Salem Schools To Consider 'November Break' In 2022-23 School Year

SALEM, MA — A proposal to bring back the "November Break" in Salem Public Schools could be part of the 2022-23 school calendar proposal to the School Committee on Feb. 28.

Superintendent Steve Zrike told Patch on Wednesday that the week off shortly after Halloween — which was used to assess the start of 2020-21 mostly remote-learning COVID-19 pandemic year — could make a comeback next year if there is interest among families and staff.

"We did want to take an opportunity to gauge where people are on that," Zrike said. "We did have some really positive feedback about that break two years ago when we had it. We heard from some folks who think we should revisit that."

Zrike said the Saltonstall School has traditionally had a November break unique to that school and then it was expanded to the full district during the return the six months when schools were first closed because of the COVID-19 health crisis.

This past year, there was no district November break. A "wellness day" was later added to give students and staff an additional breather ahead of Thanksgiving, however, that short notice did draw some ire from families forced to come up with daycare on short notice.

Zrike told Patch the 2022-23 school year presents an ideal week in November for a potential break because Election Day — typically a no-school day in Salem — and Veterans Day fall on the same week.

He said the School Committee is expected to take up the school calendar on the same night it hears public comment and makes a decision on the district mask policy inside school buildings with the statewide order expiring that same day.

"I think the Committee will make an informed decision based on the information it has," Zrike said. "There will be an opportunity for public comment on the 28th.

"I know people have a lot of passion about this."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)