School Committee Deadlocked on Good Friday Off Day

MANSFIELD, MA - School on Good Friday will go on as planned in Mansfield next year.

Monday night, a motion to turn the holiday into a half day failed on a 2-2 vote. Chairperson Keira O’Neil and Lynn Cavicchi voted in favor while Linda Fernando and Jennifer Walsh were the dissenting votes.

The topic of changing Good Friday from a full day of classes to an early release came from Superintendent Zeff Gianetti, who said there was a high amount of student and staff absent this year. Overall, 20 percent of students and 126 staff members were out, both well above the daily average, according to Gianetti.

“Based on the numbers for the last two years I’d say there is no number that you need to meet for a day of low attendance but 20 percent of the students is pretty significant,” Gianetti said.

The student absences saw a jump from 359 last year to 800 this year, with the majority coming from the high school.

“That’s a crazy jump, it sounds like something else was in play,” Fernando.

“We’re not in the position to question people,” Gianetti said.

According to Gianetti, the administration believes that a half-day could solve the issue and allow students and staff to use the afternoon to attend religious obligations.

Due to the deadlock, the motion did not pass, but it may be brought back up for consideration by a member that voted no.

Good Friday 2017 is April 14 and is the last day of school before April vacation.