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Chatham board approves 2026–27 calendar amid public questions on taxes and enrollment
Summary
After reviewing survey results from roughly 900 families, the board adopted the 2026–27 school calendar (Option 2) — staff begin Aug. 25 and students Aug. 31 — and a public commenter pressed the board for enrollment numbers from recent housing developments and for segregation of security funds requested previously.
The School District of the Chathams Board of Education on July 1 voted to adopt the 2026–27 school calendar (Option 2) after reviewing a district survey of families and related scheduling impacts.
Board members reported that approximately 900 families participated in the survey and that Option 2 received the largest share of votes (about 48.8%). Under the adopted calendar, staff would begin Aug. 25 and students would start Aug. 31; the calendar includes a short February break, a full April break and a last day of June 18. The motion to approve Option 2 (agenda item C8) passed as recorded.
During public comment earlier in the meeting, resident Bill Heap congratulated Superintendent Dr. Sortino on her first board meeting and raised two substantive concerns: a sharp increase in his estimated borough property tax bill and whether the security funds the district requested two Novembers ago would be segregated for security rather than folded into general revenue. Heap asked the board to estimate how many students had enrolled from several recent housing developments and requested the district email enrollment counts.
Board members responded that they had the enrollment numbers for the referenced developments and would email the commenter the exact figures, and a board member reiterated a commitment that the money proposed in the previous referendum question was intended for security. The board did not provide a line‑item accounting at the meeting or specify any change to the district’s treatment of previously requested security funds.
The adoption of the calendar completes a timing decision the district had asked families to weigh and sets the operational schedule for staff planning and student attendance in fall 2026.
