Wentzville board approves early-release schedule, trims some Power Lunch time to add weekly teacher collaboration

The Wentzville R‑IV Board of Education voted to implement a new early‑release schedule for the 2026–27 school year that creates weekly secondary early‑release Wednesdays and monthly two‑hour all‑district early releases while preserving state‑required instructional minutes.

Mr. Bishop, presenting the proposal, said the plan adds regular, embedded time for teacher collaboration (professional learning communities) while keeping total student contact time at or above state expectations. The schedule calls for 68‑minute secondary early releases on full weeks and a monthly 120‑minute early release about eight times per year; the district proposed reducing Power Lunch from five days a week to four and eliminating SST on monthly early‑release weeks (SST would be about 42 minutes on weekly early‑release Wednesdays). Class periods would shift so seven‑period days are 49 minutes and block days roughly 89 minutes under the draft calendar.

The proposal was introduced after a public comment period in which teachers and students urged caution about reducing lunchtime. Rebecca Mesic, speaking on behalf of the teachers union, said teachers have asked for a consistent release time for more than two years and called the proposal a step toward improving collaboration. “Switching to a more consistent release time is something that teachers have been discussing with the district for over 2 years now,” Mesic said. Students described Power Lunch as essential for clubs, testing centers and one‑on‑one help. Nathan Harwood, a junior at North Point High School, said Power Lunch “gives me time to be in these clubs that I hold sincerely to my heart,” and cautioned against setting an ill precedent that would further limit student lunchtime.

Board members pressed staff on details. Mr. Bishop and Dr. Labrad said academic minutes would remain above state recommendations and that decreased Power Lunch time combined with adding two former PD days as student contact days produces comparable or increased seat time. On special services and flex time, Bishop said many special‑services supports would be provided through SST at the middle‑school level, which remains every other day, and that supervision plans would keep support staff on duty for students who stay on campus after early release.

Directors also asked about comparability with nearby districts. Bishop cited Fort Zumwalt and Francis Howell as examples of districts that have adopted PLC models and noted improved outcomes after implementation. He said the district had developed multiple alternative schedules (he described having “plans A through G”) and that the chosen proposal reflects feedback from union leadership, administrators and student advisory groups.

After discussion the board moved to implement the schedule; following a voice vote in the provided excerpt, the presiding officer announced the motion carries. The motion to implement the early‑release schedule was made at the meeting and approved on the record in the provided transcript.

Votes at a glance • Consent agenda: motion made and seconded; presiding officer announced “Motion carries.” • Early‑release schedule implementation: motion made and seconded; presiding officer announced “Motion carries.”

What happens next Staff said the presentation and supporting slides are in the board packet and that final calendar details (for example, which Wednesdays will be monthly all‑district early releases) will be determined with attention to holidays and polling‑place schedules. The first reading of Policy 2760 (students in foster care) followed later in the meeting.