The Canyons Board of Education is weighing a shift to a December semester end for 2027-28, a change that would reshape the calendar for most district schools.

Brighton High School families in Cottonwood Heights take note: the proposed calendar does not apply to Brighton students. The presentation stated that explicitly. Brighton runs on a trimester system with its own schedule. Under the proposed Brighton calendar, the first trimester would end Thursday, Nov. 11, 2027, and the last day of school would fall Thursday, May 25, 2028.

The board opened discussion on four calendar options at its Tuesday, Oct. 6, study session. Tiffany Midgley, director of human resources, presented the options, drawing on a district survey of more than 5,000 parents, employees and students.

The top finding: 65.8% of all respondents supported ending first semester before winter break. Among those who expressed a preference, 76.3% favored the shift. Only 20.4% preferred keeping the current January semester end.

The district's Calendar Committee built four options around two variables: when first semester ends and whether the A/B block schedule is fixed or rotating. Options 1 and 2 end first semester in December. Options 3 and 4 keep the January end date. All four carry 174 instructional days, 10 professional development and grading days, and two teacher comp days.

Under Options 1 and 2, Semester 1 would have 81 to 82 days and Semester 2 would have 92 to 93 days. Options 3 and 4 split more evenly at 90 and 84 days. The presentation noted the December semester end would finalize term grades in time to meet athletic eligibility requirements.

On the A/B schedule question, 44.4% of respondents preferred a fixed schedule, where A days fall every Monday and Wednesday, B days every Tuesday and Thursday, and Fridays alternate. A rotating schedule drew 26.4% support.

Professional development day placement split along role lines. Parents most strongly favored attaching PD days to existing breaks at 57%. Students who expressed a preference favored spreading them throughout the year at 67.5%. Employees were nearly evenly split.

Under Option 1, which pairs a December semester end with fixed A/B days, first through 12th grades would start Monday, Aug. 16, 2027. Kindergarten would begin Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2027. The last day of school would fall Thursday, May 25, 2028, with graduation the day before.

The Oct. 6 agenda labeled the item a "first reading," suggesting a vote could come at a future meeting. The board also unanimously approved land trust amendments for Alta View Elementary and East Sandy Elementary on the consent agenda, on a motion by board member Katie Dahle, seconded by board member Karen Pedersen.

The next Canyons Board of Education meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 20, at 9361 S. 300 East in Sandy.