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Milton School Committee recommends removing Yom Kippur and Good Friday from 2025–26 calendar amid heated debate
Summary
After hours of public comment and committee discussion about cultural inclusion and operational constraints, the Milton School Committee moved to recommend removing Yom Kippur and Good Friday as district days off for the 2025–26 calendar and to pursue bargaining talks about the Friday before Labor Day and the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.
The Milton School Committee on Dec. 18 recommended removing Yom Kippur and Good Friday as district days off for the 2025–26 school calendar, advancing a contentious equity debate that divided members.
Chair (unnamed) framed the discussion by noting the committee had heard “a lot of different perspectives” through surveys and listening sessions and said the goal was to reach a recommendation the board could take into the calendar-setting process. After lengthy exchange the committee member who introduced the motion (Speaker 3) said the proposal would create greater consistency across Abrahamic faiths and allow the district to build clearer accommodation and curriculum policies for other observances.
Supporters of the motion argued the change would treat like cases alike and create a predictable process for excused absences, curriculum, and extracurricular scheduling. Opponents said removing the two holidays risked undoing prior inclusivity gains — noting that recognition of Jewish high holidays had previously been added after community advocacy — and warned about the political and community cost of taking days off that some residents consider important.
Committee members repeatedly flagged operational constraints: collective-bargaining agreements that currently designate some days as contractual days off, staffing risks if large numbers of staff request the same personal day, athletic and field scheduling conflicts, and the lack of comprehensive demographic data about holiday observance. Several members urged the district to pair calendar changes with stronger district-wide policies for excused absences, no-homework expectations on observance dates, and clear guidance for athletic scheduling.
The motion, which also directs the administration to pursue contract negotiations about the Friday before Labor Day and the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, was seconded and placed for a vote. The committee recorded the recommendation to amend the 2025–26 calendar and said further calendar details will be finalized in January and may be affected by collective-bargaining outcomes.
The committee stressed this recommendation is advisory; final calendar dates must be voted at a future meeting and may change if bargaining or implementation logistics require it.
