Muscogee board approves these calendars for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 school years
During its monthly meeting Monday night, the Muscogee County School District Board unanimously approved the school calendars for the next two school years.
A seven-person planning team of MCSD leaders used the following parameters to make recommendations for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 school year calendars, according to the meeting’s agenda:
- First semester ends at winter break.
- Second semester ends before Memorial Day.
- Post-planning ends in May.
- Summer school ends by July.
- Spring break runs during the first full week of April.
MCSD calendar planning team members
- Janice Bloodworth, chief financial officer
- Lauren Loughman, ESOL program specialist
- Christopher Reeves, human resources compensation manager
- Marty Richburg, east region chief
- LaToya Sanders, Allen Elementary School principal
- Tim Smith, chief academic officer
- Kimberly Wright, communications director.
Feedback about calendar options
The calendar planning team surveyed MCSD employees and sought input from Columbus State University, Columbus Technical College and the Columbus Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, according to the meeting agenda.
The first survey of MCSD employees, conducted from Oct. 28 to Nov. 3, generated 1,308 responses. The second survey, conducted from Nov. 17-30, generated 1,226 responses, the agenda says.
Asked whether pre-planning week should start on the last Monday in July so the district could have a fall break, or start pre-planning week on the first Monday in August and not have a fall break, 89% chose the first option, according to the agenda.
Asked whether spring break should be the last week of March or the first full week of April, 68% chose the second option, the agenda says.
The survey results mirrored older data used to create previous calendar options.
As a result, the planning team recommended the following calendars for the next two school years, both preferred by approximately three out of every four employees surveyed when asked to choose between two options, according to the agenda:
2026-27 MCSD calendar
Pre-planning: July 27-31
First day of school: Aug. 3
Labor Day (no school/work): Sept. 7
Virtual day: Sept. 24
Professional development (no school): Sept. 25
Fall break (for students/some staff): Oct. 9-12
Veterans Day (no school/work): Nov. 11
Thanksgiving break: Nov. 23-27
Winter break: Dec. 21-Jan. 1
Planning/professional development (no school): Jan. 4
Second semester begins: Jan. 5
Martin Luther King Jr. Day (no school/work): Jan. 18
Professional development (no school): Feb. 11
Mid-winter break (for students/some staff): Feb. 12-15
Spring break: April 5-9
Last day of school: May 21
Post-planning: March 24-25
2027-28 MCSD calendar
Pre-planning: July 26-30
First day of school: Aug. 2
Labor Day (no school/work): Sept. 6
Virtual day: Sept. 23
Professional development (no school): Sept. 24
Fall break (for students/some staff): Oct. 8-11
Veterans Day (no school/work): Nov. 11
Thanksgiving break: Nov. 22-26
Winter break: Dec. 20-31
Planning/professional development (no school): Jan. 3
Second semester begins: Jan. 4
Martin Luther King Jr. Day (no school/work): Jan. 17
Professional development (no school): Feb. 17
Mid-winter break (for students/some staff): Feb. 18-21
Spring break: April 3-7
Last day of school: May 19
Post-planning: May 22-23
