Brookline School Committee News

School Calendar:
The School Committee continued its discussion of the 2025-2026 school calendar. The committee previously discussed the calendar at the August 8 Workshop, and the October 10, December 5 and December 19 meetings, and considered extensive public comment on the draft calendars over the past several months. The School Committee voted to adopt a school calendar that designates Eid al-Fitr as a Category I holiday for the 2025-2026 school year.

2025 Legislative Priorities:
The School Committee will host their annual Meeting with Legislators on February 10. In preparation for that meeting, they discussed draft legislative priorities. The Town is forecasting significant budget challenges in FY2026 and so the legislative priorities focus on the fiscal health and stability of the school district.

Davis Path Footbridge Replacement Project:

The Brookline Department of Public Works continues to seek funding for this important project that will restore pedestrian access over the MBTA tracks from White Place (near Emerson Park) to Route 9 (across the street from Old Lincoln School). The original bridge, built in 1912, was deemed structurally unsafe and demolished in 2020. The Committee voted unanimously to issue a support letter for the DPW’s application to the US Department of Transportation Rebuilding America's Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program for funds for this project.

The School Committee will hold regular meetings on:

• Thursday, January 23

• Thursday, February 6

• Thursday, February 13

All three of these meetings will include presentations about the FY2026 Budget, including a Public Hearing scheduled for February 13. There will be time on the agenda at each of these meetings for public comment on the budget.

The schedule of School Committee meetings is available on the Town's agenda center. As each meeting approaches, the agenda and supporting documents are uploaded. Members of the public are welcome to join any meeting in-person (on the 5th floor of Brookline Town Hall) or watch/listen remotely (through Brookline Interactive Group's broadcast or live stream).

The Brookline School Committee has six active subcommittees, one active Ad Hoc Committee (the Climate and Sustainability Task Force), and a Communications Team. Here is a snapshot of upcoming subcommittee meetings.

• Curriculum Subcommittee Meeting: Tuesday, January 14, 4:00pm, Town Hall and Zoom

• Finance Subcommittee Meeting: Wednesday, January 15, 5:00pm, Zoom

• Climate and Sustainability Task Force Meeting: Thursday, January 16, 5:00pm, Town Hall and Zoom

• Capital Subcommittee: Wednesday, January 22, 4:00pm, Zoom

• Policy Subcommittee: Monday, January 27, 5:00pm, Town Hall and Zoom