USD 4 board debates switching early‑release to late‑start days; administrators cite preliminary student growth
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Summary
Tonganoxie USD 4 administrators proposed converting early‑release days to late‑start mornings to preserve collaborative time for teachers; principals cited preliminary FastBridge growth data (about 55–57% meeting growth benchmarks for grades 2–5) and recommended further family surveys and comparative analysis before a final decision.
Administrators and building principals presented the board with a recommendation to move district early‑release days to late‑start mornings beginning in 2026–27, arguing the change would preserve collaboration time while easing end‑of‑day conflicts with extracurricular schedules and bus routing.
Colesta, a principal involved in the calendar committee, told trustees the move would allow vertical alignment and structured professional development for teachers. “We are currently with our current testing cycle at I think it's 55, 56, 57% growth in there for second through fifth grade,” she said, citing preliminary FastBridge group growth reports and attributing improvements in part to collaboration time made possible by the current schedule (SEG 1086-1092).
Board members raised concerns about family impacts, childcare and whether the change demonstrably improves outcomes. Trustees asked for pre‑ and post‑implementation comparative data and additional family surveying; administrators said historical survey tools vary and committed to provide more detailed academic results and broader community feedback before the board finalizes a calendar (SEG 1239-1251; 1339-1350).
The board discussed timing for calendar approval and the desire to see updated academic results prior to locking the 2026–27 calendar; staff said the first reading of the calendar is expected in February, with final adoption to follow the district’s normal process (SEG 1440-1466). No formal calendar change was voted on at the Dec. 8 meeting.