The USD 253 Emporia Public Schools 2025/26 academic calendar is now set with some notable changes from years past.
During their regular meeting Wednesday evening, USD 253 Board members approved the 25-26 calendar which will see the removal of late start Wednesdays and the addition of a districtwide early release day and a corresponding professional learning time for educators on a monthly basis, however, the early release days are subject to change month-to-month According to USD 253 Director of Teaching and Learning Dr. Erica Mickelson.
The approval of the calendar comes nearly four months after initial conversations began when board members received four calendar options back in June. The board would narrow their choices down to two options based on staff and patron input before approving what was originally known as option four Wednesday evening.
Originally, option four would only see an early release for the secondary level while adding additional time to the elementary-level school day. Mickelson tells KVOE News the calendar committee chose to make the early release day districtwide to provide more “equity” across all school buildings and grade levels.
Another change from the original model is the number of school days per semester. Per the calendar, the first semester will contain a total of 79 days while the second semester will contain a total of 86 days which did cause some concern amongst school board members back in June.
The board had requested the committee look at lessening the “disparity” of days between the semesters. According to Mickelson the committee ultimately decided the additional days for the spring semester were necessary.
The new calendar will go into effect at the start of the fall 2025 semester and Mickelson says the district will be keeping track of areas of success and improvement to adjust the calendar as needed in years to come.
In other business Wednesday, board members gave recognition to First United Methodist Church for organizing school supplies for district students, received a presentation on progress reports for kindergarten through fifth grade and held two executive sessions with no action taken.
The USD 253 Board of Education will next convene on Wednesday, October 23 at 6 pm inside of the Mary Herbert Education Center.
