Henderson County board approves first readings of 2026–27 calendars after heated debate
Summary
After more than two hours of public comment and internal debate over a 2004 state calendar statute, the Henderson County Board of Public Education approved first readings of multiple 2026–27 draft calendars and asked administration to return in January with adjustments accounting for the March primary and instructional‑hour requirements.
The Henderson County Board of Public Education on Dec. 8 approved first readings of several draft 2026–27 school calendars after extended public comment and a contentious board debate over whether to follow a state statute that sets an early‑August start date.
Administrators presented four calendar options developed by a calendar committee that included school representatives, teachers and parents. District staff said every calendar meets the state instructional‑hour requirement of 1,025 hours; drafts target roughly 175–180 student days and build in professional‑development and annual leave days. "For those 215 days, 10 of them will be annual leave days, 11 of them will be holidays, and then 194 days make up the rest," the presenter said during the overview.
Public speakers—mostly educators and parents—urged the board to adopt schedules that let students finish first‑semester exams before winter break. "Tonight, you have a chance to shape the future of education in Henderson County," said Colby Koren, who identified themself as a fifth‑grade reading teacher with Henderson County Public Schools, and asked the board to "choose the calendar that reflects what students actually need, not what an outdated law requires." Several teachers described logistical conflicts when early‑college and career‑academy programs follow different calendars.
Board members split over following General Statute 115‑C‑84.2, a 2004 law that restricts the earliest permissible public‑school start date. One board member warned that the board swore an oath to uphold state law; another argued the district was following the North Carolina Supreme Court's Leandro guidance and should align K‑12 calendars with community colleges to support dual enrollment. The board discussed recent legislative activity—Senate Bill 754 was cited in public remarks as an attempt to tighten approval for earlier starts—and the potential legal and fiscal risks of noncompliance, including lawsuits and civil penalties if the state enacts new enforcement provisions.
After debate, the board voted to approve first readings for the presented calendars (the 2026–27 flex calendar and the traditional/early‑college variants) and instructed staff to return in January with calendar options that (a) maintain instructional hours and (b) treat March 3, 2026 (primary day) as a non‑student teacher work day for the 2025–26 year if necessary. Administration also noted it keeps a traditional calendar on file that complies strictly with the statute should the board choose that route before the second reading.
What’s next: the calendars will return for second reading in January with a version that reflects the board’s direction on primary day and any hour‑count adjustments.
