URGENT UPDATE: Oak Park and River Forest High School will start the 2026/27 school year later than usual, following a decision made by the District 200 Board of Education on August 21. The board voted 5 to 2 to adjust the school calendar, pushing the first day to August 24 for freshmen and August 25 for other students due to ongoing construction.
This change is aimed at ensuring that all learning spaces are ready after the district’s Project 2 construction project wraps up next summer. The significant shift includes moving first-semester finals to January instead of holding them before the winter break, a practice that has been in place since the 2012-13 school year.
Parents are expressing concern over the impact of this change. During the meeting, OPRF parent Divya Variyam voiced her disappointment, stating, “I think it’s shortsighted. I have children who will be studying over that break, and it will not be a break.” Other parents echoed similar worries, fearing added stress and anxiety for students during the holidays.
Board members in favor of the change, including Graham Brisben and Tim Brandhorst, assured attendees that teachers would be instructed to assign no work over the winter break, promoting a “pencils down” approach. “We expect you to rest,” Brandhorst emphasized, but critics argue that the looming finals will prevent students from enjoying a true break.
The adjusted schedule means the first semester will conclude on January 21, with winter break ending on January 2. Some board members, including Fred Arkin and Josh Gertz, raised concerns about the potential stress of having finals after the holiday, suggesting it might disadvantage students preparing for Advanced Placement exams.
“The AP kids will be losing preparation time for those tests,” Arkin pointed out, referencing a letter from a concerned student opposing the schedule change. He questioned whether the renovations, primarily focused on physical education facilities, warranted a significant delay in the school year.
Supporters of the new schedule argue it provides students with additional time to catch up if they fall behind, particularly in a busy December filled with concerts and holiday activities. OPRF history teacher Toni Biasiello, part of the calendar committee, noted, “We used to have a schedule like this for decades. We made it work. It was fine.”
As the controversy unfolds, parents and students are left to navigate the implications of this new timeline. The school year is now set to end on June 9, 2027, with many hoping for further discussions about the impact on students’ well-being and academic success.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story as community reactions continue to evolve.
