JACKSON, Wyo. — After reviewing public input from the 2025/2026 school schedule survey, which reported that the majority of parents prefer maintaining a two-week spring break, the Teton County School District (TCSD) #1 Board of Trustees will discuss possible schedule amendments during its meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 12.
During the Jan. 15 meeting, the Trustees requested that the administration issue a survey, asking parents, guardians and the community which of the two schedule options they preferred.
Option A: Pre-Labor Day start. First day of the school year would be Monday, Aug. 25, 2025, and the last day of the school year would be Friday, June 12, 2026, maintaining a two-week spring break.
Option A2: Post-Labor Day start. First day of the school year would be Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025, and the last day of the school year would be Friday, June 12, 2026, changing spring break to one week.
The two options vary in the length of spring break and when the school year would begin and end. Both options would disperse 10 no school/teacher in-service days throughout the school year. The district would not offer K-5 programming during the no school/teacher in-service days.
The results of the public survey revealed that out of 937 responses, 56.7% of community members prefer the option of a two-week spring break with a pre-Labor Day start.
According the survey results, some parents argued for maintaining the two-week spring break tradition to accommodate family travel and recovery after winter. Others preferred a one-week break, citing challenges for families who can’t take two weeks off, and the potential negative impact on student learning with a longer break.
Some survey responses from working parents emphasized the “struggle with childcare during extended breaks or additional in-service days.” For example, one parent shared that they need to arrange costly care for the first week of spring break, per the survey results. However, some survey responses indicated that families felt relief by starting school in August, instead of paying for childcare-related camps.
A number of Jackson Hole High School (JHHS) teachers reached out to Buckrail to share their concerns with both proposed schedule options, and instead stated a preference to go back to the Friday early release option.
The teachers told Buckrail that starting school before Labor Day is unrealistic because it’s too hot, and many classrooms lack air conditioning. They also said that students aren’t ready to be back in school. Another concern was that the district has made no mention of compensation for teachers working an extra week if the school year starts earlier.
The JHHS teachers also voiced opposition to the shorter spring break option, arguing that the two-week break accommodates families who travel long distances to escape the cold.
TCSD Superintendent of Schools Dr. Gillian Chapman told parents in an email on Friday, Feb. 7, that there is no calendar solution that will meet the needs and preferences of every family. The schedule change would allow “educators the time they need to collaborate and respond to the needs of students,” Chapman said in the email.
The survey results will be reviewed by the Board of Trustees during Wednesday’s meeting, and the public is encouraged to attend and provide comment. People can attend the meeting in person at 1235 Gregory Lane or online with this link. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. and end once the Board concludes all business listed on their agenda.
