The Ashland School Committee voted Tuesday to approve the 2026–27 school calendar and authorized the superintendent to execute a memorandum of agreement with the Ashland Educators Association to implement a one‑year change to the start and end dates.

The committee approved “option 2,” under which educators would return the week before Labor Day and students would begin Monday, Aug. 30, 2026. Under that option the regular 180th student day is projected for June 17, 2027 (versus June 20 under the alternative); the district retains five built‑in days for potential snow or emergency closures that could extend the year later in June if used.

Superintendent Jim (Superintendent) told the committee the change requires a one‑year written waiver to the collective bargaining agreement and that the district had consulted the educators’ union in advance. Kristen Scully, president of the Ashland Educators Association, led a ratification vote of members and reported that about 85% of responding union members indicated support for the one‑year adjustment.

Mr. Adams (Staff member), who presented the calendars to the committee, described the practical impact: under option 2 teachers would have four days of orientation/professional learning in that opening week instead of the two days in the contractually specified schedule, and students would start earlier in the week. Mr. Adams said the move shortens the final student day by two days in a typical year and gives families earlier notice for summer planning.

Committee members discussed implementation details and legal formality. One committee member urged that any change be memorialized in writing to avoid confusion; another recommended the superintendent be authorized to sign the memorandum once final language was agreed. The committee approved the calendar and then voted to authorize the superintendent to enter into the MOA with the union.

Outcome and next steps: the committee’s votes approved the calendar and authorized the superintendent to sign a memorandum of agreement that will be executed with the Ashland Educators Association. The MOA will be posted as the district completes the required written amendment to the contract for the 2026–27 year. The committee also noted the collective bargaining contract itself expires in June 2027 and that any multi‑year change would require further negotiation.

Members and staff said the district will communicate details to families and include calendar language and the MOA in public materials once executed.