The Acton-Boxborough Regional School Committee devoted substantial discussion on Jan. 16 to the proposed 2025–26 school calendar and whether to add or change observed holidays to reflect the district’s increasingly diverse communities.

Superintendent Peter Light explained staff corrected an initial draft to ensure a full 180-day school year and said the proposed calendar recognizes multiple observances, including Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Eid and the Lunar New Year. Committee members and members of the public raised competing concerns about cultural recognition, continuity of learning and family hardship.

Some advocates urged the committee to keep or expand calendar observances to honor the community’s diversity. Committee Member Ben and several speakers noted prior outreach supporting cultural observances such as Diwali and asked the committee to consult earlier survey data and community forums. Students and community members also asked whether community-education offerings could be expanded on break days to provide childcare options, though staff said staffing limits often constrain those programs.

Other committee members and residents cautioned that expanding calendar holidays can create continuity issues for instruction, compress the summer break and complicate family schedules. Committee Member Lakshmi expressed concern that adding holidays can create a burden for families who do not celebrate the new days and may have limited paid time off, while Committee Member Andrew said he struggled to find a single right answer and sought a public process.

Superintendent Light recommended the formation of a subcommittee to study the calendar fully, gather broad stakeholder input, and return recommendations so the full committee can consider changes with ample community engagement. The committee did not vote on calendar changes at the meeting; the calendar was presented for first reading, and committee members asked staff to publish the corrected draft and recommended collecting feedback ahead of a future vote.