Baltimore board directs staff to add two wellness days and mark Eid observances on draft 2025–26 calendar

The Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners voted unanimously Feb. 25 to direct staff to amend the proposed 2025–26 school calendar to designate Oct. 2, 2025 and March 20, 2026 as districtwide wellness days, add two days to the end of the 2026 school year, and return a revised calendar for a final vote at the board's next meeting.

The board’s vice chair, Vice Chair Parker, moved the amendment, asking staff “to amend the proposed Baltimore City Schools 2025–26 school calendar to designate 10/02/2025 and 03/20/2026 as wellness days when schools will be closed ... add 2 days to the end of the school year in June 2026 and bring the revised calendar back to the board for a final vote at our next board meeting.” Commissioner Esposito seconded the motion. In a roll-call vote the motion passed unanimously.

Board members and public commenters framed the amendment largely as a step toward greater inclusion of Muslim students and families. Members of the Muslim community and faith leaders urged the board to recognize Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha on the school calendar; several said adding days would avoid requiring families to use excused-absence procedures for religious observances. Dr. Walter Gill, a retired teacher and city schools graduate, asked the board “to consider putting both Eids on the school calendar,” while other community speakers asked that those days be written into the official schedule so families and staff could plan ahead.

Board discussion focused on equity and on creating a calendar that better reflects the city’s religious and cultural diversity. Commissioner Kenyatta Bey described the amendment as “a chance to take a stand” in support of inclusion. Commissioner Redding Lawlinger reminded the public that families already have the right to an excused absence for religious observance and that the district also designates “observance days” during which major academic activities are minimized; she said the amendment nevertheless signaled responsiveness to community concerns.

The motion requires City Schools staff to return a revised calendar to the board for a final vote at the next public meeting. Chair Sally and staff said the board office will post details about the amended calendar and that families may contact the board office for clarification ahead of the board’s March 11 meeting.

Votes at a glance: the amendment carried on a unanimous roll-call vote; tally recorded as 11 yes, 0 no, 0 abstain. The motion directs staff to prepare and present a revised calendar and does not itself adopt the final calendar.

Implementation and next steps: City Schools will prepare the amended calendar and present it at the board’s next public meeting for final adoption. The board and staff said they plan additional outreach to help families understand what “observance days” mean for testing and instructional activities.