Pre-Labor Day Start for Schools Gets School Committee Approval

This fall, Foxborough students will technically go back to school earlier than usual.

The school committee voted on Monday 2-1 to set Sept. 1 as the first day of school for the 2015-16 school year. Staff will return on Aug. 25.

Committee members Stephen Udden and Katie Adair voted for the motion while Tina Belanger voted in the negative. Chair Bruce Gardner abstained to avoid a potential deadlock due to the absence of Beverley Lord.

“I know we’ve heard it’s educationally advantageous, it is just three days in the grand scheme of things and I think our students are going to get 180 days of excellent education whichever way we go,” Belanger said.

While avoiding the traditional day after Labor Day start due to the holiday falling on Sept. 8, the start is not that different compared to this school year. For the 2014-15 school year, students returned on Sept. 2 and staff came back on Aug. 26.

Udden chose to vote for the early start despite agreeing with parents who supported a late start due to pre-arraigned family plans.

“As I understand, it our job is to do what’s best for the academic institution. I’m in favor of going before (Labor Day), even if I’ve talked to people who don’t want it even though I agree with it,” Udden said.

Adair said she could appreciate the dates set aside by families but voted based on the educational component.

“When I view it that way, it appears it makes sense not to go late into the year,” Adair said.

Gardner, despite not voting, said he was swayed to support the traditional post-Labor Day start by families who have already made plans, adding that those were the people he heard the most from.

Superintendent Debra Spinelli said the central office heard from about 11 people with a near 50-50 split on the issue.

With five built-in snow days, the last day of school in 2016 will be June 24, or June 17 with no snow days.

If school were to start after Labor Day, the last possible day would have been June 29 with all the snow days or June 22 if no snow days were used.

Spinelli advised any family affected by the early start to contact the schools and plan ahead.