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School committee holds first read on FY26 calendars; superintendent recommends post–Labor Day start for students
Summary
The committee reviewed two FY26 calendar options — a pre–Labor Day and a post–Labor Day student start — and heard the administration recommend starting students after Labor Day while staff begin earlier. The calendars will return for a second read before a vote.
The North Andover School Committee on Jan. 21 conducted a first read of two proposed FY26 school calendars and discussed the merits of a pre–Labor Day student start date and a post–Labor Day start.
Why it matters: the committee must select a calendar that balances instructional time, teacher preparation, local holiday scheduling and community expectations; the committee’s decision will affect family planning and scheduling for the coming school year.
What was presented: the district offered two calendars. The pre–Labor Day version would have staff begin Aug. 27 (a Wednesday) and students begin before Labor Day; the post–Labor Day version would have staff work two days before Labor Day, teachers take the Friday off, and students start after Labor Day.
Administration recommendation: Interim Superintendent Pam Lathrop said the leadership team recommended the post–Labor Day start for students this year, noting the earlier Labor Day on the calendar and the value of the staff preparation window. She said the post–Labor Day plan “give[s] our teachers an opportunity to come in” for preparation while still keeping the school year schedule reasonable in relation to Juneteenth and end-of-year timing.
Committee response and next steps: committee members expressed mixed preferences during discussion; some members said they personally prefer an earlier start while others cited timing concerns around Juneteenth and staffing. The calendar will return to the committee for a second read and formal vote at a subsequent meeting.
Ending: the board placed the calendars on the agenda for a second reading; a final vote will follow after the committee’s review and any further public comment.
