The Medford School Committee voted to adopt the district’s 2025–26 school calendar using “Option Triangle,” with the first day of school set for Wednesday, Aug. 27 and new teachers reporting the week of Aug. 18. The motion to adopt Option Triangle passed April 14 by a roll call vote of five in favor, one opposed and one absent.

Superintendent Dr. Suzanne Galusi and district staff presented two calendar options. Both options set Aug. 27 as the first day for most students and Sept. 3 as the kindergarten start date; they differ in the placement of vacation days and in how several religious observances are handled. District staff said Option Triangle seeks relief and advice because it results in 184 scheduled school days instead of the 185 the district previously sought to schedule.

Assistant presenter Dr. Cushing told the committee that scheduling the calendar “is a significantly challenging exercise,” citing constraints including state regulations, religious observances and the need to preserve time for professional development. He reviewed two calendars (presented as “Square” and “Triangle”) and said Option Triangle would reduce one designated holiday in each of the Christian, Jewish and Islamic calendars for this year while maintaining the highest holy days for each faith. Dr. Cushing said students who observe a removed holiday would be able to take it off under the EB provisions of district policy and that the district will not count those absences against students.

Committee discussion focused on outreach to faith leaders, the operational question of running school on Good Friday if many staff take the day off, and how the calendar complies with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education regulation 603 CMR 27.00 on school days. Member Rousseau moved to adopt Option Triangle; the roll call that followed recorded Member Graham, Member Olapade, Member Reinfeld, Member Rousseau and Mayor Mary Lungo Kern voting yes, Member Entapa voting no and one member absent.

The committee also voted to send proposed changes to policy ICICA (district calendar policy) to the policy subcommittee for review and to invite faith leaders and community representatives to that subcommittee meeting. That referral passed by roll call, 6–0 with one member absent.

What happens next: District leadership said it will work with school leaders and the teacher union to plan staffing for days when observant staff or students may be absent, and the policy subcommittee will consider the recommended language updates to ICICA and the handling of election days and Indigenous Peoples Day/Columbus Day naming.

Note: The committee discussed graduation scheduling; under Option Triangle presented to the committee, graduation would be scheduled earlier than in some past years to meet calendar constraints.