BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – School districts in the Champlain Valley are changing some days off for the years to come – with the goal of inclusion and consistency.
The Champlain Valley school districts make up around 40% of the student population in the state, from Chittenden, Franklin, Grand Isle, and Addison counties.
For next year, the districts decided to make a regional school calendar and add days off on Yom Kippur, Diwali, and Eid. This prompts school to start at the end of August.
Vermont school districts follow a 175-day calendar, and officials say creating a regional calendar allows everyone to be on the same page.
When it comes to holidays, John Tague, Superintendent of the Franklin Northwest Supervisory Union, says the holidays selected are because of the increasingly diverse populations that the districts see.
Another interesting note – students will be in school for Indigenous People’s Day. That comes from a conversation from the Abenaki people who feel having students in school with education around indigenous people is more impactful.
“This is just a step towards a more holistic approach to all of the people that live in Vermont at this point. So, recognize the various different cultures that exist in the state at this point, you’re just trying to do also what’s best for students for some consistency, particularly students that have gone to the tech centers and other places,” said Tague.
February break is also being reexamined. Addison County made their break this year stay in the month – and not trickle into town meeting day.
Tague says the rest of the districts in the region are considering this change as well, but not for next year.