Committee adopts calendar option 5 after debate over religious observances
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Summary
After public comment and debate about religious inclusivity, the regional school committee approved calendar option 5 — which removes PD days on Yom Kippur and Eid and adds a PD day on Orthodox Good Friday — by a 4‑yes, 1‑no, 1‑abstain vote.
The Northborough‑Southborough Regional School Committee voted Feb. 25 to adopt calendar option 5 for the 2026–27 year after a wide-ranging discussion about religious inclusivity and logistical consistency.
Public commenter Nia Benoit urged the committee to ensure the school calendar treats all faiths equitably, saying, "School calendars, in my opinion, should not promote or inhibit any particular religion." Benoit noted the district had scheduled MCAS on Orthodox Good Friday this year before changing the date and asked the district to pair a lean calendar with robust accommodation policies.
Greg described calendar option 5 as a compromise that preserves the student calendar start and end dates while moving professional development days away from Yom Kippur and Eid and adding one on Orthodox Good Friday. "It removes PD days previously scheduled on Yom Kippur and Eid, and it adds a PD day on Orthodox Good Friday," Greg said.
Committee members split on principle and practicality. Some members said they prefer a calendar that lists only federal and state holidays, while others argued districtwide consistency across member communities made a single adopted calendar preferable. Chris said he prefers calendars limited to state and federal holidays but would support a single adopted calendar for the district to avoid split schedules across schools.
The motion to adopt option 5 passed with 4 yes, 1 no and 1 abstention. Members said they will continue outreach and recommended forming a study subcommittee to consider longer‑term calendar approaches and three‑year cycles.
Vote tally: 4 yes, 1 no, 1 abstain.