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Board debates two 2025–26 calendar options; staff to reconvene calendar committee
Summary
Board members weighed two calendar options (Aug. 25 start vs. Sept. 2 start), discussed keeping 154 student days, the effect on graduation and family travel, use of conference days under SDCL 13-26-4, and enforcement ideas to improve end-of-year attendance.
Board members spent extended time reviewing two proposed 2025–26 calendars and several scheduling tradeoffs, including start dates, student-contact days, and in-service scheduling.
"SDCL 13-26-4 does allow us to use to count conference days as a day of student attendance," said a board member during the discussion (Committee member, SEG 602), noting that conference days could be counted under state statute even if students are not physically present. Members also discussed preserving a 154-student-day target and the practical impact of moving conference days or shifting a handful of final May days.
The board debated family travel and attendance problems around late-November dates and graduation timing: one option would place graduation on May 17 and add extra days at the end of the year under calendar B, while calendar A keeps the end-of-year timing more consistent. Several members proposed moving conference days in February to maintain a more consistent monthly pattern and to preserve student contact requirements. The board directed staff to reconvene the calendar committee, incorporate the feedback, and return a revised calendar for a future vote in February.
