Rockport Fulton ISD board approves Option B calendar for 2026–27 after debate on instructional time

The Rockport Fulton Independent School District board voted unanimously Feb. 19 to adopt the Option B calendar for the 2026–27 school year after a lengthy discussion about instructional time and testing windows.

Superintendent Dr. Austin told trustees that staff and teacher feedback favored Option B because it equalizes days between semesters and preserves instructional continuity. Molly Adams, who led the calendar presentation, reminded the board that state rules require 75,600 student minutes and 187 teacher contract days.

Teachers and trustees debated Option A’s five‑day October fall break, which would remove five instructional days immediately before STAAR testing and then add days at the end of the year. Several classroom teachers argued that losing days before end‑of‑year tests would disrupt scope and sequence and make recovery difficult for students.

Trustee discussion focused on tradeoffs between teacher retention and instructional consistency. The superintendent said Option B better supports teachers’ scope and sequence and recommended the board adopt it for the 2026–27 year; trustees amended a broader two‑year motion to approve Option B for the 2026–27 year and voted to approve that motion 6–0.

The district indicated it may pilot a fall break in a future year if data on attendance and instructional outcomes justify the change. The board also asked administration to include voter counts and response rates with future surveys to give better context to public input.

The vote sends the Option B calendar for 2026–27 to the district implementation process; trustees discussed but did not require immediate adoption for 2027–28.