Huntington, IN – The school board of trustees finalized discussions regarding the school calendar for the upcoming 2024-2025 academic year. Over the past few months, extensive deliberations were held during work sessions focusing on scheduling, particularly concerning Wednesdays and the inclusion of 2-hour delays and 30-minute delay starts.
During the meeting, the proposed revision to the 2024-2025 school year calendar was presented to the board members. The key change in the revised calendar was the removal of the 2-hour delay schedules. This adjustment aimed to streamline scheduling and ensure consistency, particularly on Wednesdays, where the district will revert to 30-minute delay starts.
The board unanimously approved the revised calendar for the upcoming school year.
Addressing concerns about prior contractual agreements with Smekens Education, involving the 2-hour delay days, Director of Elementary Education Jay Peters assured the board that discussions with the relevant parties were ongoing to address any necessary adjustments.
Reflecting on the decision, board members acknowledged the complexity of the process and expressed gratitude for the input received from various stakeholders, including teachers and families. "The decision to remove 2-hour delays wasn't easy, but it's what's best for our families," states President Matt Roth. Despite recognizing potential inconveniences, board members believed that the revised calendar would ultimately serve the best interests of the HCCSC community.
Looking ahead, Superintendent John Trout plans to initiate discussions for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school year calendars during upcoming work sessions and board meetings in July and August. The goal is to ensure that future calendars align with the evolving needs of the district.
With the approval of the revised calendar for the 2024-2025 school year, HCCSC is poised to provide a structured and effective learning environment for its students while accommodating the diverse needs of its community.