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Hawkins County board approves 2026–27 calendar, tables proposed Wednesday early-release for teacher collaboration
Summary
After hours of debate about childcare, athletics and staff buy-in, the Hawkins County Board of Education approved the 2026–27 school calendar but agreed to table a proposal for a weekly early-release Wednesday intended to give teachers built-in collaboration time (PLC).
The Hawkins County Board of Education on March 10 approved the district’s 2026–27 school calendar but tabled a plan to implement a weekly early-release Wednesday meant to provide scheduled professional learning community (PLC) time for teachers.
Supporters, including academic supervisor Lori Allen, said the change was designed to protect collaborative time within the contract day so teachers do not have to meet after hours. “By providing structured collaboration time through an early release model, we are not asking teachers to do more,” Allen said, adding the district created a 19-member task force and an FAQ to guide the plan.
Opponents on the board raised concerns about supervision, student-athletes and working parents. One board member cautioned the plan was “messy” and said parents and coaches would be affected, pressing that the district provide a concrete plan for athletic supervision. The board member also said many teachers had expressed concerns and that some had declined to speak publicly out of fear of retaliation.
Director Matt Hixson said the district had conducted surveys and discussions and that PLCs are already part of instructional practice; he described the early-release hour as a way to consolidate meetings into the contract day. “PLCs are not a point in time,” Hixson said. “Collaboration meetings are a point in time. This hour is simply planned to incorporate that into the contract day.”
After discussion, the board voted to approve the calendar while tabling the early-release portion so staff can collect additional input from parents and teachers and develop specific plans for athletics and supervision. The motion to approve the calendar with the early-release implementation tabled was moved by a board member (speaker 6) and seconded by another member (speaker 14); the motion passed by voice vote with no recorded opposition.
Next steps: the calendar will be published for parents, and the district will conduct further outreach and surveys and return with more detailed proposals on the early-release plan at a future meeting.
