Brandon Valley board reviews proposed 2026–27 calendar with Aug. 26 start

Superintendent Larson presented the Brandon Valley School District 49-2 proposed 2026–27 academic calendar, saying the district plans to start the school year on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026. He walked the board through staff in-service dates, the district’s holiday schedule and built-in contingency days.

Larson told the board the calendar keeps the district’s established rhythm while pushing the start date slightly later: "School begins on Wednesday, August 26." He detailed new-staff in-service on Aug. 18 and all-staff sessions beginning Aug. 20, and said the district will hold a full staff welcome on Aug. 25.

Why it matters: the calendar defines when students, staff and families must plan vacations, childcare and the school year’s academic rhythm. Larson flagged trade-offs the district faces—long stretches in April and May without breaks and the limited flexibility to swap holidays without affecting other key dates. He said the district built one snow day into the calendar and scheduled graduation for May 9, 2027.

Supporting details from the presentation: Veterans Day will be a paid holiday for classified staff; Thanksgiving week will include no school on the Wednesday through Friday of that week; winter break was listed as Dec. 23–Jan. 1; spring parent‑teacher conferences are set in March with comp days surrounding them; and the last student day is a two-hour early dismissal on May 27, 2027. Larson said the calendar will be returned for adoption at the board’s second meeting in January.

Board members asked clarifying questions about extending the school year if winter weather forces additional days; Larson said he reserves the right to add calendar days if weather requires and invited the board and public to submit feedback before the adoption vote.