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Board debates August start, snow makeup days and a redesigned high school schedule
Summary
Administrators proposed a school calendar starting around Aug. 20 with additional flexible instruction/snow makeup days and a redesigned high school master schedule that shortens some teacher hours, adds daily 40-minute periods and introduces a weekly double-period (‘modified schedule’) for selected high school classes.
The Punxsutawney Area SD board on Tuesday examined a draft 2025-26 school calendar and a substantial redesign of the high school master schedule, prompting disagreement among members over start dates, flex days and the effect on electives and related-arts instruction.
Administrators presented a calendar in which the student start date would be about Aug. 20, the end of year would fall later in May, and the district would increase built-in snow-makeup options from two to three days. “I think August 20 is way too early,” one board member said; other board members and administrators said the proposed timeline aligns with neighboring districts and accommodates holiday placements and extra built-in snow days.
On scheduling, Dr. Smilko (the district administrator leading the schedule redesign) described a proposed high school schedule intended to preserve instructional time in tested subjects while providing more flexibility for labs and applied courses. Under the plan presented, teachers would report at 7:20 a.m. and end their day around 2:50 p.m.; students’ doors would open at 7:30 a.m. with instruction beginning roughly at 7:40 a.m., and student dismissal was proposed around 2:30 p.m. The high school would move to a daily set of eight 40-minute instructional periods plus a 30-minute “star” period; twice weekly the school would run a “modified schedule” that doubles selected periods so students receive an 80-minute block with a teacher for lab, shop or extended activities.
The junior-high schedule would shift related-arts offerings, condensing some courses so students have more time in ELA and math. That raised concerns from board members who said half-year music, band and arts offerings could leave students with insufficient continuity; a board member said several students and parents told the board they dislike in-and-out flex days and prefer a calendar that ends earlier in May.
Administrators said they had consulted teachers, department heads, union representatives and IT (Synergy) while drafting the schedule and that they would continue refining the plan with music and related-arts staff to preserve band, chorus and applied classes. “We want to make sure that we're still giving those junior-high kids that opportunity as well,” the high school administrator said of band and chorus scheduling.
Board members asked for alternative calendar drafts and requested at least one additional draft showing an earlier end-of-year option. Administrators said they would prepare multiple calendar drafts and bring back revised proposals for discussion and possible vote at a subsequent meeting. The board did not take a final vote on the calendar or master schedule on Tuesday.
