By Chris Barber
Contributing Writer

Kennett Consolidated School District Superintendent Kimberly Rizzo Saunders announced that the proposed 2026-27 calendar will remain substantially the same next school year as 2025-26.

At the Dec. 8 board meeting, she reported that she had conducted a survey of students, staff and parents to determine their preferences before she presented it for approval in January.

She enumerated the results:

For the start of school, most preferred the end of August rather than after Labor Day.

For winter/holiday break, which in 2026 includes Christmas and New Year’s Day on Fridays, the majority of those interviewed preferred the whole two weeks/10 days. She said with the time extended to 10 days, it would likely push the closing days in June somewhat later.

The survey also yielded a preference for half-day student attendance to take place on days that staff would be undergoing professional development in the afternoon.

For spring break, the majority preferred to keep it the week around Easter.

In other business, Vicki Gehrt, the school district’s representative on the Intermediate Unit school board, announced that Heart Start will continue in spite of proposed cessation by President Donald Trump.

Gehrt said that she learned in her latest meeting that these Chester County preschools face significant cash flow challenges in order to continue.

The federal budget also leaves $58 million in grants unfunded.

Despite the revenue shortfall, the Chester County Intermediate Unit continues to secure opportunities to offset costs.

The board also approved a request  by Spanish teacher Mark Williams for a student trip to Spain in March of 2027. He said that he would encourage students who desired to go to find various ways to raise the funds by creative means to offset the costs of the trip.

Also, the board heard a report on a project to upgrade the cafeteria and library to start with planning in January. The projects will be put out to bid in January of 2027 and will be complete in July of 2028.