Lewis Central board approves 2025–26 school calendar after public hearing

The Lewis Central Community School District board on Dec. 16 approved the district’s proposed 2025–26 school calendar following a public hearing and questions from board members. District staff presented a calendar that keeps the district within state start-date rules, uses a tiered opening so some grades begin earlier than others, and moves several full professional development days to weekly early dismissals of 90 minutes to allow more productive staff meeting time.

District staff noted state statute constrains the earliest possible start in August, and that preschool start dates were corrected on the record (preschool will begin on Aug. 8). The calendar also includes a contingency to reflect ongoing teacher-contract negotiations: if the district adopts a 190‑day teacher contract the calendar ends earlier (students’ last day would be June 7 under that scenario); if the contract remains at 192 days, two additional student days would be added in late May and June.

Speaker 6, who presented the proposal, said the district "is not allowed to start school until after the August 23" and explained the rationale for a tiered first week and the change from several all‑day professional development days to weekly early dismissals of 90 minutes to provide more usable meeting time.

The board voted to adopt the calendar as presented. The vote followed the public hearing and clarifying corrections to the draft calendar on the record. Next steps: the calendar will be posted and administered according to the contingencies noted during the discussion; any changes required by negotiations will be reflected in a revised schedule to be circulated to families.

Procedural note: the vote to adopt the calendar was recorded during the board’s action items and appears in the public minutes.