The Board of Education voted at its March 1 meeting to approve the 2022-23 school calendar, with December 14 to be a day off for Newtown Public School students and a professional development day for educators.

That date this December marks ten years since the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School that took the lives of 20 children and six educators.

Superintendent of Schools Dr Lorrie Rodrigue presented the idea to the school board.

Last year, the school board voted to have December 14, 2021 be a remote learning day for Newtown Public School students. At the time, Rodrigue explained the date of the tragedy has typically been an in-school learning day, and last year a series of anonymous threats across the state led to it being a remote learning day.

Rodrigue said this week that she heard feedback from community members that the remote learning day provided a sense of calm for parents.

She also said during Tuesday's meeting that changing the day to be off for students and a professional learning day for educators can be changed in future school years. The superintendent shared she has heard from teachers that they prefer to be together on the date of the tragedy.

During board discussion, board member Dan Cruson suggested the district could encourage “a day of kindness” for students to observe while not in school on the day. He said encouraging giving back to the community could be one way to acknowledge the date and its significance.

Board of Education Chair Deborra Zukowski said the idea is something that should be brought up with the district’s next superintendent of schools, since Rodrigue is set to retire at the end of this school year.

Other changes approved with the calendar include a half day of staff development on September 23 with a three-hour early release for students and a three-hour early release on February 17 for both students and staff, according to an announcement from the superintendent following the meeting.

Education Reporter Eliza Hallabeck can be reached at eliza@thebee.com.