June 9, 2025 at 5:00 PM - DOUGLAS SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION

Rationale: 

The Board of Education formally approved the 2025-2026 academic calendar on November 12, 2024. At this time, formal Board action is needed to approve the graduation date for Douglas High School: May 17, 2026.

No other changes to the calendar are being proposed at this time; however, the Board is invited to consider the following optional adjustments for future planning purposes:

1. Spring Break Feedback: Based on feedback received, the calendar committee recommends exploring ways to extend spring break for students and staff. One proposed option involves adjusting how Veterans Day is observed.

2. Veterans Day Observance (November 11, 2025):

   • When Veterans Day falls on a Monday or Friday, it would continue to be observed as a day off.

   • When it falls on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday (as in 2025), the district would hold school and instead create opportunities for school-wide celebrations and recognition events.

   • The day traditionally reserved for the mid-week Veterans Day observance would then be repurposed to extend spring break.

These optional changes are presented for discussion and potential future adoption. No modifications to the original calendar are being recommended at this time beyond the formal approval of the DHS graduation date.

Rationale: 

The calendar committee has developed two proposed versions of the 2026-2027 Douglas School District academic calendar for Board consideration. Both options maintain key elements from previous years, including:

• A consistent start and end date aligned with past practice, including Senior Graduation.

• A total of 7 professional development (PD) days prior to the start of the school year.

• Additional PD days embedded throughout the year to align with grading periods.

• A consistent winter break schedule.

• Two built-in inclement weather days.

Key Differences Between Calendar Versions:

• Version 1:

  • Thanksgiving Break: Full week off in November.

  • Spring Break: Full week off in March, with a PD day scheduled on Good Friday.

• Version 2:

  • Thanksgiving Break: School is in session on Monday and Tuesday of Thanksgiving week.

  • Spring Adjustment: Includes an extended weekend in April to break up the long spring stretch.

  • Spring Break: Full week off in March, with a PD day scheduled on Good Friday.

Additional Consideration:
Pending the Board’s decision regarding the observance of Veterans Day (November 11, 2026), the selected calendar will be adjusted accordingly:

• If Veterans Day falls mid-week and the Board opts to hold school with in-school observances, the day off may be reallocated to support spring break or extended weekends.

The committee seeks the Board’s direction on both the calendar version and Veterans Day observance policy to finalize the 2026-2027 academic calendar.

Rationale:  Board Policy GCPD-(N) - is being brought forward for an informational reading following discussions during this year’s negotiations. It was recommended that the final bullet point in the policy be removed to ensure consistency with the current negotiated agreement language. 

Rationale:  We believe the proposed language in Policy GBN effectively meets the needs of the district. It supports a fair, consistent, and transparent process.

Rationale:  House Bill 1068, passed during the most recent South Dakota Legislative Session, establishes new legal requirements that directly impact school district policy. To ensure compliance with state law, the district must implement a new policy aligned with the provisions of the bill. This policy will allow the district to meet its legal obligations while maintaining consistency and accountability in its operations.

Rationale:  The proposed GBED Fragrance-Free Workplace policy supports the district’s goal of fostering a healthy and distraction-free work environment for all staff, students, and visitors. It addresses medical sensitivities and allergic reactions by prohibiting the use of scented personal and decorative products in district facilities.