Killeen ISD’s board of trustees approved a 2025-2026 academic calendar on Tuesday that will give teachers and staff two additional days of professional development and workday time.

“We came to this recommendation after listening to our campus staff, who felt like they needed more time to plan together and work in their classrooms,” Will Baker, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources, said. “We wanted to honor what they were telling us and find a way to make that happen.”

Overall, the number of instructional days will decrease by two days, to a total of 168. To achieve the extra time for professional development and workdays, the length of the school day will increase by seven minutes.

The calendar, which has the first day of school on August 13, 2025, and the last day on May 28, 2026, also includes a weeklong fall break October 13-17, 2025.

Before finalizing its recommendation, school leaders consulted with employees, the district’s Site-Based Decision Making Committee, the Calendar Committee, the Fort Cavazos’ Garrison Commander’s office and reviewed calendars for the district’s partnering colleges.

Click here to view the 2025-2026 Academic Calendar.

Trustees recognized the winners of the district's annual holiday card competition, a tradition that highlights the creativity of middle school students across the district. Laylah Russ (Nolan Middle School), Zaylah Reeves (Liberty Hill Middle School), and Gabriella Fox (Nolan Middle School) were selected for their festive designs, which will be shared with hundreds of community members, neighboring districts, and campus principals. Their work beautifully captures the holiday spirit and represents the incredible talent within KISD.

The board approved a proposal with Engineered Exteriors, PLLC, for design and engineering services for Eastern Hills Middle School. The school is slated to receive a partial roof replacement with an overall project budget of $3.8 million. Construction is expected to begin this summer with a targeted completion of August 2025. District staff are also working with insurance adjusters to coordinate roof repairs at Reeces Creek Elementary, Pratt Learning and Leadership Center, and several other campuses impacted by the May 2024 hailstorm.

Jordan Love, a visual arts teacher at Union Grove Middle School, has been named the 2024 Outstanding Middle School Art Teacher of the Year by the Texas Art Education Association. This statewide award honors his exceptional dedication to art education and his impact on students, colleagues, and the larger arts community.

Several high school teams were recognized for earning District Champion titles in cross country, volleyball, and football.

• Harker Heights High School claimed the football district championship, showcasing their hard work and determination throughout the season.

• Ellison High School secured the boys' cross-country district championship, with standout performances from Kaitlyn Jackowski of Harker Heights High School and Ethan Carranza of Ellison High School, both earning individual district gold medals. Ethan's exceptional season continues as he advances to the state meet for the second consecutive year.

• Chaparral High School celebrated an impressive season by earning the volleyball district championship.

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