District staff and calendar committee members presented a proposed academic calendar for the 2026–27 school year and reviewed how the committee selected the recommended option.

Deputy Superintendent Dr. Marshallyn Franklin briefed the board on the committee process: nine draft calendars were reduced to four, partner groups provided feedback, and three calendars were presented to parents and staff by survey. Of 23,580 households and employees contacted, 4,932 responded. Sandra Baker, the committee member who drafted Calendar B, explained the features and rationale behind her calendar, which received the most total votes across all respondent groups.

Calendar B’s notable elements include teachers returning the week of July 27 for preparation, a Monday start for student instruction, a four‑day October break, the full week of Thanksgiving off, and a May 27 last day for students with a teacher workday May 28. “The overall goal was to have some type of break during each month to give our teachers and students time for rest and rejuvenation,” Baker said.

Board members raised concerns about the Monday start and the July teacher work week. Board member Miss Porter said educators prefer a mid‑week start to allow time to work out issues, and board member Mr. Dennis noted earlier summer commitments, camps and military Permanent Change of Station (PCS) schedules could be affected by earlier teacher start dates and July work weeks. Student representative Ethan Cropp said he also preferred a mid‑week start but appreciated that the calendar finished before Memorial Day.

Dr. Moore told the board the committee selected Calendar B because it had the highest total number of votes, even though employees preferred Calendar C and parents preferred Calendar A. He noted the district’s goal to finish the first semester before winter break drove earlier start dates in the calendar drafts. The board did not vote on a final calendar at the meeting; the item is scheduled for a vote on March 25 per the published agenda.