Board approves 2026–27 and 2027–28 calendars, new course recommendations and a DECA trip
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Summary
The board approved revised 2026–27 and 2027–28 academic calendars (start dates moved later in August), recommended curriculum changes including a high-school HMH textbook adoption, new CTE pathways (sports medicine, manufacturing engineering, office administration), expanded dual enrollment partnerships and a DECA field trip for nine students to Virginia Beach.
The Dinwiddie County School Board approved calendar revisions, secondary course recommendations and a student field trip in a single packet of instructional items.
Dr. Amanda Clay presented recommended changes: the 2026–27 calendar was adjusted to begin Aug. 24 (pushing some instructional days into late May/early June) to meet statutory limits on start dates and to accommodate required instructional hours; staff said the 26–27 calendar contains 175 instructional days and 1,044 instructional hours, yielding 54 "bank" hours (about nine days). The 2027–28 calendar was also presented (start Aug. 23) and both calendars were approved by voice vote.
Curriculum staff (Carly) reviewed proposed secondary course updates: no new ELA or social-studies courses, recommendation to adopt HMH as the high-school English-language-arts textbook (teacher and student reviewers favored HMH), a new high-school mathematics alignment using a combined SCED code for Algebra II Honors with Trigonometry to support acceleration and dual-enrollment pathways, Latin III to be offered through Virtual Virginia for small enrollments, and CTE pathway additions including sports-medicine/athletic training and a proposed manufacturing-engineering pathway and office-administration progression. Staff reported expanded dual-enrollment opportunities with Brightpoint and Richard Bland College.
The board also approved a DECA State Leadership Conference field trip: nine students and two advisers to travel to Virginia Beach by two vans, departing Feb. 26 at 10 a.m. and returning March 1.
What happens next: Staff will finalize textbook-adoption procedures, continue planning for CTE pathway implementation and post calendar and course recommendations on BoardDocs.