Board hears calendar survey; parents and staff favor Aug. 24 start

Miss Harrison, the district calendar presenter, told the Mercer County Schools Board on Nov. 10 that parents and employees largely aligned on a later school‑year start, with the majority selecting the latest option — Aug. 24 — for 2026 classes. "The parents and community overwhelmingly chose the latest date possible of August 24," she said, and she added that employees showed the same majority preference.

School calendar choices matter for instruction and activities: Harrison said both parents and staff wanted Thanksgiving and spring break to be full weeks, and that survey respondents supported using "nontraditional or reimagined days" (online learning or delayed starts) when severe weather makes bus transport unsafe. "As you can see, the parent community feedback was yes, they like those, and so do our employees," she said.

The superintendent and board members asked questions about alternatives such as year‑round or balanced calendars. Harrison said such schedules are legally permissible but would require extensive advance planning and could complicate athletics and family logistics. "However, that would be something that we would have to get with the community way ahead of time because it would change everything," she said.

The board did not take a final vote on the calendar; President Prudich said the draft will go out for public comment and return for a second reading after comment is collected. Posting the proposed calendar for public comment is the next procedural step, giving families and staff another opportunity to weigh in before the board adopts the 2026‑27 calendar.