Members of the Ohio County Schools school calendar committee, Karin Butyn, left, public relations director for the school district, and Susan Nolte, human resources director, present a proposed school calendar before board of education members Monday night. (Photo by Joselyn King)

WHEELING – After their summer break, Ohio County public school students would return to the classrooms on Aug. 26 under a proposed school calendar presented to board of education members Monday night.

A total of 1,194 people – among them students, parents, staff and community members – responded to an online survey seeking community input on three different calendars crafted by the calendar committee for the 2026-2027 school year. That was about 150 more than last year, explained Karin Butyn, public relations director for the school district.

Among those completing the survey were 818 parents, 250 employees, 66 identified as community members and 60 students.

In the end, 576 respondents opted for the version that has school starting before Labor Day on Aug. 26 and ending before Memorial Day weekend on Friday, May 28, 2027.

The calendar option includes a two week winter break starting Dec. 21, with students returning to the classrooms on Jan. 4.

It also contains a much shorter spring break. Under the proposed calendar, students would have off Friday, March 26, Easter weekend, and Monday, March 29 before coming back to school on Tuesday, March 30.

WPHS graduation would not be on a Sunday but on Thursday, May 27, 2027 with the last day for staff on June 2.

Butyn said members of the calendar committee looked for trends in the survey submitted.

Many respondents indicated a strong preference to end the school year before Memorial Day, she reported.

The community was split, however, between having a start day prior to Labor Day and one after.

There continues to be strong support for a two-week winter break across all demographics, Butyn continued. But there was a divide when it came to spring break.

“But the majority edged toward a shorter spring break to allow for an earlier end to the school year,” she said. “That is something that is new this year.”

A second required public hearing on the school calendar has been set for 5:45 p.m. on March 23 at the Ohio County Board of Education office, 2203 National Road, Elm Grove. The meeting will precede the start of the regular school board meeting at 6 p.m., during which members will likely vote on the proposed school calendar for next year.

The community was also reminded of important dates remaining for the current 2025-2026 school year. WPHS graduation is scheduled for May 31, while the last day for students is June 5.