Swampscott School Committee previews 2025–26 calendar, proposes fewer PD half days

The Swampscott School Committee on March 13 reviewed a first draft of the 2025–26 school calendar that would reduce the number of professional‑development half days and set start and major holiday dates.

Committee chair Glenn Pastor led the discussion at Swampscott High School, where staff presented a calendar that places teacher PD days Monday, Aug. 25, and Tuesday, Aug. 26, with the first day for students (except kindergarten) on Wednesday, Aug. 27. Kindergarten students would begin on Sept. 4. The draft also lists Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Veterans Day, and other dates as no‑school days and identifies conference and early‑dismissal dates; May 6 is held as a snow‑makeup PD day.

Why it matters: The committee said the draft aims to limit intermittent half days that families have said cause childcare and scheduling challenges while preserving time for staff development. Committee members also raised contract and equity concerns that could affect implementation.

Jason Kalchmer, presenting the calendar, said the district will pilot four PD days plus the two opening staff days to reduce the number of half days families face and to preserve larger blocks of instructional time: "We are confident that we can have quality PD with 4 PD days as well as the first 2 days of school, and see how this goes," Kalchmer said.

Committee members and staff reviewed specific dates in the draft: PD days on Aug. 25–26; first student day (except kindergarten) Aug. 27; kindergarten start Sept. 4; no school on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur; Indigenous Peoples’ Day and Veterans Day off; conference/early‑dismissal days in November and December; and a full‑week April school vacation with return April 7. The draft also lists elementary, middle and high school conference dates and clarifies which levels will have midday dismissals on those conference days.

Concerns and next steps: Several members noted that PD‑day counts are part of the district’s labor contract. One committee member said, "my only concern is that that is in the contract, and we've negotiated how many PD days there were." Committee members asked staff to review the calendar with the PD committee and with bargaining units before a final vote.

The calendar committee named at the meeting includes Becca Bucklin, Natalie Popercuk, Latanya Mackey, Sue Comparato, Michelle Yannowski and the presenting staff. The draft was treated as a first read; the committee did not vote on the calendar on March 13 and asked staff to return with follow‑up after consulting the PD committee and negotiators.

Ending: Staff said they will circulate the revised draft and follow up with the PD committee and bargaining representatives before the committee’s next reading.