Madison School Board approves revised 2025–26 calendar, making March 16 a student half day

The Madison School District Board of Education voted to approve a revised 2025–26 school calendar that converts March 16 into a student half day and reduces the student year to 180 days, the board learned at a special meeting.

Chairman Klaskin opened the meeting by saying the purpose was “to discuss and take action on the revised 25–26 school calendar as recommended by the administration,” and the board moved to consider the administration’s recommendation. Craig, an administration representative who sent a memo and two calendar drafts to the board, outlined the changes. “The first recommendation is that we take March 16 as that is currently a professional development day,” he said, and recommended using an early release on that date so elementary teachers can hold conferences in the afternoon while students have a half day.

Craig told the board the district currently exceeds the 180‑day student requirement in some years and recommended forgiving a student day to restore a 180‑day student year. He said doing so would move the student last day to Thursday, June 18; teachers would then have two additional work/training days (June 19 and June 22). The administration emphasized the change would create a small amount of flexibility at the end of the year and allow the district to recapture an elementary conference makeup day without adding another student half day earlier in the year.

Board members asked whether state emergency days (for storms or other events) count toward the 180‑day requirement. Craig replied that Connecticut does not “forgive” those days for purposes of the 180‑day rule and noted that while districts may seek storm‑cleanup reimbursement through finance channels, the state maintains strict 180‑day requirements.

Members also raised concerns about families who had already planned travel or camps that start around the June end date and about how attendance/truancy would be handled if March 16 were converted to a school day. Craig said K–8 absences generally result in a truancy letter and that high‑school attendance or credit issues are reviewed through an appeal committee at the high school level.

After brief discussion, a board member moved to approve the administration’s proposed revised calendar and the motion was seconded. The board voted in favor; the transcript records no opposition or abstentions and the motion carried. The chair then entertained and received a motion to adjourn.

The board approved the calendar change as an administrative recommendation; the transcript does not specify a roll‑call vote tally by name. The administration said it would work with teachers and the teachers’ union on scheduling for the additional post‑student workdays and share any further details with families as needed.