TAPS School Board votes to wait until Sept. 9 to start 2026-27 school year
Making the transition from the fun and frivolity of Box Car Days to the classroom just got easier for Tracy Area Public Schools students and staff.
The District No. 2904 School Board on Monday voted unanimously to push the first day of school to Wednesday, Sept. 9.
The issue has been discussed sporadically in the past since Labor Day doesn’t fall until Sept. 7 this year. On Monday, the board officially approved the move.
School board member Jay Fultz re-introduced the idea of the district not having school on the day after Labor Day after the second reading of the 2026-27 school calendar.
“Basically, it’s a Tracy thing because of Box Car Days, and understanding how tired some of the students are coming out of that weekend, how tired some of the staff are — if we waited to start school, not on Tuesday the 8th, but Wednesday the 9th and give everybody a day to recover.
A motion to have Sept. 8 as an off day, with a replacement day of Friday, Jan. 29, was approved.
Fultz believes older kids in high school might be able to bounce back from Box Car Days activities a bit quicker than the worn-out grade school students.
“As a teacher and a mom, I would love to have that Tuesday off,” said Tracy Area Elementary School teacher Kaitlin Rohlik. “That one year when we started after Labor Day, it was wonderful. Kindergarten is so crazy that first month. I definitely think it is something to look into.”
School board member Jeff Knott agreed that hitting the classroom the day after Labor Day can be a challenge for students.
“Going back to school then is really hard for the kids,” said Knott. “After that whole weekend, they’re shot, they’re crabby — at least mine are! This would be the year to try it with Labor Day being as late as it is.”
Starting the school year on Aug. 31 is not an option, per state mandate. The change in the calendar will not affect the final day of school.
In other business …
• K-12 enrollment was recognized at 603, compared to 643 in 2025.
• The next school board meeting has been moved to Tuesday, April 21.
• The board approved a bid of $110,592 from Qualite Sports Lighting, LCC for materials for new lights and light poles at the high school football field, as well as bids for the door project. Both projects are scheduled to take place this summer.
• TAPS Supt. Chad Anderson gave the first reading of Capital Outlay requests, and said Long Term Facilities Maintenance dollars will be used to upgrade and expand the bathrooms and crow’s nest at the football field/track complex for $114,000. The school will pitch in $32,000 in LTFM dollars for new lighting at the renovated City-owned softball complex; the existing poles will be used. Sidewalk work will also be done at Kid’s World.
• Lily Kahn was hired as a student janitor and Serenity Yang as a student cook.
• Gina Peterson has been hired as the B-squad softball coach, and Katelyn Proell has been approved as a volunteer track and field coach.
• The board accepted the resignation of Alex Greenway as academic career advisor, strength coach and football coach. He has accepted the principal position at Canby Public Schools.
• Emily Hernandez has been hired as a full-time 1.0 English Language Arts teacher at the high school for the 202627 school year.
• The following donations were approved: $140 (anonymous) for TAHS scholarships; $1,849 from the Panther Booster Club for an AED for the VMC and $509.99 from the club for the golf team; $2,899.98 from SWWC for a new tool box for the ag shop; $300 from Franklin and Diane Smith for the Tim Smith Scholarship; $1,500 from the Tracy Eagles Club for the BPA; $100 from Above The Fold Publishing for the BPA; $1,000 from Dennis and Marilyn Christensen for the Diane Christensen TeKrony Scholarship; $1,000 from Dennis Morgan and the Dennis “Bootstrap” Scholarship; $500 from Minwest Bank for the BPA; $925 from the United Fund for Little Panthers; $1,000 from the Tracy Eagles Club as a high school student donation; and $4,154.61 from SWWN for a new freezer/ refrigerator combination.
