Bettendorf board weighs two academic calendars after staff survey favors traditional PD week

Dr. Morse presented two draft calendars for the coming school year and said the difference centers on how the professional-development week is scheduled near the state-restricted start date (district cannot start before Aug. 23). One version keeps the traditional Monday–Friday PD week; the other schedules PD Friday through Thursday to give staff a three-day weekend before students arrive.

Morse said the district surveyed staff: 65% selected Calendar A (traditional Monday–Friday professional-development week), 25% chose Calendar B (Friday–Thursday PD) and 10% said either was acceptable. He said the recommendation will return for a December vote after staff feedback is incorporated.

The presentation highlighted practical concerns for block scheduling, including balancing quarter lengths so semester/quarter courses have roughly equal instruction days; the superintendent noted that imbalance can give some students more instructional days in a given course depending on when a course falls in the year. The calendar choice also affects teacher contract days, transportation and coordination with community-college semesters for dual-credit students. Board members asked for calendar drafts to be published to families before winter break if a recommendation is approved in December.