Calendar committee proposes early‑release days for professional learning; board weighs tradeoffs

The district’s calendar committee presented options for the 2026–27 school calendar on Sept. 9 and asked the board for nonnegotiables to include in options that will go to vote.

Jen Story, calendar committee chair, said the committee surveyed parents and staff and is considering building up to eight two‑hour early‑dismissal days (four per semester) for professional learning embedded in the school day so teachers and support staff can attend without sacrificing planning time. Story said Virginia law permits 180 student days or the statutory instructional‑hour equivalent; the committee would adjust semester day counts (for example from 87 to 88 days) so minutes remain in compliance if early dismissals are added.

Board members praised the idea of protecting teacher planning while also expressing concern about removing instructional minutes and possible negative effects on district performance metrics. Several trustees urged keeping Veterans Day as a non‑school day; others recommended continued parent surveys and consideration of two or three calendar options for public vote. The board did not adopt a binding nonnegotiable number of early‑release days but asked the committee to return in October with calendar options that reflect the discussion.

The discussion included operational details (fair week, testing windows, and hurricane makeup sequencing) and referenced staff and parent survey results showing mixed preferences about full Thanksgiving week and half days. The committee will incorporate board feedback and bring two or three calendar options back for review and eventual public vote.