HomeMy Public PortalAbout20191112 - Schools - Meeting MinutesHopkinton Public Schools
School Calendar Subcommittee
November 12, 2019 - 6:00 PM
Hopkinton High School Library
MINUTES
Attendance:
Present: Jenn Jordan, Zhiqi Liu, Tiffany Ramsarran, Joe Wang, Michelle Odierna, Shazain
Khan, Shannon Kirshenbaum, Josh Hanna, Charlotte Shire, Jen Parson, Carol Cavanaugh,
Heather Petruney, Kristen Bradley, Allison Ornstein, Tiffany Ramsarran, Father Cannon
Absent: Vennis Rajendran, Georgia Hall, Meg Tyler, Ann Benbenek
Call to Order: 6:00 p.m.
Public Comment: None
New Business:
●A motion was made by Josh to approve the Minutes from Meeting of
10-15-19 . Allison seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous.
Old Business: Discuss School Calendar Survey results - Determine Next
Steps
●Dr. Cavanaugh thanked Ashoke Ghosh, Allison Orenstein, and Georgia
Hall for their work on creating and administering the survey, and collating
the data.
●Dr. Cavanaugh reminded the committee that with the data received, the
committee’s task is to decide what is best for teaching & learning and for
families.
●The committee clarified that while some survey responses asked for
“floating holidays” to allow students to take days off for religious
observance, this request is already covered by law.
●Discussion ensued about what some other area districts have done in
terms of assessing holidays that are important to the community along
with the impact of days off on teaching and learning.
Voted to Release 12/12/2019 11/12/19 Minutes
●Discussion ensued about the value of removing Feb and/or April
vacation. Dr. Cavanaugh reminded the committee that with holidays in
both February and April, the move to a March vacation week would
produce only 3 additional days.
●The committee discussed survey data regarding number of faculty
members who may need a particular day off (and the impact on substitute
teacher needs), as well as data about the number of students (or
families) who responded that they would need a full day off to observe
particular holidays. Committee members looked at 2020 and 2021
calendars to assess on what days of the week particular holidays will fall
●A suggestion was made to maintain the current calendar for the
2020-2021 school year, and to promote greater knowledge of 3 additional
holidays amongst the faculty (Diwali, Lunar New Year, Chinese New
year?). Use the 2020-2021 school year to gather data on student
attendance.
●Discussion ensued regarding that suggestion, and Dr. Cavanaugh
provided an additional suggestion: Create a multi-year approach,
maintaining Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Good Friday in 20-21 and
add Dwali to the calendar as a day off in 21-22. Diwali falls on a Saturday
in 20-21. This suggestion came from the survey data indicating that 18%
of respondents (164 families) stated that they will not send their children
to school on Diwali.
●The committee reached consensus and accepted Dr. Cavanaugh’s
suggestion of maintaining the current calendar for 20-21 and adding
Diwali for 21-22.
●Dr. Cavanaugh will provide the committee with some slides outlining the
survey data and documenting the number of school days each month for
the upcoming 2 years. She will review this when the committee
reconvenes on December 2nd. To address committee concern with the
number of days off in November, she will also explore holding school on
the November election day, especially in years when there is not a major
election impacting Hopkinton.
●The meeting adjourned at 7:20 p.m.
Next Meeting: December 9, 6:00 p.m.
Voted to Release 12/12/2019 11/12/19 Minutes