The Philomath School Board approved the district’s 2027-28 academic calendar during its May 21 meeting while settling a Veterans Day scheduling question that had prompted the board to defer a vote in April.
The issue centered on Veterans Day, which in 2027 falls on Thursday, Nov. 11. Board member Erin McMullen had raised the question last month of whether school should be in session the following day, Friday, Nov. 12, and the board sent the matter back to the committee level.
Superintendent of Schools Susan Halliday told the board the committee had weighed several options, all complicated by the fact that removing a school day requires adding one back elsewhere. Keeping students in school that Friday would preserve the calendar even if attendance ran low. Taking Friday, Nov. 12, off and tacking a day onto the end of the year proved unpopular. Other alternatives — eliminating the February inclement-weather makeup day or the April makeup day — drew concern, particularly given the long February stretch with no days off between winter and spring break.
A recent staff survey came back clear that employees did not want to add a day at the end of the year, Halliday said. The committee also noted that Veterans Day is “more about reflection and memorial ceremonies rather than vacation,” with many families saving time off for Thanksgiving instead. The committee’s consensus was to hold school that Friday, which remains an early release day.
Board Chair Tom Klipfel voiced reservations.
“I don’t like it because I really think you’re going to get a whole lot of kids just not showing up because the half day after a holiday, but I defer to the committee,” he said.
Key dates in the 2027-28 calendar include Thanksgiving week with no school Wednesday through Friday, Nov. 24-26; winter break from Dec. 20-31 with students returning Jan. 3; and spring break March 20-24 with students returning March 27. The last day of school in spring 2028 would be June 8, a half-day.
The board adopted the calendar 4-0, with one member absent.
2026-27 ACADEMIC CALENDAR The Philomath School Board discusses and adopts academic calendars roughly 16 months ahead of time. The calendar for the upcoming 2026-27 academic year was approved in 2025 and can be viewed on the school district’s website.
