Chatham board adopts 2026–27 calendar and clears consent blocks, accepts donations

The School District of the Chathams Board of Education on a regular meeting approved the 2026–27 school calendar and passed a series of consent and curriculum agenda items.

Board members voted to adopt Option 2 of the 2026–27 calendar, the choice favored by families in the district survey. Under that schedule, staff will begin Aug. 25 and students will start on Aug. 31; the calendar includes a short February break, a full April break, and a projected last day of school on June 18. The board president announced roughly 900 family responses and that Option 2 received 48.8% of the vote before members approved the calendar on a motion and second.

The meeting also cleared several consent blocks. The board moved and approved agenda items A1–A25 (with addendum items noted) and Finance & Facilities moved B1–B22, which highlighted donations and routine business. The board recorded acceptance of an NJASBO associate business member scholarship of $1,000 for a CHS 2025 graduate and a $5,500 donation from the Chatham Booster Club to support a Huddle subscription.

Curriculum items C1–C7 were carried in a recorded vote. Policy first readings were moved for D1; the packet included a new spectator conduct policy and an updated sunscreen policy to be folded into medication administration practices. The policy committee recommended using existing acceptable-use and academic-integrity language to guide student instruction on artificial intelligence rather than creating a separate AI policy.

Minutes from the June 9 and June 23 public and executive sessions were moved and seconded earlier in the meeting and subsequently recorded as approved, with abstentions noted on specific items where board members had conflicts.

Next steps: first readings will return for later consideration and the adopted calendar will be posted to district communications. No executive session was held and the meeting adjourned.