Hernando School Board approves 2026-27 Calendar A 4-1 amid half-day debate

The Hernando County School Board approved the 2026–27 academic calendar, Calendar A, at its Feb. 10 meeting in Brooksville, passing the measure 4–1 with Johnson the lone dissenting vote after a heated debate over three consecutive early‑release half‑days scheduled in late May. The clustered half‑days prompted concerns from board members and community speakers about instructional continuity and end‑of‑year logistics.

Board member Johnson proposed extending the school year to June 4 so the district could replace the clustered half‑days with two full school days and two full professional‑development days, a plan described during public discussion as a way to avoid consecutive early releases. Shannon Rodriguez opposed extending into June, warning the move could harm retiring teachers’ benefits and saying, “I think that there's some things that we have to look at and we have to be ethical about. It wouldn't be fair to take it from them.”

Chair Kayce Hawkins asked whether to table the calendar debate; Johnson said he would have preferred a workshop to explore options and suggested separating the three late‑May half‑days across the calendar next year. Rodriguez agreed with separating the half‑days, but the board moved to approve Calendar A despite the unresolved scheduling concerns and the dissenting vote by Johnson.

The half‑day controversy echoes an earlier board decision: at the Jan. 14, 2025 meeting the board voted 5–0 to amend a prior Calendar A and move scheduled early‑release days back to Fridays after classroom teachers, principals and coaches told the board that midweek half days disrupt instruction and complicate athletics and after‑school programming. Coaches had specifically warned that Wednesday early releases prevented pre‑game and practice preparation for Thursday and Friday contests.

Administrative constraints factored into the discussion. Blazsek, speaking about the difficulty of converting half‑days into full professional‑development days, said, “I would love the idea of full days PDs (for professional development) compared to half days because you’re right, we’re tired. It does make more sense, 100%. But because of the 197, we can’t.” The board also cited statutory and contractual limits: 180 student attendance days are required and the teacher contract caps at 197 days, which includes six paid holidays.

Board members and stakeholders pressed for substantive training on half‑days to meet credentialing rules; Kayce Hawkins said, “If we're going to keep the half days, I want more academic trainings that count toward required reading and ESE points.” District professional‑development requirements referenced during testimony include a 120‑point PD requirement every five years, with 40 points required in reading and 20 points required in exceptional student education.

Other business at the Feb. 10 meeting included approval of a proclamation acknowledging February 2026 as Black History Month, authorization of student field trips (Springstead and Weeki Wachee High students to an Atlanta music festival May 8–10; Weeki Wachee High color guard to Buford, Ga., March 20–22; Hernando High FBLA to Orlando March 12–15; Hernando High band to Walt Disney World May 11–13), and recognition of Spring Hill Elementary staff Robert Pitcock and Cari O’Rourke for 30 years of service.