Committee reviews draft 2025'26 school calendar; members ask to model Good Friday and post-Labor Day starts

School officials presented a draft 2025'26 school calendar that would bring staff back Aug. 25 and students in grades 1'12 on Aug. 27, with prekindergarten and kindergarten starting Sept. 4, and left the end date at June 17 if there are no snow days. Committee members asked administrators to prepare alternate versions that start after Labor Day and a version that restores Good Friday as a holiday.

The presenter cautioned that the draft is a first reading and called it "about start date and end date and winter break date" rather than a final schedule. The calendar shown includes a two-week winter break and several blue-coded professional-development and conference days; staff said the draft responded to joint labor-management feedback and student input requesting consideration of Diwali when placing conference days.

Committee members raised planning concerns: some parents want a post-Labor Day start so summer childcare is easier, while others prefer an earlier start to avoid extending June into exam and travel periods if snow days are used. Several members asked that a version be produced that removes the two late-December staff days and instead starts school in September, and that the administration run a community survey on preferences.

Administrators agreed to present two alternatives at the next meeting: one with a Sept. 2 student start and another that restores Good Friday as a holiday (which would move the final school day). The administration also said it would include counts showing how each option affects the last day of school and noted it would report on staffing-mitigation planning for religious-holiday leave if Good Friday is restored.

No vote was taken; the matter will return for a second reading with the alternate calendar drafts and a proposed community survey.