Board approves 2026–27 calendar, Western schools 4‑day week and seven new courses

The Box Elder School District board approved the 2026–27 district calendar and separately approved the Western schools’ 4‑day week schedule. Staff said the district start date will be Aug. 31, the last day for students June 4, and the Western calendar will follow its four‑day model with some Fridays used for required instructional days. Staff noted they held stakeholder open houses and hearings across small communities and said turnout indicated strong support for the four‑day week in the Western schools.

Board members reviewed a calendar formatting error late in the discussion and asked staff to correct the trimester dates before final posting.

Separately, the board approved seven new courses to be offered in 2026–27, including an exploratory world language trimester, a Spanish course for heritage speakers focused on reading/writing to accelerate students into AP/bridge/dual‑immersion pathways, a multicultural literature and film offering, and two CTE courses (principles of cyber defense and cyber forensics) to complete a pathway at Bear River High. Staff explained concentrator and completer course designations and said typical high‑school staffing targets are about 28 students per class (possible early years acceptance at ~25), with productivity (teachers giving up prep for additional class period) an option to launch nascent courses.

A motion to approve the calendar and four‑day week passed by voice vote; a separate motion passed to approve the seven new courses. Board members requested that staff provide enrollment thresholds and productivity uses when courses are staffed by productivity.