Colonial Heights board approves 2026–27 school calendar after public input, staffs to seek waiver options

The Colonial Heights School Board on Oct. 28 approved the 2026–27 school calendar after public comment calling for an earlier start and more teacher input.

Resident Nancy Turner told the board she and other parents were concerned the proposed calendar begins later than in prior years and would push the last student day to June 4. “I was under the impression … the main thing was going back in August so that we were pretty much done by Memorial Day,” Turner said.

Rick Ridpath, a longtime school employee, urged the board to prioritize classroom staffing and to ensure teachers saw proposed calendars in advance. He also asked the board to protect salaries and retiree health benefits while considering budget decisions.

Staff explained the timing constraints created by Labor Day. “Because we’re a school that started after Labor Day, we would have to apply for a waiver to be able to start any earlier than the 24th,” a district staff member said, describing the Department of Education waiver process required to start more than two weeks before Labor Day. Staff also said the district must meet required instructional minutes and that shifting start dates without a waiver would require removing professional-development days or holidays to stay within minute requirements.

Board members directed staff to distribute the proposed calendar more widely to school stakeholders, to prepare an alternate calendar if the district applies for a waiver, and to bring revised options to an upcoming work session or the Nov. 18 meeting. The board then voted to approve the calendar as presented by roll call vote.

Why it matters: The calendar affects family planning, vacation costs and attendance patterns late in the year, staff said. Applying for a waiver would give the district options to start earlier but is not guaranteed; the board instructed staff to check waiver eligibility and gather additional input before any final adjustments.

What’s next: Staff will prepare an alternate proposal and distribute the calendar more broadly to principals, teachers and parents ahead of a work session in November.