School Calendar Recommended For Next Year

Northborough and Southborough students would have school on Rosh Hashanah and Good Friday next year -- only -- if the school committees adopt a school calendar recommended by their School Calendar Study Group.

Found here, the calendar will be an agenda item on Jan. 29, with a vote on Feb. 13, School Superintendent Dr. Charles Gobron said in a Dec. 26 memo to the community, posted here.

Having school on the two holidays would require a school committee policy change, Gobron said.

"Yom Kippur falls on a Saturday. All students and staff members who do not attend school on these days for religious reasons will be excused. Teachers will be asked not to give tests on these days and major sports games will not be scheduled," he said.

"The district’s commitment to diversity will continue.Calendar Study Group members felt strongly that because of the growing diversity of the communities, continuing to have no school on selected religious holidays would necessitate considering holidays of other religions as well."
 
If approved, the calendar would be only for the school year starting this fall, Gobron said.

"The School Calendar Study Group members would like to reconvene next year to continue conversations about future calendars," he said.

Public comments on the recommended calendar may be sent to clepore@nsboro.k12.ma.us, or addressed to the school committees c/o Office of the Superintendent, 53 Parkerville Road, Southborough, MA 01772, Gobron said.