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Whitehall School District approves 2025–26 calendar and extends daily schedule by 10 minutes
Summary
The Whitehall School District board approved the 2025–26 academic calendar and a 7:55 a.m.–3:59 p.m. school day to increase instructional minutes and move middle/high schools back to a seven-period day; the measure passed by voice vote in a brief remote meeting.
The Whitehall School District board voted to approve the 2025–26 academic calendar and a slight change to daily start and end times, moving the school day to 7:55 a.m.–3:59 p.m. to add instructional minutes and reduce the number of school days.
Board members discussed two calendar drafts — one that preserves the October MEA days (the "MEA" calendar) and a non‑MEA option should the legislature remove MEA observance. The presenter said both calendars conclude in the last week of May, responding to teacher and parent feedback, and that the small shift in daily start and end times (five minutes earlier, five minutes later) would allow longer class periods in grades 6–12 as the district returns to a seven‑period day.
During discussion, a board member raised concerns about the effect of longer school days on younger children, saying, "I think those long days are a little bit difficult." The member said their vote would likely reflect that concern but acknowledged the calendar appeared likely to pass. After a motion to approve the calendars and a second, the board held a voice vote and the chair announced the motion passed.
The action will shorten the district's instructional year by increasing minutes per day and reconfiguring middle and high school schedules; the board did not set a further public hearing or additional implementation steps during the meeting.
