First Look at Lincoln-Way 210’s Proposed 2026-2027 School Calendar

Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 Meeting | November 20, 2025

Article Summary: The Lincoln-Way District 210 Board of Education reviewed a draft of the 2026-2027 school calendar, which proposes starting the year with two teacher institute days before students return and concluding the school year before Memorial Day weekend. The calendar maintains a two-week winter break and aligns spring break with an early Easter.

2026-2027 Calendar Key Points:

• The school year would begin with two consecutive institute days for staff before students’ first day.

• The proposed calendar includes a two-week winter break that encompasses three full weekends.

• Spring break is scheduled for the first week of April, immediately following Easter weekend.

• The last day of school, including emergency days, is scheduled for Friday, May 28, 2027, before Memorial Day.

NEW LENOX — The Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 Board of Education on Thursday, November 20, 2025, took its first look at the proposed calendar for the 2026-2027 academic year.

The draft calendar, presented for a first reading, includes several key features designed to optimize instructional time and align with neighboring districts. Superintendent Dr. R. Scott Tingley noted that a significant change would be starting the school year with two teacher institute days in August.

“We anticipate some summer construction; every day that we might need for students would help, and that’s something that teachers have asked for in the past,” Tingley said. This was achieved by moving the traditional October institute day to the beginning of the year.

Other notable dates in the draft calendar include:

• Winter Break: A two-week break from December 21, 2026, through January 1, 2027. Tingley pointed out that this format provides families with three full weekends.

• Spring Break: Scheduled for March 29 through April 2, 2027. With Easter falling on Sunday, March 28, the break would begin immediately after the holiday.

• End of School Year: Final exams are tentatively scheduled for May 26-28, 2027, with the school year concluding before Memorial Day weekend, pending the use of emergency days.

The district will now share the draft calendar with its feeder school districts and employee union leadership for feedback. The board is expected to take final action on the calendar in December or January.