Quincy School Committee rejects amendment to add Lunar New Year to 2025–26 calendar; debate follows extensive public comment

The Quincy School Committee on Feb. 12 heard a string of public comments urging the district to add Lunar New Year to the official school calendar, but rejected a last-minute amendment to make Feb. 17, 2026, a holiday and then approved the 2025–26 calendar as presented.

Members of the public and parents told the committee that Lunar New Year is an important cultural and family holiday for many Quincy households and argued that frequent absences across some schools show the need for an official day off. ‘‘Sharing culture is the most amazing way to build a robust, connected, happy community,’’ said Shivpreet Singh, who identified himself as a resident, during the open forum. Other speakers, including parents and PTO leaders, described high absence rates at North Quincy High and asked the committee to recognize the day formally.

Community advocates said the district already sees widespread observance: Grace Young Jay distributed a list of Massachusetts districts that recognize Lunar New Year as a full holiday and argued Quincy’s Asian student population is comparable to or larger than many of those districts. Thuy Leung, a parent, told the committee that she and her family chose to keep children home this year so they could celebrate together, calling Lunar New Year ‘‘not just another day’’ but ‘‘family, history, identity.’’

Opponents and cautious members of the committee raised concerns about the operational impact, especially on families of elementary students who might require childcare if schools close. In debate, one member said that on Jan. 29, 2025, about 149 elementary students used the district policy to be excused for a cultural holiday while roughly 8,000 students attended school; she argued that many students participated in school-based Lunar New Year activities and that the district’s established excused‑absence policy already provides a way for families to observe the holiday.

The committee considered an amendment to the calendar that would have changed the code for Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, to a holiday. The amendment failed in a roll-call vote: Mr. Begoli — No; Mrs. Cahill — No; Mrs. Degatrio — Yes; Mrs. Hubley — No; Mrs. Lebo — No; Mrs. Perdios — Yes; Mayor Koch — No. After further discussion the committee voted to adopt the 2025–26 school calendar as presented (motion: Mrs. Hubley; second: Mrs. Lebo). The roll call for approval was recorded in the meeting minutes as a majority in favor.

Why it matters: Speakers stressed that in parts of Quincy — notably North Quincy High — large shares of students and families observe Lunar New Year, and they said a formal holiday would recognize community demographics and remove a choice families now make between celebration and school attendance. Committee members balanced that perspective with concerns about childcare for younger students, operational disruption and equity across different cultural observances.

What’s next: The committee approved the 2025–26 calendar; discussion about making Lunar New Year an official future holiday is likely to continue in policy committee and through public engagement. Several speakers asked the committee to consider alternatives such as combining partial days, as other districts have done, or making a longer-term policy change through the policy committee process.