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After heated debate, Poudre board adopts 2026–27 calendar 6–1 over high‑school inequity concerns
Summary
The Poudre School District Board voted 6–1 Dec. 9 to adopt the 2026–27 school calendar after extended debate over later start dates (to reduce early‑season heat in non‑air‑conditioned elementary schools) and teacher/public concerns about semesters that would be longer in spring than fall.
The Poudre School District Board of Education narrowly adopted the 2026–27 academic calendar on Dec. 9 after a lengthy discussion of tradeoffs between a later start date to reduce heat‑impacted days for elementary schools and the instructional inequities that could result for high schools on block schedules.
Teachers and staff urged the board to reconsider. Amy Healy, a German teacher at Fossil Ridge High School, told the board the proposed calendar would create a 14‑day difference between semesters, saying, “It will be impossible for many teachers to give students timely and meaningful feedback when workdays are not there throughout the year.” Charles Stone, a Fossil Ridge science teacher, quantified the difference as roughly 1,200 instructional minutes and said teachers would have to cut units or compress instruction.
Calendar committee members and board supporters said the primary directive they were balancing was a later start date to reduce the number and severity of early‑year heat days in elementary schools that lack air conditioning. Committee members outlined options that could partially address semester imbalance — reducing fall break days, shifting days within winter break, or moving a semester end date — but they also warned each change creates ripple effects, especially for students enrolled in concurrent‑enrollment college classes that must align to partner college timelines.
Board discussion highlighted competing priorities. Director 5 said the calendar offers a needed reprieve for elementary classrooms that can be too hot early in the school year; other directors pressed for more inclusive outreach to ensure diverse voices — staff, students, working parents — were heard in future iterations.
The board moved to adopt the calendar; on roll call the vote was: Carla Bayes, Connor Duffy, Kevin Havelda, Scott Schoenbauer, Andrew Spain and Jessica Zamora voted “Aye.” Koronda Ziegler voted “Nay.” The motion passed 6–1.
The board and district staff said they will continue to consider minor adjustments and communications improvements, including better labeling of exchange days and additional community input for future calendars.
