Mendon Upton Regional School Committee approved the 2014/15 school calendar at the April 7 meeting and voted to form a subcommittee to investigate changing the district’s vacation schedule.
MURSD Superintendent Dr. Maruszczak presented the latest draft of the 2014/15 school calendar created after having discussions with the school leadership team and teacher’s association. The 2014/15 calendar eliminates a half day in September, adds a professional day for teachers in August, and switches a full release day to a half day.
Member Moore was not happy with the decision but in the end approved the school calendar. Moore was very vocal on wanting to eliminate February and April vacation which would result in just one vacation in March. Moore said although she appreciates the changes made she does not see how it helps. Moore strongly voiced her opinions on the topic stating she felt the committee had all the information it needed to make a decision on vacations now. “I think we are capable of making a decision. I think the committee is just kicking the can down the road,” said Moore.
The rest of the committee was in favor of keeping April and February vacation for the 2014/15 school year and forming a subcommittee to study the matter further.
Dr. Maruszczak told the committee he had received a handful of emails pointing out eliminating both April and February vacation only gives the district a net gain of three days because of the legal holidays built into both vacations. He also pointed out that MURTA was not in favor of making changes to the vacation structure. “I think it merits some study and I think we need a thoughtful pause in considering and potentially have a larger conversation,” said Dr. Maruszczak.
The school committee voted in favor of forming a subcommittee to research the possibility of restructuring the districts vacation schedule. February and April vacation will remain in the school calendar for 2014/15.
The committee will also be looking into switching from traditional half days to a reverse half day system. It was unclear if the committee or the subcommittee would be reviewing eliminating Good Friday as a day off in the future but this will be discussed.
As for 2014/15 school year teachers will report back to school on August 25 and have a full professional day on August 26. Students will report to school on Wednesday, August 27. The release day in January before Marin Luther King Day is changed from a full release day to a half day. The last day of school will be June 15, 2015 or Monday June 22 building in the 5 snow days.
UPTON DAILY 
What a surprise. Tough decision? Form a committee to “study” it.