First Look at Proposed 2016-17 Framingham School Calendar

Looking to plan a summer vacation?

Based on the draft calendar submitted to the Framingham School Committee, plan to be back in Framingham before Labor Day.

The proposed 2016-17 Framingham Public Schools calendar has students starting class in August, and members of the Framingham High Class of 2020 starting school on a Friday in August.

The good news is if there is little snow, the proposed 180th day of school is Thursday, June 15, 2017.

There are also two very long weekends in October that families could consider mini vacations, under the draft calendar, if they do not observe Jewish holidays.

And the usual, three school vacation weeks during the 180-day school year.

Framingham’s Chief Academic Officer Sonia Diaz presented a draft version of the 2016-17 Framingham calendar Tuesday night. The proposed calendar submitted for approval to the School Committee was formulated by Diaz and a committee comprised of principals, administration, teachers, staff, and parents.

The School Committee did not take a vote on the calendar Tuesday, but could take one to approve the calendar as soon as its next meeting later this month.

The Calendar Committee submitted a school year calendar with three vacations - winter 2016, February 2017, and April 2017.

Diaz said the Committee looked at “more creative options” for the vacation weeks, specifically February, but opted to stick with the status quo in making a recommendation.

The Committee also recommended two days of no school for the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah in October 2016, no school on Yom Kippur in October 2016, and no school on Good Friday in April 2017.

“It’s important to look at the culture of a town and respect its values” said Diaz, who said the explored other options for religious holidays but recommended no changes to the current structure with the proposed 2016-17 calendar.

School Committee member Jim Kelly was not at the meeting due to a work commitment, but an email from him was read about religious holidays.

Kelly wanted the calendar adjusted for only one day to observe Rosh Hashanah, and an early release on Good Friday. He said making those adjustments would have an impact on the 180th day. He said his view “may not sit well with a small number of folks.”

In his statement, Kelly said it was “the right thing to do.”

Diaz said the Committee listening to parents chose not to do “another survey” but did listen to ”many opinions” and remained “open-minded” until reaching a consensus to submit for approval.

Some key dates in the DRAFT 2016-17 school calendar:

• Thursday, August 25: Superintendent of Schools Convocation to teachers & staff
• Friday, August 26: Freshman orientation at Framingham High for Class of 2020
• Friday, August 26: Professional development day for teachers
• Monday, August 29: First day of school for students in grades 1-12
• Tuesday, August 30: First day of school for kindergarten students
• Monday, Sept. 5: Labor Day - no school
• Thursday, Sept. 29 - First early release day for elementary and middle school students (There are a total of 9 early release days. It varies on who has which days.)
• Monday & Tuesday, October 3-4 - No school to observe Rosh Hashanah
• Monday, October 10 - Columbus Day - no school
• Tuesday, October 11 - no school - professional development day for teachers & staff
• Wednesday, October 12 - no school to observe Yom Kippur
• Thursday, October 27 - early release day
• Tuesday, Nov. 8 - Presidential election - no school for students. Professional development for teachers & staff
• Friday, Nov. 11 - Veterans Day - no school
• Wednesday, Nov. 23 - half day
• Thursday & Friday, Nov. 24 & 25: Thanksgiving break - no school
• Friday, Dec. 23 - half day (Christmas falls on a Sunday in 2016)
• Monday, January 2 - no school
• Monday, January 16 - Martin Luther King Jr. holiday
• February 20-24, 2017 - vacation
• Friday, April 14 - Good Friday - no school
• April 17-21 - vacation
• Monday, May 29 - Memorial Day - no school
• Sunday, June 4 - Graduation for the Framingham High Class of 2017
• Thursday, June 15 - proposed 180th day of school