Killeen ISD Cancels Presidents’ Day Holiday for Students

KILLEEN, Texas — Killeen Independent School District (KISD) announced this week that Presidents’ Day, Feb. 17, will no longer be a holiday for students. Instead, children across the district, including those in Killeen, Harker Heights, Nolanville, and Fort Cavazos, will attend school on what was previously a day off.

The district will use Feb. 17 as a designated bad weather makeup day, according to a statement posted on KISD’s Facebook page. “It will now be a regular school day for all students and staff,” the announcement said.

The decision comes after KISD canceled classes on Tuesday due to the threat of snowy weather, though only a light dusting materialized across much of the area. The district’s calendar originally listed Feb. 17 as a teacher professional development/workday, with students off for the federal holiday.

Parents and students have expressed frustration with the change, posting dozens of comments on the district’s Facebook announcement. Many cited the federal holiday status of Presidents’ Day as a reason to keep schools closed. “Due to this holiday, we have made family plans already,” said Amanda Marie Lott in a comment. “Y’all really should have thought it through better.”

Marisa Flores echoed similar sentiments, writing, “Nope. Already worked around the calendar and already made plans.” Kimberly Phillips was more direct: “How about no. That’s a federal holiday.”

Meanwhile, troops at Fort Cavazos will still have Feb. 17 off, as well as the preceding Friday, Feb. 14, for a training holiday. The contrast has added to the frustration among some military families in the district.

Presidents’ Day, observed annually on the third Monday in February, is a federal holiday in the United States. It was originally established in 1879 to commemorate the birthday of George Washington, the nation’s first president. Over time, the holiday has evolved to recognize all U.S. presidents who have served the country.

Federal holidays like Presidents’ Day typically result in closures for banks, post offices, and other government institutions. According to the U.S. Postal Service website, regular mail delivery will not occur on Presidents’ Day in 2025, as it is one of the federal holidays observed by the agency.

KISD’s decision to cancel the holiday for students has sparked debate about the balance between academic requirements and family time. The district has not yet announced whether future Presidents’ Days will also be designated as school days.