The Carroll ISD board of trustees discussed the 2025-26 draft calendar presented by staff Jan. 13. Instructional minutes, professional days and time off for breaks were all considered in the options provided to the board.

The details

During her presentation to the board, Gina Peddy, executive director for curriculum and instruction, gave an overview of the calendar development process.

“Each year in the fall, we have a committee made up of community members and staff members and we take a look at some possible calendar options that we would like to offer,” Peddy said.

Peddy added during these discussions, several key components are top of mind, including:
  • The state requirement of 187 staff contract days is met
  • The state-required 75,600 student instructional minutes are met
  • One week off for staff and students for Thanksgiving
  • Two weeks off for staff and students for the Christmas break
  • One week off for spring break
  • Two built-in bad weather days
Peddy said the committee also looks at ensuring the end of the first semester happens prior to the Christmas break and the end of the second semester happens before Memorial Day.


Diving in deeper

Peddy said the staff presented the calendar committee three draft calendars with the goal of identifying the most suitable calendar for the entire district. After collecting feedback, Peddy said the Option 2 calendar was the most well received from all participants.

According to district documents, the Option 2 calendar includes the following changes from the current calendar:
  • Elementary school:
    • One less day at winter break - the holiday from Jan. 5 moved to February to make a longer weekend
    • Half day before winter break - Dec 19
    • Half day before summer break - May 21
    • Half days would be 30 minutes longer
  • Middle school:
    • One less day at winter break - the holiday from Jan. 5 moved to February to make a longer weekend
    • Add 30 minutes to half days for transportation purposes to allow for elementary half days
  • High school
    • One less day at winter break - the holiday from Jan. 5 moved to February to make a longer weekend
What they’re saying

Upon the conclusion of Peddy’s presentation, board President Cameron Bryan brought up a point about making the calendar selection process more efficient.


“The process we use seems to be different every year,” Bryan said. “I just don’t understand why creating a calendar is so complicated.”

Superintendent Jeremy Glenn addressed Bryan’s point by saying that while every district in the state adopts a school calendar differently, there are certain non-negotiables that must be taken into consideration when planning the academic calendar.

“The key that I would like to point out is parents like consistency and districts like consistency,” Glenn said. “The quicker we can move to a place where parents know that our calendar isn't going to change much year over year, I think that’s where we’re going to be at our best.”

The planning session was for informational purposes and no action was taken. Peddy said a link for the 2025-26 calendar will be posted on the Carroll ISD website for district families to provide feedback.


“We would like for the community to help us look at these calendars,” Peddy said. “If there’s a better way that we can do Option 2, we welcome that feedback.”