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Board approves two additional professional development days, reduces student days by two
Summary
After debate over teacher workloads and childcare implications, the Tri‑City United School District board approved adding two professional development days to the 2025–26 calendar (Jan. 5 and Feb. 27). The motion passed unanimously and administration will notify families and submit required state documentation.
The Tri‑City United School District board voted unanimously to add two professional development days to the 2025–26 school calendar, reducing the number of student days by two. The board approved the change after a substantive discussion about teacher workload, standards implementation and childcare concerns.
The motion, introduced by board member Hillary Birdsville, proposed the two PD dates as Jan. 5 and Feb. 27. Birdsville framed the change as a response to teacher feedback that staff are "feeling very overwhelmed" and need structured collaboration time to address new state standards and curriculum work. Board members urged that the time be structured and mandatory for staff to ensure it yields instructional benefit.
Supporters said the additional days will give teachers time to work in building teams on specific school improvement plan priorities—standards alignment at the elementary level, engagement strategies at Montgomery, classroom environment at Lee Center and reading strategies at the high school—rather than leave staff to do the work individually after hours. Administrators also noted that some training requirements statewide have created a backlog of work that staff must address.
Opponents and other members raised practical concerns about childcare availability and calendar balance. Members noted that the calendar committee had previously removed a PD day for next year and that adding days now will change the district's overall PD‑to‑student‑day balance; administrators said they would revisit calendar planning for future years.
The board directed administration to notify families promptly of the calendar change and to submit the state documentation required when adjusting student contact hours. The motion passed 6–0.
The immediate next steps include posting calendar updates for families and coordinating any required child‑care adjustments for the affected dates.
