Board revises school calendar after student meeting; Lunar New Year accommodated with one‑session makeup day

The board approved a revised 2025 school calendar to make up for an emergency closure (Jan. 26 snow day) using a one‑session makeup day rather than a full school day on Lunar New Year. Superintendent Michael Malone said he met with four students upset by the original selection; after listening to their concerns he proposed a compromise: hold a one‑session day that counts toward the district’s 180‑day requirement while allowing families observing Lunar New Year to take a religious absence with a parent note that will not count toward chronic absenteeism.

"At that meeting, at that student meeting, we came to what I believe is a really good compromise," Malone said. He told the board the revised approach preserves instructional minutes required by the state while respecting the district’s diverse community. Malone said the district would apply the same philosophy to other emergency closure contingency days (for example, Eid or other religious observances) to provide equitable treatment and said he will review next year’s calendar for similar adjustments.

Board members thanked Malone for meeting with students and asked administration to review the full calendar for other dates where similar compromises might be appropriate. A board member also confirmed the 100th day of school remains Feb. 19 despite the calendar change.

What’s next: Superintendent said he will distribute the revised calendar to families and communicate that religious observance notes will be honored so attendance and chronic‑absenteeism records are not adversely affected.