Board previews 2026–27 Somers school calendar; adoption set for Jan. 20

Superintendent Doctor Braunstein presented the Somers Central School District draft 2026–27 calendar at the Jan. 6 Board of Education workshop, explaining the district’s constraints, key dates and the adoption timetable.

Braunstein said the draft calendar includes 180 student contact days and five professional learning days for a total of 185 days, a structure driven by contract requirements and state‑level instructional‑time rules. "We are required to have 185 day calendar," he said, describing how the district counts student days and professional learning days and why the extra days give flexibility for emergency closings.

The first three days of the school year are proposed as professional learning days (Aug. 31–Sept. 1) followed by Labor Day on Sept. 7, producing a Wednesday–Friday start and a four‑day school week the following week. Braunstein noted the draft aligns with neighboring districts to avoid shortening other recesses such as winter, February or spring breaks.

Braunstein walked through holiday observations and scheduling effects: Rosh Hashanah falls on a weekend in the draft year, Yom Kippur lands on a Monday that is built into the calendar, and Nov. 3 (Election Day) is proposed as a professional learning day to allow staff training while enabling community voting.

He detailed the district’s makeup‑day plan if more than four emergency closings occur: the first two makeup days would be April 8 and June 1, with additional makeups affecting March 29 and the start of spring break if needed. Braunstein also confirmed the draft meets New York State instructional‑hour requirements (990 hours for secondary, 900 for elementary).

The calendar was presented for preview; Braunstein said it will be posted on the district website and brought to the Jan. 20 Board of Education meeting for official adoption. The workshop ended with routine closing business and a voice vote to adjourn.