Miss Collins, a district staff member, presented draft academic calendars for the 2026–27 and 2027–28 school years to the Educational Affairs Committee and said the calendars are preliminary proposals to be refined with the calendar committee and presented as final drafts in November.

Collins outlined key draft dates for 2026–27 that included a new‑teacher induction on Aug. 18, teachers’ return on Aug. 24 and a half day for students on Aug. 31 (first day). The draft included built‑in half days for parent conferences and professional development: a half day on Sept. 25, Indigenous Peoples’ Day as a staff professional development day (Oct. 12), a half day on Oct. 30, and report‑card conference scheduling in November that creates a partial day for students. Winter break in the draft begins with a half day in late December and students would return in early January. Collins noted observed holidays and half‑day placements change when federal holidays fall on weekends and that those shifts can change the calendar from year to year.

Board members raised questions about consistency for families, including whether the district should adopt a predictable two‑week winter break regardless of how holidays fall, and asked the calendar committee to consider that option. Collins and other staff noted contract and regulatory constraints including the contractual requirement for teachers’ work days (180 days) and Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) minimum minutes (noted in the meeting as the secondary and elementary minute targets) that constrain where extra days can be placed and how the district meets total time requirements.

Collins said the calendar drafts will be shared with the committee for feedback this month and an updated draft will return to the Education Committee in November for final recommendation to the board of school directors. No formal board vote occurred during the meeting; staff presented the drafts for committee review and comment.