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Northside ISD trustees review proposed academic calendars with fall and February breaks; adoption set for Dec. 9 consent agenda
Summary
District leaders presented a recommended 2026–27 academic calendar (to mirror into 2027–28) that reflects committee input favoring an October fall break and a February break; teacher work year remains 187 days and staff will bring the calendar to the board consent agenda for adoption next Tuesday.
District leaders presented a recommended districtwide academic calendar for 2026–27 during a Nov. 25 called meeting of the Northside ISD Board of Trustees, telling trustees the schedule reflects two months of committee work and input from teachers, campus staff, parents, students and community members.
The presentation, led by district calendar staff, said the district calendar committee (NCN), the Northside Education Improvement Council (NEIC) and student ambassadors all showed strong consensus for adding a short October 'fall break' and a February break. Staff said committee members were split on where to place a February professional-development (PD) day but that most groups favored Feb. 16.
The district emphasized several parameters that guided the recommendation: teachers must work 187 days under their contract; calendars must be board-adopted; and the district calendar applies to nearly all campuses with the exception of two enrichment academies (Westwood Terrace and Cable), which operate different schedules. Staff also said they moved two "teacher exchange" days previously held on the Monday and Tuesday of Thanksgiving week into the October fall-break window (identified in the presentation as Sept. 9 and Sept. 12) so the district will be fully closed the week of Thanksgiving.
Why it matters: Staff told trustees the calendar choice affects payroll, WADA/fiscal-year planning and coordination with neighboring districts. Presenters noted earlier start dates in DOI (districts of innovation) years have driven other districts to develop fall breaks, and that aligning start dates can help retain teachers who might otherwise be hired by neighboring districts that begin earlier.
What happens next: Staff said they will post both 2026–27 and 2027–28 calendars and bring the 2026–27 calendar to the board on Dec. 9 as a consent-item recommendation for adoption. Trustees asked for additional details about PD-day placement, and students’ and teachers’ feedback was cited repeatedly during discussion.
Notes: The presenter recommended the board review both calendar versions next Tuesday; trustees flagged connections with graduation scheduling (Alamodome availability) and neighboring-district testing and festival calendars as continuing considerations.
