Farmington board agrees to consider adding Eid to 2026-27 calendar after extended discussion on equity and schedule impacts
Summary
After a lengthy policy discussion of equity, partial-week impacts, childcare and snow-day risks, the board voted to advance an alternate 2026-27 calendar that includes Eid for a second reading; the 2027-28 calendar was also given a first reading.
The Farmington School District Board on Jan. 12 debated whether to add Eid as a day off on the 2026-27 school calendar and ultimately approved an amended motion to move the alternate calendar (which includes Eid) to a second reading.
Policy committee members and board members discussed multiple considerations: optimizing instructional time, the effect of partial weeks and shortened days on attendance (some concerns that reduced attendance can concentrate around partial weeks), staff recruitment and retention, equity for religious and cultural observances, child-care impacts on working families, and the operational need to preserve summer construction windows for capital projects.
Supporters argued Eid is a major religious observance and that adding it would recognize Farmington's diverse student population; others cautioned about setting precedent for future requests and the logistical effects if multiple floating holidays fall on weekdays in the same year. Staff and the policy chair noted that calendar rules and regulations may require revision to codify criteria and to provide levers (for example, changing the timing of PD days or adjusting Spring Break) should the board adopt more floating holidays in future years.
After discussion, a board member moved to amend the motion to consider the alternate calendar (calendar B) that includes Eid for the 2026-27 school year; the amendment passed by voice vote and the alternate calendar will return for a second reading. The 2027-28 calendar was given a first reading (Eid does not fall on a weekday in that school year).
