Wissahickon to consider adding Lunar New Year, Diwali and Eid al‑Fitr as student holidays in 2027‑28

The Wissahickon School District board reviewed a proposal Dec. 1 to add student days off for cultural and religious holidays — specifically Lunar New Year, Diwali and Eid al‑Fitr — beginning with the 2027‑28 school year. The board emphasized that the discussion was informational and that no vote would be taken until the Dec. 8 meeting.

Board leaders said administration has studied neighboring districts’ calendars and community input, and identified operational factors that would shape implementation: transportation schedules, staffing, meeting statutory instructional-day/hour requirements, athletics and assessment timing. The administration noted that whether teachers would have the same days off is a separate implementation issue requiring consultation with employee groups including the Wissahickon Education Association (WEA) and Act 93 administrators.

Parents, students and community groups presented petition evidence and testimony supporting the change. A parent speaker said the petition gathered more than 1,200 signatures, including about 900 student signatures and 200 parent signatures; several student speakers described broad support from classmates and affinity groups.

Board members asked for additional implementation detail, including which athletic leagues or co‑op schedules might be affected and how the district would maintain required instructional hours. Administration said those operational details and negotiations with employee groups would be developed before the Dec. 8 vote and the 2027‑28 calendar work is expected to be finalized in late 2026.

Next steps: The board will consider formal action on the proposal at its Dec. 8 meeting; administration will provide a revised agenda item that clarifies this proposal pertains to student days off and that staff-day determinations will be addressed in implementation planning with the WEA and Act 93 groups.