Board approves calendars for second reading and adopts revised current‑year calendar to make March 3 a teacher workday

MADISON, N.C. — The Henderson County Board of Public Education on Jan. 12 approved calendar proposals for upcoming school years and voted to revise the current academic calendar to make March 3 — a state primary election day — a required teacher workday with no students in buildings.

During old business the board confirmed that the flex calendars under consideration were unchanged from the prior reading and moved to approve them for second reading. The board also moved and approved second reading for the traditional and Henderson County Early College calendars for the 2026–27 school year and related years.

Board members discussed the district's desire for an early start date to align with community college schedules while noting concerns about compliance with the state general statute governing school calendars. Several members described ongoing advocacy efforts in Raleigh to secure local authority for calendar setting.

When the revised current‑year calendar was presented as new business, staff explained that March 3 is a state primary election day and many school sites serve as polling locations, raising safety and access concerns for students. Staff proposed turning March 3 into a teacher workday and assured the board there was instructional‑hour flexibility to absorb the change. The board moved, seconded and voted to approve the revised calendars as presented.

Policy note: board counsel/staff clarified that district policy does not permit remote voting; Mrs. Holt, who participated remotely, did not cast a vote on calendar items.

Outcome: motions to advance the calendars and the revised 2025–26 calendar passed by board vote (recorded as "motion carries" in minutes). Staff will post the revised calendar and continue statutory coordination with county and state deadlines.