CHESAPEAKE, Va. — Monday night, the Chesapeake School Board discussed potential calendar changes for the 2025-26 school year.
School Board members are weighing four different options which could affect when school starts, holiday breaks, and summer vacation.
Two of the four 2025-26 Chesapeake Public Schools' calendar options for next year propose beginning the school year before Labor Day on Aug. 25, while the other two begin the school year after Labor Day on Sept. 2.
The options also include shorter or longer holiday break options.
Depending on what the school board decides, Chesapeake students will begin summer break either June 9 or as late as June 16, 2026.
On Tuesday morning, Chesapeake parents weighed in on their school calendar preferences.
"Continue to start after Labor Day, because you start before, and then they get a break and then they got to restart over,” said Greg Frazier. “I feel like afterward they stay in the flow, and it helps out."
"So, I think that time off and spending time with families, being able to do things is important for their mental mindset,” said Kerry Tanner.
Tanner also argued that starting after Labor Day gives families extra time to budget and prepare for the new school year.
"A lot of times August has that extra payday, so I think that's important too for families and vacations and things like that,” said Tanner.
All Chesapeake parents will get the opportunity to weigh in through a survey that is open now and closes next Thursday, Oct. 17.
The survey is available on the Chesapeake Public Schools website, and parents can view all the options before providing their input.
