Owensboro Public Schools on Thursday reviewed a proposed 2026-27 calendar that keeps an early August start, adds a few four-day weekends, and shifts two formerly “banked” days into staff flexibility.
Director of Pupil Personnel Kevin Thompson presented the proposal during the Board of Education’s luncheon, noting that the draft was developed by a 22-member committee representing every school and multiple departments.
Under the proposed calendar, Opening Day for staff would be Aug. 5, 2026, and the first day for students would be Aug. 6. Thompson said starting on a Thursday has been well-received in recent years, allowing a smoother transition into the school year.
The calendar includes a flex professional development (PD) day on Sept. 4 — the Friday before Labor Day — creating a four-day weekend for families. Fall break would run Oct. 12-16, with a flex parent-teacher conference day Oct. 9, meaning no school for students that day.
Another highlight includes a two-week Christmas break, with students out starting Dec. 21 and returning Jan. 5. Additional four-day weekends are planned for Feb. 12-15 and March 19-22, created by a mix of PD and flex PD days.
Spring break would be April 5-9, and the last day for students would be May 18.
The calendar includes 170 instructional days, meeting the state requirement but slightly fewer than OPS has scheduled in recent years. “Normally, we’ve done 172 and had those two days that we bank,” Thompson said. “The committee felt like we’d be better served to put two flexible PD days instead.”
Thompson explained that required PD days bring staff in while students are out, while flex PD can be completed at other times — such as during summer — and traded for the designated day. The proposal also allows for up to 10 nontraditional instruction (NTI) days in case of inclement weather, reducing the need to bank additional instructional days.
OPS will vote on the proposed calendar at its Nov. 20 board meeting.
Daviess County Public Schools is expected to present and vote on its own 2026–27 calendar later this month.
