Students in Lehighton Area School District will get two additional days off in the 2024-25 school year in a school board effort to provide staff more time for professional development.

Lehighton’s school board on Monday night approved Dec. 3 and Feb. 18 as Act 80 days, which means students do not have to report but teachers will have professional development throughout the day. As part of the motion, May 30, 2025, was changed from a full day to an early dismissal.

The move, district officials said, would not change the tentative last day for students, which is scheduled to be June 3.

District parent Brian Shaner, however, asked the board to consider adding two student days somewhere else on the school calendar so as to not take away learning time.

“We had 177 days planned for school for students,” Shaner said. “We’re now going to have 175. I think we can all agree that the most important function of the school is to provide learning for the students.”

Board President Jeremy Glaush clarified the rationale behind the changes, indicating the importance of providing educators with additional preparation time.

“Our teachers being prepared to teach our students actually helps our students in the long run,” Glaush said.

Board members said they would ask district administration to contact the teachers union to inquire about adding two student days onto the end of the year.

“The union contract outlines a number of days that the teachers have to fulfill,” Acting Superintendent Jack Corby told the board. “If we go above and beyond that, it could become an issue.”

“I’d like the teachers to come here and tell us that it’s an issue,” Shaner responded.