Holliston committee moves March PD day, adjusts last day to limit late‑June schedule

The Holliston School Committee voted Feb. 26 to alter next month’s schedule to reduce the risk of a late‑June final day after this winter’s storms. Committee member (speaker 2) moved to make March 10 a full student day and to move the scheduled professional-development day to Friday, April 3; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.

Speaker 2 framed the motion as a way to preserve in‑person instruction in a week that has otherwise been used for staff professional development. The motion passed after brief discussion about contract days and paraprofessional coverage: administration said it would consult the Holliston Federation of Teachers and confirm whether a half‑day PD or a full shift would best protect staff hours and coverage.

The committee also approved a separate motion to set the potential last day of school to June 25 (previously projected as June 26 under the current calendar), a change intended to provide parents and staff more certainty and to lessen the chance two or three additional snow days will push the year into the last week of June.

Committee members stressed the votes are contingent on logistics (transportation, paraprofessional coverage and presenters’ availability) and that administrators will confirm staffing and revise calendars publicly. Chair (speaker 1) and administration asked for patience as the district updates bus schedules and informs families via the district newsletter and web page.