Major seconded the motion. The board voted to approve the calendar as presented.

Next steps

Staff will finalize exact bell times in consultation with transportation and principals, create a menu of options for campus sessions, provide guidance and templates for documenting professional learning minutes required by the Texas Education Agency, and circulate finalized schedules to families and staff.

Provenance: Staff calendar presentation and board discussion occurred during the same meeting when trustees adopted the calendar under action items later in the agenda.