Moorestown board approves 2026–27 academic calendar, will recognize Lunar New Year beginning 2027

The Moorestown Township Board of Education voted to approve the 2026–27 district academic calendar at its recent meeting. Doctor McNeely recommended the calendar, calling it "balanced and workable" and saying the schedule "reflects our thoughtful planning and the board's responsiveness to the community."

McNeely highlighted one visible change: the calendar includes recognition of Lunar New Year beginning in 2027. "Lunar New Year does not fall on an instructional day in this calendar that we put before you tonight, but we are acknowledging, if this approval goes through, that we will be observing Lunar New Year in the coming years," McNeely said. She told the board the decision followed "a great deal of community feedback" and committee review.

Board members moved and seconded the motion to approve the calendar and then voted; the board president announced, "Motion carries." The transcript does not record a roll-call tally for this item.

Superintendent and board remarks framed the calendar as balancing instructional priorities, operational realities and community values, and as offering greater predictability for families and staff. McNeely also noted a minor attachment correction to the calendar exhibit had been made since it was published online.

During public comment earlier in the meeting, a resident had thanked the board for recognizing Lunar New Year and urged the district to continue recognizing overlapping faith observances such as Ash Wednesday and Ramadan. The board did not amend the calendar at the meeting.

The board's next procedural step beyond approval is implementation of the calendar across district communications and school schedules; no further district action on the calendar was specified in the transcript.