Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Academic Calendar topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Westfield-Washington board approves shift from trimesters to semesters starting 2027–28
Summary
The board voted 4–1 to adopt a semester academic calendar for all district schools beginning in the 2027–28 school year, citing alignment with partner schools, space efficiency and an estimated $500,000 annual savings; additional scheduling decisions and stakeholder input were pledged before implementation.
The Westfield-Washington Schools Board of Trustees voted 4–1 to approve an academic calendar structured on semesters for all district schools beginning in the 2027–28 school year.
Alicia Dennison, principal at Westfield High School, outlined the task-force process that recommended the change after two years of study. "We are proposing moving from a trimester system to a semester daily instructional schedule that would start with the 2027–28 school year," Dennison said, emphasizing that the recommendation followed stakeholder feedback and research on schedule models.
The board heard four primary rationales for the switch: improved alignment with partner schools and career-and-technical education programs, better use of building space as enrollment grows, the potential to lengthen instructional blocks for deeper learning, and projected fiscal savings. Dennison told the board the task force projected roughly $500,000 in annual savings from operating a semester schedule instead of trimesters.
Board members and task-force participants described practical benefits during discussion. One member said longer daily class periods could allow more small-group instruction and deeper learning, removing the recurring gaps some students experienced under trimesters. Task-force members also noted that the district’s growth and ongoing construction make more efficient classroom utilization an urgent consideration.
The motion to approve was made, seconded and called for a vote. After brief discussion, the board chair put the motion to a roll call; the motion passed 4–1. One board member voiced opposition and said they would continue to review details with administrators before full implementation.
The district will not implement the change immediately. Administrators said they will spend the next school year finalizing schedule details, collecting additional feedback from students, parents and teachers, offering summer and in-district credit opportunities to cover the difference between current and future credit structures, and providing professional development for staff. Dennison said the district plans to use the 2026–27 year to build master schedules, develop pacing and address transition details.
What’s next: the board-directed implementation timeline keeps the change on track to begin in the 2027–28 school year, and administrators will return with specific calendar drafts, staffing plans and opportunities for public comment before the new schedule is finalized.
