Members of the Houston R-1 School District Board of Education approved the 2025-2026 calendar and set tuition rates on Tuesday.
2025-2026 CALENDAR
In a 5-2 vote, with Marty Merckling and Jeff Gettys voting no, a 156-day plus two half days calendar was approved for the 2025-2026 school year. The days will start five minutes earlier and end five minutes later. This year’s calendar is 165 days plus two half days.
The calendar features a Tuesday, Aug. 19 opening day, a tentative May 9, 2026 graduation and a May 14 last day of school. Staff professional development days include Aug. 13 to 15, Sept. 15, Jan. 5, March 2 and May 15.
The school will not be in session on:
- Sept. 1 (Labor Day)
- Sept. 29
- Oct. 13
- Oct. 23 (early dismissal for parent-teacher conferences)
- Oct. 24
- Oct. 27
- Nov. 10
- Nov. 24 to 28 (Thanksgiving break)
- Dec. 22 to Jan. 2 (Christmas break)
- Jan. 19, 2026 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day)
- Feb. 2, 2026
- Feb. 16, 2026 (Presidents Day)
- March 16 to 20, 2026 (Spring break)
- April 3 to 6, 2026 (Easter break)
- April 20, 2026
A motion made by Merckling and seconded by Tressie Neugebauer to consider a four-day calendar for the 2025-2026 school year was voted down. Darren Ice, Charlie Malam, Gettys and Jennifer Scheets voted no. Merckling, Neugebauer and Dustin Hartman voted yes. A majority of the board at its January meeting signaled that it supported keeping a five-day week.
SUMMER SCHOOL DATES AND TUITION RATES
The board approved summer school dates of May 27 to 30, June 2 to 5, June 9 to 12 and June 16 to 19. Classes will run from 7:40 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Tuition rates for the 2025-2026 school year were approved as follows:
- Regular Tuition Rate (K-8): $6,000 (per average daily attendance)
- Regular Tuition Rate (other): $6,000 (flat rate)
- Piney River Technical Center (PRTC) Rate: $2,150 (flat rate)
The regular tuition rates are up from $5,750 this year. The PRTC rate is up from $2,000.
OTHER MATTERS
- The board approved policy updates pertaining to ballot issues, closed meetings, record, vote, tuition, homeschooling, virtual courses and attendance. These changes are part of the Missouri School Boards’ Association 2024D update. Other parts of the update will be considered later to allow time for more review.
- A governmental consulting services agreement with Zamkus & Associates, LLC to assist with track and field efforts at the state level was approved.
- Members approved the District AI Usage Plan as presented by Stephanie Barbagiovanni, curriculum director.
The next regular meeting is 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 11 in the high school library.