On Sept. 11, 2025, the Issaquah School District announced the conversion of the Oct. 17 teacher workday to a regular school day, prompted by last year’s bomb cyclone that extended the school year.
According to the district, the change was caused by “last November’s bomb cyclone, which required … a rethinking of professional development scheduling.”
During the 2024–25 school year, the Pacific Northwest storm caused three days of school cancellations. This led to the need for “state-level waivers” that extended the school year—something the October change aims to prevent this year.
A teacher’s workday is typically a day off for students but a day of professional development for teachers and staff.
According to Skyline High School teacher Ms. Boas, “[Teacher workdays] depend on what the district requires” and are “meeting-heavy.”
She added that “most schedules require half a day of district-required activities and half a day of building-led activities,” such as “going over trainings and thematic professional development.”
So far this school year, the other teacher workday, January 26, has not been adjusted.
Skyline sophomore Neil Nagalkar viewed the October workday conversion as having a “minimal impact on students,” but likely a greater impact on staff.
Ms. Boas also said teacher workdays are especially important “gifts of time … when the day is centered around time with colleagues and open time to plan and grade.”
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