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Henrico County School Board reviews proposed 2027–28 calendar after staff reports strong parent survey support
Summary
School-district staff presented a proposed 2027–28 school calendar March 26, citing survey results (about 3,997 respondents) with roughly 87% support for holiday observance and 71% support for other draft elements; the board pressed staff on operational guidance for staggered schedules, instructional hours and communications.
Henrico County School Board members on March 26 heard a staff presentation of a proposed 2027–28 school-year calendar and asked for more details on how the plan would be operationalized at individual schools.
Staff said the draft was developed after a stakeholder process that included a division survey with 3,997 participants and reported that about 87% of respondents supported the way holidays were observed and about 71% supported other elements of the recommendation. The presenter said the 2027 calendar itself has already been approved and that the draft under discussion reflects adjustments intended to balance instructional minutes, provide professional development days across the year and support student transitions.
Board members pressed staff on practical questions: how elementary schools would manage class splits if staggered attendance is used, whether guidance will require uniform schedules versus school-level discretion, and how the division will ensure the plan meets Virginia’s instructional-time requirements. A staff presenter reiterated the state requirement for instructional time and said the proposed calendar preserves continuity of required learning time while allowing some flexibility at the school level.
The presentation also covered communications and training. Staff outlined plans to expand ParentSquare use (enabled by contracted features) and to provide training by September so families and teachers can use the platform effectively. During public remarks, a parent praised ParentSquare for consolidating information, saying it keeps family communication in one place and reduces the need to check multiple apps. A teacher who spoke later called the proposal promising from an instructional standpoint and asked for clarifying guidance on day-to-day operations in buildings.
On procedural business, the chair moved to approve the meeting agenda at the start of the session. The board also referenced statutory authority for discussing personnel appointments and litigation in closed session under the cited Virginia code provision.
The board did not adopt a final calendar at the March 26 session; staff noted next engagement milestones and referenced April 30 as part of the timeline for further stakeholder input. The board’s next work session was announced for Thursday.
