The Placentia‑Yorba Linda Unified School District Board of Education voted on Dec. 16 to adopt a revised 2026–27 school calendar that shifts the start of the school year earlier in August, approving the measure by a 4–1 margin.

Trustees spent more than an hour debating the proposal, which staff said aimed to better balance semester lengths for high‑school students, reduce inequities for AP courses and align schedules for extracurricular activities. Opponents warned the short notice — only about six months before the new calendar would take effect — would disrupt family vacations, athletics training and staff planning.

Trustee Leandra (identified in the transcript as speaker 4) summarized community concerns, saying parents and staff had made travel plans and that moving the calendar now would be disrespectful to families: "This is going to affect people's vacations," she said. Several trustees said poor communications around prior calendar planning had intensified the backlash and recommended a more transparent survey and phase‑in plan.

Superintendent Dr. Kim LeBlanc Esparza described the proposed process for broader community inquiry and a committee to craft future calendars: "We'll do a survey...so folks understand when it's finally done," she said, adding the district could use a committee of 10–12 people to build out calendar options.

Board members discussed alternatives including holding the 2026–27 dates steady and delaying any change until 2027–28, and suggested contingency steps for employees and families who have unavoidable pre‑booked commitments. Ultimately, a motion to adopt the calendar passed 4–1; the student board member voted in the majority. Trustees also directed staff to run additional community polling and to report back with implementation plans and accommodations for families and staff.

Separately, the board adopted a 2026 meeting schedule and adjusted start times for closed and open sessions — closed at 5:30 p.m., open at 6:30 p.m. — in a unanimous 5–0 vote and asked staff to return in January with options to refine cadence and timing.

The calendar decision is procedural but has immediate implications for athletics, childcare and family planning. Trustees agreed to follow up with detailed communication and to monitor effects after the first year of implementation.