by Kate Shunney
Morgan County Schools officials will take comments about a proposed academic calendar for the 2026-2027 school year at their January 20 meeting, to be held at Pleasant View Elementary.
Assistant Superintendent Jeromy Duelley told school board members on January 6 – the first public hearing about the calendar – that a survey about possible calendar items was shared with school system employees and students’ families during the month of December. He said the biggest majority of survey results came from employees.
The calendar being proposed would have the first day of school set for August 18, 2026 and the last day of school is May 27, 2027.
Students would be given a full week of break at Thanksgiving, two weeks at Christmas and a full week of Springs Break, March 29 through April 5, 2027. 
Professional learning days for the school year will be held on Mondays, giving students several three-day weekends, said Duelley.
Two-hour early dismissals for students on Faculty Senate Days would be set for October 9 and December 18, 2026 and on February 12, April 16 and May 27, 2027.
Comments and questions on the survey to families and staff included perennial question about why school can’t start after Labor Day and end on Memorial Day. School officials pointed out that would eliminate weeklong breaks for holidays through the year in order to meet state instructional day requirements and staffing.
“It would back us up clear to June,” said Jeromy Duelley.
Personnel changes
In other business, the Morgan County School Board approved personnel changes.
They approved the resignation of Berkeley Springs High School Assistant Principal Brian Raciborski and Sky Raciborski, Library/Media Specialist at BSHS as of January 7 and January 16, respectively.
Tom Shade, the county school system’s Director of Technology, to retire on March 21.
School board members also approved the employment of Leslee Leary as a long-term substitute as an Itinerant PSSN/Multi-Categorical Special Education Teacher w/Autism SY25-26 and Alisha McCann as a Long-Term Substitute, Multi-Categorical Special Education Teacher w/Autism for Warm Springs Middle School.
School board members approved the hire of Erin Hook as Chief School Business Official to replace Ann Bell, Treasurer, who is retiring on January 31.
Molly Perry was also hired as a substitute teacher for the county.
Kayley Harmison was hired as an Itinerant Special Education Aide/Autism Mentor, Widmyer Elementary School and Laura Lipscomb was hired as a teacher’s aide at Widmyer Elementary.
