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Committee adopts 2025–26 school calendar and adds 3 Kings Day notation; broader naming discussion to continue
Summary
The committee approved the 2025–26 school calendar with an amendment to label a January teacher professional day as "3 Kings Day" and asked a subcommittee to examine inclusive naming for October holiday dates.
The Springfield School Committee voted March 13 to approve the 2025–26 school calendar after adding a notation next to a January professional development day identifying it as 3 Kings Day.
Superintendent staff described the calendar adjustments as intended to maximize time with families over the winter holiday while accounting for the election year. Doctor Michelle Balch explained the calendar’s main structure, including three district professional development days and a student holiday break from December 22 through January 6 (staff return January 6 for professional development).
Mister Gonzales moved to add "3 Kings Day" next to the January 6 professional development notation; the motion passed on a roll‑call vote. Vice Chair Monroe Naylor requested the committee also revisit the October federal holiday notation (commonly called Columbus Day) and whether to replace that label with an alternative such as Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Several members agreed the naming question merits further discussion in subcommittee so the full body can consider inclusive language across multiple cultural observances.
Committee members also discussed broader family‑engagement ways to acknowledge multiple cultural and religious observances on calendar materials and district communications. The committee approved the calendar as amended and asked the relevant subcommittee to prepare draft language options for committee consideration.
