Box Elder Board approves 2025–26 school calendar, sets fall break after staff survey

The Box Elder School District Board of Education approved the district’s 2025–26 calendar after a presentation by Assistant Superintendent Keith Meekum explaining staff survey results and scheduling constraints.

Meekum told the board the district surveyed employees about fall break timing and that the leading vote getter was a Thursday–Friday break (October 16–17 in the presentation) with 32.3% of staff support; the second choice was October 12. He said the district must meet 180 school days and that other statutory and local scheduling constraints — including the county fair schedule — shape the calendar.

Board member Brian Smith moved to approve the calendar as proposed; Karen Cronin seconded. The board voted in favor with no recorded opposition.

Why it matters: The calendar determines instruction days, parent-teacher conferences and professional development days and affects families’ planning and extracurricular schedules.

Details the board cited: Meekum said the draft calendar allocates 174 instructional days, two parent–teacher conference days, and four professional development days to meet the 180-day requirement. He explained the district uses legislative days in August to cluster teacher professional learning and to reduce midyear interruptions.

Quotes: Meekum said, “The leading vote getter is 32.3, which would be in October 16–17,” when describing staff input.

Next steps: The approved calendar will be published by the district; staff and families will receive the finalized dates and any ancillary scheduling information.

Ending: The board approved the calendar by motion; the district will notify schools and publish the calendar to guide 2025–26 planning.