Board approves snow-day makeups and adopts 2026–27 school calendar after heated debate

The Bridgeport Board of Education voted to amend the current 2025–26 school calendar to make up missed school days from the recent winter and approved the 2026–27 calendar, following lengthy discussion about family schedules, staff availability and building air-conditioning concerns.

District staff proposed making June 25 the last day of instruction for most schools, with Bassic and Marin finishing on June 26 and an administrative backstop date (June 29) listed as an 'absolute last day' only in case of additional makeups. Board members, parents and staff raised concerns that late-year half days could increase absenteeism, clash with family vacations, and create hardship in non-air-conditioned buildings. Members debated whether to preserve April vacation or push makeups to the end of the year; the superintendent and union representatives supported a year-end approach to reduce operational disruption.

After discussion, the board agreed to remove the phrasing that created a misleading "absolute last day," adding instead a clear note that the schedule is subject to change depending on weather. The motion to approve the 2025–26 calendar amendments passed; the transcript records Mr. Woodson and Mayor Gimenez as opposing that amendment and Mr. Bennett as abstaining. Later, the board reviewed and approved the 2026–27 calendar (which aligns April vacation with neighboring towns and moves student start to Aug. 27) and accepted minor editorial edits recommended by members.

Board members asked staff to collect data on report-card conference attendance and pledged to review effects of the calendar changes on absenteeism and graduation logistics. The approved calendars will be published with the clarified snow-day statements and a follow-up report to the board on implementation.