Liberty Hill ISD students will follow a four-day school week during select months of the upcoming 2025-26 school year, following a decision made by the district’s board of trustees on February 18. The new academic calendar aims to enhance teacher retention and recruitment while the district navigates significant budget cuts.
Why the Change?
District officials emphasized that the new hybrid calendar is a strategic move to better support educators amid financial challenges. Place 1 board member Chris Neighbors highlighted the urgency, stating, “We’re in a critical situation when it comes to supporting our teachers. Without changes, we could face significant setbacks.”
How the Calendar Works
The hybrid schedule introduces four-day school weeks from October through November, again from January to March, and once more in May. Fridays during these months will be designated for staff development and workdays, with no classes for students. Meanwhile, traditional five-day school weeks will occur in August, September, December, and April.
Key dates for the 2025-26 academic year include:
- First Day of School: Wednesday, August 12
- Thanksgiving Break: November 24–28
- Winter Break: December 22–January 2
- Spring Break: March 16–20
- Last Day of School (Early Release): Thursday, May 28
To make up for reduced instructional days, the district will add 10 minutes to each school day. The finalized start and end times for campuses will be announced by the end of this school year.
Community Feedback and Considerations
The hybrid calendar was developed after months of community feedback and staff input. According to district data, 68% of 718 surveyed staff members supported a calendar that includes Fridays off for students.
Chief of Schools Travis Motal explained that Fridays will be dedicated to morning professional development and afternoon planning time for teachers. “Teachers have been carrying a heavy load, and we need to ensure they have the time and resources to succeed,” said Place 4 board member Kathy Major. “Student success is directly tied to having skilled, well-prepared teachers.”
However, the change has raised concerns among some parents about childcare needs on Fridays. In response, the district will offer free Friday childcare for staff and paid options for parents. Additionally, local organizations, such as the YMCA, will continue providing childcare services.
Financial Impact and Future Adjustments
The shift to a four-day school week is also a strategic effort to address the district’s budget shortfall. Earlier this year, Liberty Hill ISD announced plans to cut over $5 million from the budget, including eliminating 66 positions, to reduce a projected $17.7 million deficit. Recent updates have adjusted the planned cuts to approximately $3.7 million, partly to accommodate 800 new students expected next school year.
Superintendent Steven Snell noted that further adjustments to the calendar could be made during the next board meeting on March 10. One possibility under discussion is ending the school year before Memorial Day weekend by adding more instructional minutes or student days.
“We constantly ask our teachers to go above and beyond,” Motal said. “This change is about finding ways to support them while managing the financial realities we face.”
Final Thoughts
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Image courtesy of Liberty Hill ISD Facebook page.