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Vancouver School District weighs three calendar options as staff seeks guidance
Summary
District staff presented three 2024–25 calendar options for board feedback: Option 1 keeps the staggered Tuesday/Friday start, Option 2 shifts to a Monday start and aligns a PD day with local districts, and Option 3 shifts to a Monday start with a mid‑winter break. Directors expressed mixed views on childcare impacts, staff burnout and alignment with neighboring districts.
District staff presented three proposed 2024–25 school calendars and sought board guidance ahead of a formal March 10 agenda item and vote.
Interim associate superintendent Janelle Ephraim summarized feedback collected from employees and community groups and said common concerns involved alignment with neighboring districts, childcare and family impacts, and disruption from breaks. Option 1 closely mirrors the current schedule with a staggered start (some grades beginning Tuesday, others Friday), a statewide professional learning day in October and a new week‑long Thanksgiving break. Option 2 starts on a Monday and moves a February professional‑development (PD) waiver day to Feb. 5 to align with some local districts. Option 3 — the largest change — also starts on a Monday, aligns closely with Evergreen School District and proposes a mid‑winter February break that shortens summer but moves the last day to about June 16.
Directors raised tradeoffs rather than a clear majority preference. Several board members and an equity advisory representative warned Option 3’s mid‑winter break could disproportionately burden families without flexible childcare and could disrupt routines for students who struggle with frequent schedule changes. Director Spauld said shifting PD later in the year can serve as a midyear instructional check‑in, but cautioned that significant calendar changes require broad community engagement. Other directors signaled concern that a three‑day student week under Option 1 could invite absenteeism and called for moving the PD day to avoid that outcome.
Interim Superintendent Brett Blechschmidt said staff observed a strong preference among staff for Option 3 but acknowledged competing family needs and said tonight’s deliberations would inform what is brought to the full board on March 10. The board indicated it did not intend to place a calendar choice on the consent agenda and that the March 10 meeting will include a calendar presentation for formal action.
The committee did not vote. Next steps: staff will refine materials and present calendar options at the March 10 board meeting with community engagement noted as likely before any major departure from the current structure.
