Eagle Point School District 9 board approves 2024–25 calendar after debate over spring conferences
February 28, 2024 | Eagle Point SD 9, School Districts, Oregon
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The Eagle Point School District 9 Board of Directors voted Feb. 28 to approve the district’s 2024–25 school‑year calendar, adopting a Superintendent-recommended change that converts two spring parent‑teacher conference contact days into instructional days.
Superintendent Kovach presented the calendar as a rollover of recent years with the single substantive change: removing two spring conference days and adding two instructional days back into students’ schedules. He said the change aims to increase instructional time and help the district’s academic goals. “There are good arguments on both sides,” Kovach said while explaining state requirements for student contact days and instructional hours.
Board members and staff debated the tradeoffs at length. Several teachers and board members emphasized the value of face‑to‑face conferences for parent engagement and student accountability. Devin Cole, a high‑school teacher who spoke during the discussion, said his NEST student‑led conferences generated near‑100% attendance but noted other class periods drew fewer parent visits.
After discussing options — including running the change as a one‑year trial and surveying parents during this year’s spring conferences — the board moved to approve the calendar with two technical revisions: correcting a professional‑development date in September and adding a Constitution Day notation.
The motion passed on recorded voice votes with one board member recorded as dissenting. Under board policy the board may amend the calendar after additional feedback; the superintendent and board members said they expect to collect more input during spring conferences and can revisit the calendar if needed.
The calendar must be formally adopted by April per district policy; the board’s vote on Feb. 28 approves the 2024–25 calendar as revised and sets implementation plans for next school year.
Superintendent Kovach presented the calendar as a rollover of recent years with the single substantive change: removing two spring conference days and adding two instructional days back into students’ schedules. He said the change aims to increase instructional time and help the district’s academic goals. “There are good arguments on both sides,” Kovach said while explaining state requirements for student contact days and instructional hours.
Board members and staff debated the tradeoffs at length. Several teachers and board members emphasized the value of face‑to‑face conferences for parent engagement and student accountability. Devin Cole, a high‑school teacher who spoke during the discussion, said his NEST student‑led conferences generated near‑100% attendance but noted other class periods drew fewer parent visits.
After discussing options — including running the change as a one‑year trial and surveying parents during this year’s spring conferences — the board moved to approve the calendar with two technical revisions: correcting a professional‑development date in September and adding a Constitution Day notation.
The motion passed on recorded voice votes with one board member recorded as dissenting. Under board policy the board may amend the calendar after additional feedback; the superintendent and board members said they expect to collect more input during spring conferences and can revisit the calendar if needed.
The calendar must be formally adopted by April per district policy; the board’s vote on Feb. 28 approves the 2024–25 calendar as revised and sets implementation plans for next school year.
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