The Springfield School Committee voted March 27 to approve an amended 2025–26 school calendar that the district described as "inclusive," adding federal holidays and an informational attachment listing cultural observances.

The measure, recommended to the full committee by the district’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion subcommittee, passed on a roll-call vote. Vice Chair Naylor moved the calendar and Miss Gresham seconded the motion.

Why it matters: committee members said the calendar aims to make visible a range of cultural and religious observances for the district’s diverse student body. Doctor Balch and Miss Hurst described the packet as containing two documents: a draft calendar that denotes federal holidays and a separate informational calendar listing additional celebrations and holidays the school community observes.

Discussion and process: Miss Hurst said the subcommittee considered options ranging from a calendar that names no holidays to one that identifies federal holidays and an attached, non-exhaustive informational list of cultural observances. She told the committee the recommendation was to adopt the inclusive calendar that names federal holidays and includes the informational list. The packet also notes inclusion of Three Kings Day.

Vote: The roll-call vote showed members present voting in favor and one member absent. The committee recorded the matter as passed.

What the adoption does not do: Committee members clarified that the informational calendar is non-exhaustive and that adoption was limited to the amended 2025–26 calendar materials in the meeting packet; further refinements can be addressed by subcommittee work and feedback from the community.

Next steps: staff said materials and attachments will be posted for public access and subcommittee members will continue to accept feedback on inclusions and presentation.