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Board weighs two 2026–27 calendars; members press for more public input on Labor Day start and religious holidays
Summary
The board reviewed two draft 2026–27 calendars — one starting after Labor Day and one before — and members debated childcare and spring-break length, urged consideration of a third option, and discussed accommodating religious-observance absences such as Eid al-Fitr.
Nicole Bastelli presented two draft 2026–27 school calendars at the Feb. 6 Haverford Township School District board meeting, prompting sustained board debate about whether the school year should begin after or before Labor Day and how to honor students' religious observances.
Option A would start after Labor Day (first student day Sept. 8) and shorten spring break; Option B would start before Labor Day (Sept. 1) and allow a full week for spring break, Bastelli said. Both calendars build 183 student days and include three built-in snow days.
Several board members, including parents of students with special needs, urged the board to prioritize start dates that improve access to childcare and camps and to avoid disrupting families that rely on consistent patterns. One board member representing special-education concerns said camps offering required accommodations are difficult to find during early September, and that a consistent post–Labor Day start benefits those families.
"For me one of the things about option B that makes sense is that the first Tuesday in September has been a consistent pattern and it helps parents find camps and scheduling," a board member said.
Other members asked for a third calendar option that could balance a later Labor Day start with a full spring break, or suggested using flexible instruction days to preserve spring-break time. Members also discussed a proposal to move a professional-development day to accommodate observance of Eid al-Fitr and noted the district's policy that religious-observation absences are excused.
During the public-comment period, resident Todd Hall urged the district to be intentional about recognizing religious holidays and suggested rotating observances; resident John Flagler asked for clarity about how the district enforces its "Welcoming Schools" commitments when students feel unsafe or unwelcome.
Administrators said the calendar task is complex—requiring compliance with contractually required holidays, state instruction-hour requirements and the district’s staffing needs—and that more committee discussion is possible if a majority of the board requests another administrative option.
The calendar was presented as an information item and board members requested it be returned for further review and public comment before a final adoption if that is the board’s preference.
