At a Dec. 16 meeting, several board members said they supported the calendar proposal to better support teachers and save the district money. The calendar is one of two options the district is considering.
What’s happening
In early December, the district requested feedback from parents and community members on two academic calendar options for the 2025-26 school year. Calendar A includes 168 school days for students attending between Aug. 13 and May 21. Calendar B begins Aug. 12 and ends May 28 with 165 school days.
Calendar B includes 16 staff development or work days during the school year, which is twice as many as Calendar A, Chief of Schools Travis Motal said. Many of these work days fall on Mondays, during which students would not attend school.
Motal described Calendar B as a more innovative option compared to the traditional Calendar A model, which is similar to the district’s calendar this year, he said.
Several board members voiced their support for Calendar B and discussed potentially providing child care to families during staff work days.
“I think it gives the staff a better opportunity to be successful, and it’s going to give our kids a better opportunity to be successful," Place 2 board member Kendall Carter said about Calendar B.
The outlook
In a survey of nearly 2,500 parents and staff members, 67% agreed or strongly agreed with Calendar A while 57% agreed or strongly agreed with Calendar B.
For Calendar A, parents and staff members liked the consistency and predictability but said it did not address additional time needed for staff, Motal said. Meanwhile, staff members favored Calendar B for improving retention and recruitment while parents shared concerns about needing child care on Mondays, he said.
Something to note
Under Calendar B, LHISD would have to consider adding five additional minutes to the instructional day to ensure the district meets state requirements, Motal.
The calendar option does not include additional school days that could make up instructional time lost due to bad weather or emergencies, he said.
What they're saying
By providing more planning time, Calendar B could benefit teachers who did not receive pay raises this school year, Place 4 board member Kathy Major said.
“If our finances are so tight, what are some of the in-kind things we can do for our teachers and staff to have the incentive of staying here rather than going somewhere else that can offer them a higher financial reward?”
Calendar B could allow the district to cut expenses as it faces a projected $7.5 million shortfall amid a failed voter-approval tax rate election in November, district officials said.
The district could save money by not having to bus students to and from campus, Motal said. Additionally, the board discussed consolidating staff at certain campuses on work days or having staff work at home to further reduce costs.
“We have to figure out the budget, and next year is going to be tough no matter what we do,” Place 5 board member Brandon Canady said. “We have to find that efficiency somewhere.”
Some board members expressed a desire for the district to adopt a four-day school week year-round.
Stay tuned
The District Educational Improvement Committee of parents and staff will review and recommend a proposed calendar for approval by the board of trustees in January or February, Motal said.
