Board approves calendar changes to meet statutory days and designates Nov. 3, 2026 an optional workday
Summary
Craven County Schools approved adding optional workdays to meet the 215-day teacher employment requirement after an inclement-weather no-day and designated Election Day 2026 (Nov. 3) as an optional workday for traditional schools; out-of-county field trips were also approved.
The Craven County Schools Board of Education voted to revise the 2025–26 and 2026–27 school calendars to meet statutory employment-day requirements and to address Election Day safety at polling-site schools. Doctor Boutwell told the board that a December 9 inclement-weather no-day reduced the staff employment count to 214 days, so she recommended adding an optional workday for early colleges on Wednesday May 27 and for traditional calendars on Thursday June 4, 2026.
For the 2026–27 calendars she recommended naming Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026 (Election Day) an optional workday for traditional schools because many district sites serve as polling locations; the change is intended to reduce high foot traffic and support safety and instructional continuity.
Board members expressed support. "I think it is a very good thing for us to do…for safety reasons," said Miss Stacy. Miss Daisy moved the changes forward and Miss Kitzinger seconded; the board approved the recommended calendar revisions by unanimous roll-call vote. The board also approved presented out-of-county and water-activity field trips in a separate unanimous vote.
Staff said the calendar adjustments will deduct only about 6.5 instructional hours from students and that pupils have an instructional-hour surplus (50–60 hours), so instructional time remains adequate. Detailed calendar pages and communications to families will follow.
