May 20, 2026 School Committee Meeting

May 20, 2026 School Committee Meeting
Posted on 05/18/2026
QPS Logo

Regular Meeting, 6:30 pm

Coddington Building, School Committee Room

Meeting Agenda

Meeting Minutes

Open Forum Letters

This is a brief letter to state that I am in favor of Lunar New Year being a school holiday.

 

Many members of our community celebrate Lunar New Year.

 

For comparison, the town of Sharon made Yom Kippur a school holiday given the high number of Jewish students they have in their district.

 

I believe that Quincy should do the same for Lunar New Year for similar reasons.

 

Thank you,
Matthew G. Valencius

 

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Attention School Committee members.

I am a parent of a Quincy High School sophomore and have lived in Quincy for over 15 years. I have always found this city to be extremely diverse; with a vast number of cultures, ethnicities, and languages. It is what makes Quincy a fantastic place to live, raise a family, and have your children attend Quincy Public Schools.

I have struggled over the last several years with the challenge the school committee has had in recognizing our Asian population. We are extremely fortunate to have the languages, ethnicities, and traditions that this population brings to the community and a great way to do so is to recognize Lunar New Year as a holiday in the school year calendar.

I have heard the stance from many committee members over the years that “if we say yes to this holiday, we have to say yes to all holidays.”  That is inaccurate. That statement supports the idea that all should be equal. We all get the same amount from the pie. Being equal isn’t being equitable. Recognizing Lunar New Year would demonstrate the school committee, district, and community equity. Data (race/ethnicity data from DESE, census data) shows that we are ignoring facts and in doing so we are ignoring a huge population in our community. How do we justify not recognizing a holiday for a near majority of the population in our Quincy public schools year after year? The committee has an opportunity to stop doing that and do the right thing.

It is time to make this a holiday. Please vote for Lunar New Year for the 2026-2027 school year.

Thank you,

Heather McDuffus

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Dear City Council Members,

I am writing as a long‑time resident, community volunteer, and someone who cares deeply about the well‑being and inclusion of every person who calls our city home. With more than 30% of our population being Asian, it is long overdue that our city formally recognize and honor Chinese New Year as a significant cultural holiday.
Growing up mixed‑race in this community, I experienced severe harassment and witnessed my Chinese classmates endure the same. The bigotry we faced at such young ages was painful and unjust. It is equally painful to see that, in 2026, a holiday so important to such a large portion of our residents still goes unacknowledged by the city. That absence sends a message—intentional or not—that their traditions and identity are less valued.
Today, I work closely with many members of our community through the 5 Loaves, 2 Fishes blessing outreaches, and through Lighthouse Fellowship, which partners with Ember, a Chinese‑speaking church. I see firsthand the richness, generosity, and cultural strength our Chinese neighbors bring to this city. They deserve to feel seen, respected, and celebrated.
Recognizing Chinese New Year is not just symbolic—it is a step toward equity, belonging, and healing. It tells our constituents that their heritage matters. It tells our children that diversity is something to honor, not something to be targeted for.
I respectfully urge the council to take action and formally acknowledge Chinese New Year as a city‑recognized holiday. Our community is ready for this step toward equality, and I believe our leadership is capable of rising to meet that moment.
I look forward to celebrating city‑wide.
Sincerely,
Olivia King 

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Dear Members of the Quincy School Committee,


I am writing to express my profound disappointment and frustration regarding the committee’s continued hesitation to officially recognize Lunar New Year in our school calendar. It has been five years of advocacy, yet every year, the Asian community is met with different excuses as to why this holiday cannot be observed.


With Asians making up 30% to 40% of the student population in Quincy, this is far more than just requesting a day off from school. It is about respecting our community, giving our families a voice, and fostering a true sense of belonging. By continuously denying this recognition, the committee is failing to reflect the demographics of the community it serves and is sending a discouraging message that Asian students and families are not truly valued in this city.


We urge you to do the right thing: vote YES to officially recognize Lunar New Year.  Please don’t shifting the goalposts and making excuses to deny it. 

Please remember that as elected officials, you are accountable to the community. If the committee continues to dismiss our voices and votes against this holiday, the Asian community and our allies will remember who stood with us—and who did not—when the next election arrives.


Thank you for your time, and we look forward to seeing your commitment to true inclusivity in Quincy.


Sincerely,

Shirley Lo

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Hello Quincy School Committee Members,
This is Griffin Vanze - I am a Quincy resident and the father of a kindergartener at Wollaston Primary School. I am writing to advocate for Lunar New Year to be recognized as a holiday in the Quincy Public School calendar.
Quincy is home to the highest per-capita population of Asian Americans in Massachusetts. It thrives from this diversity, from its many restaurants to the annual moon festival it hosts in August to all of the businesses and organizations (like Chinese language schools, dragon dance schools, and martial arts classes) that allow residents partake in the rich heritage of many Asian cultures. It is only fair that we recognize Asia's most important holiday, Lunar New Year, as a day for our students to celebrate and spend time with their families.
I hope you will choose to recognize Lunar New Year as a holiday for Quincy Public Schools at your upcoming meeting on 5/20.
Thank you,
Griffin Vanze

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Dear School Committee Members,

 

Thank you for your service. My name is Satia Marotta. I'm contacting you as a concerned citizen and I wish to voice my whole-hearted support for adding Lunar New Year to the list of officially recognized holidays in Quincy Public Schools.
Last night, I took my dog for a walk at Kincaide Park and it was a stunning display of a thriving, diverse community. There were people from all walks of life, all races, and faiths. There were kids playing soccer and on scooters, parents socializing and cheering for their teams, teenagers at the basketball courts, older and younger folks walking alone or with friends, and I felt like I truly belonged here. When people who look, think, and believe differently are just able to enjoy a gorgeous spring evening together, we're all able to feel like we belong. That's what we deserve.
Lunar New Year is important to the members of my community, so it is important to me. Lunar New Year should be a recognized public school holiday when nearly 40% of the QPS community observes it. Thank you for honoring our differences and representing our interests.
Best regards, 
Satia A. Marotta, PhD

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Dear Members of the School Committee and Mayor Koch, 

 

I am a property owner in Quincy, and had raised two children in this city. I ask that you support the recognition of Lunar New Year as an official holiday in the Quincy Public School calendar. When I considered what school district to send my children to, an important factor was whether or not my children would be seen and celebrated. The lack of an official Lunar New Year holiday told me QPS did not celebrate my children's diversity and heritage. Additionally, Lunar New Year as a holiday does not impact the 180 days of school. As a result, I am left surprised and confused as to the opposition to this proposal. 
I implore you to call for a vote, listen to the voters, and do the right thing. 
Best regards,
Carol Tsoi 

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 Dear School Committee Members and Mr. Mayor

I was truly inspired by all the speakers who spoke out at the last meeting and the letters that poured in advocating for Lunar New Year.  We heard from parents, grandparents, teachers, QPS students, and our neighbors Their voices made one thing very clear: this holiday holds deep cultural and personal significance for the Asian community. 

I think the positions you hold give you the power to make a difference in many young lives not only in their academic but also in their social and mental wellbeing.  Your votes not only impact on the policies in our schools, but they reassure students that they are central in your decision making and they matter.  When you say you can’t not pass Lunar New Year because not all schools have that many Asians who celebrate and you can’t close those schools down. Perhaps, these Asian families cannot afford the Squantum or Merrymount housing prices or they simply need to rent in areas where rentals are available.  Zip codes shouldn't matter, prospective matters!

Some of you have mentioned that you can’t support the observance of Lunar New Year because over 60% of students are considered low income and need school lunches.  But the number of people observing Good Friday is low, as many have suggested over the years, why can’t we make Good Friday an excusable holiday and observe Lunar New Year?  Good Friday and Christmas are observed while a single Asian holiday requested by the community for the past 5 years has not. This is not equality!

Some of you mentioned that you can’t support the Asian Lunar New Year on our school calendars because there’s also those students who make up of the 1%, 5%, maybe 20%, and those students count too. So you wish to ignore 40% of the students and do absolutely nothing to honor their long overdue request. This is not equality!

I have deep concerns that you would consider changing the rules to needing 5 out of 7 votes now instead of the usual 4 out of 7 historically, especially now with new members who support and understand the importance of this cultural holiday.  I don’t think you guys are playing fair and maybe that is why there is such outrage from some folks. I do think it’s important that both sides put aside their differences and tone down the hateful messages to work together. We need to do what is right for these kids and that is to put Lunar New Year on our school calendars!

Thank you for listening! I appreciate your time away from your families so we may have better schools. I urge you to do the right thing.

Kim Horrigan

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Dear all,

My name is Wincy Wu, and I am a Quincy resident. As an immigrant from Hong Kong, Lunar New Year holds an incredibly deep cultural and personal meaning for my family, much like Thanksgiving or Christmas does for others.

Lunar New Year is a time for family reunion. The first day of the new year is meant to be spent entirely with loved ones and friends, celebrating fresh beginnings. Currently, because it is a regular school day, families are often forced to alter their plans. Students face the stressful choice between missing schoolwork and fully participating in their cultural heritage.

By making Lunar New Year a school holiday, QPS would ease this burden for thousands of Asian-American students and staff, allowing them to celebrate fully without academic penalty. It would also send a powerful message of respect and visibility to Quincy’s diverse population.

Thank you for your time, leadership, and dedication to our community. I truly hope you will consider adjusting the school calendar to honor this important day.


Best regards, 
Wincy Wu 
Community Ambassador QARI 

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Dear Members of the Quincy School Committee,

My name is Christina Duncan, and I am a lifelong Quincy resident and the proud mother of a Quincy Public Schools student. I am writing to strongly support making Lunar New Year an official school holiday.

Lunar New Year is one of the most important celebrations for many families in our city, especially those with roots in East and Southeast Asia. It is a time for family reunions, honoring elders, and celebrating cultural traditions that have been passed down for generations.

Each year, I see how many students and families must choose between attending school and fully participating in these celebrations. This not only impacts attendance but can make students feel that their culture is less valued than others. Recognizing Lunar New Year as a school holiday would send a clear message that Quincy embraces and respects the diversity of its community.

As someone who has lived here my whole life, I have seen Quincy grow into a vibrant, multicultural city. Our schools should reflect that richness by honoring traditions that are meaningful to so many of our families. This change would promote inclusion, foster understanding, and strengthen the sense of belonging for all students.

I respectfully urge you to vote in favor of adding Lunar New Year to the school calendar. It is a small but powerful step toward equity and cultural respect in our schools.

Thank you for your time and dedication to our community.

Sincerely,

Christina Duncan

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Hi 
I have been part of QPS since kindergarten, and I have witnessed a lot of bullying and, sadly, was bullied as an Asian student. Sadly, this issue persists in our schools today. I hope we can help Asian students feel like they belong and know that their voices matter.

The Asian community has requested that the Lunar New Year be included in our school calendar, but this has not yet happened. Around 30-40% of our students are Asian, and this request is about more than just getting a day off. It is about showing respect and giving the Asian community a voice and a sense of belonging in Quincy. Numerous studies show a positive correlation between inclusion and academic performance.

I urge you to advocate for the recognition of this holiday for the Asian community. With the formation of a new committee and enough votes to pass this inclusion, there is a proposal to change the voting requirement from 4 out of 7 to 5 out of 7, which is not fair.

Please listen to the heartfelt testimonies shared at the last school committee meetings. Parents, grandparents, students, and teachers spoke about the significance of the Lunar New Year to the students and the Asian community. It is essential that we respect and recognize this important cultural event.
Thank you
Kelly Hitchcock

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Members of the School Committee,
I urge you to ensure that the public school calendar for the 2026-2027 school year represents the student body.  With nearly 40% of the school community identifying as Asian American, this will not be possible until Lunar New Year is an official Quincy Public School holiday with schools district-wide closed that day.
I have heard the concerns about equitable treatment of all ethnicities and child care challenges for working parents.  Given that other cultural holidays, that are not federally observed, are granted a day off from school, this is another reason to ensure that we are being equitable and serving the needs of our community demographics.  
Regarding child care challenges, this is an issue for each day school is closed and wouldn't be specific to Lunar New Year.  I am confident that, as with other days off from school, our community will come together to assist with child care needs.  As we have seen many community programs in our area set up camps on days that a majority of parents and guardians must work, such as Veterans Day, Winter break, February break, Good Friday, and Memorial Day, this would also be possible for Lunar New Year.  If this is still a concern, let's use our time and energy to find solutions for working parents for all school holidays.
Please end this inequality today and add Lunar New Year as a day off starting next school year.
Thank you,

Jen Torres  

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Dear School Committee Members,

My name is Meghan Minehan, and I reside in the Montclair area of Quincy.

I am writing to express my strong support for recognizing Lunar New Year as an approved holiday in Quincy. Inclusion is a value I hold dearly, and I appreciate the progress our city has made in this area.

While I am unable to attend tomorrow’s meeting, I wanted to formally voice my support and ask that you take it into consideration. I recognize that municipal decisions involve balancing various priorities and perspectives, and I appreciate your time and consideration of my input.

Thank you,
Meghan Minehan  

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Dear Members of the School Committee,
I am writing to advocate for the students and families affected by the school committee's collective continued objection to recognizing Lunar New Year within the calendar. 
As a former educator and resident of Quincy for over fifteen years, I find the negative discourse and commentary surrounding this holiday dishearting and racially tonedeaf. Given the most recent delay in supporting the students has occurred during Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Heritage Month should not be lost on any of us. 
Please refer to the selection from the school district's mission statement below. 
"We strive to help children discover and explore their gifts and talents and to value and respect each other's uniqueness." 
 We are neglecting the cultural significance of our student body which negatively impacts social and emotional development. By choosing to ignore this holiday, we are failing to respect their uniqueness. Our students consistently outperform the state average on MCAS scores and continue to bring positive attention to this district and this city inside and out of the classroom. They show up for us, and passing this measure is an opportunity for the adults charged with modeling emotional maturity to show up for them.
The current students, families and alumni have pleaded for this cultural recognition. I hope you will vote on and pass this measure at tomorrow's school committee meeting.
Best,
Jackie Carvey
 

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Dear Mayor Koch and Members of the Quincy School Committee,
We are writing as a family and long-standing members of the Quincy community to formally advocate for the recognition of Lunar New Year as an official holiday on the Quincy Public Schools calendar.
As you are aware, Asian Americans make up approximately 30% of our city's population and nearly 40% of the public school student body. In a community with such a significant Asian influence, officially honoring this holiday is a powerful act of respect and representation.
Lunar New Year is the most important cultural celebration for our family. It is a sacred time of renewal where multiple generations gather to "open the new year" together. Much like the traditions of New Year’s Day on January 1st, it is a period centered on family unity, cultural heritage, and shared hope for the future. Currently, our children are often forced to choose between participating in these vital family traditions or missing schoolwork and exams.
Beyond our own household, recognizing Lunar New Year brings immense value to the entire Quincy community:
  • Inclusivity and Belonging: Official recognition signals to the thousands of Asian students and families in Quincy that their culture is seen and valued as a core part of the city’s identity.
  • Educational Value: It provides a unique opportunity for all students to learn about global traditions, fostering the cultural competency necessary in today’s diverse world.
  • Economic Impact: Celebrations bring residents to our local businesses and restaurants, highlighting the vibrant contributions of the Asian community to Quincy’s prosperity.
Quincy has a proud history of being a welcoming home for all.  By joining other Massachusetts districts like Brookline, Newton, and Lexington in recognizing this holiday, you can ensure that our school calendar truly reflects the community it serves.
Thank you for your time, your service to our city, and your thoughtful consideration of this request.
Sincerely,
The Chan Family
Quincy Ward 2

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Two weeks ago, all members of the School Committee shook the hands, looked in the eyes, and formally recognized 39 QPS students who have gone above and beyond to connect, to understand, and build bridges between cultures.

The members of the School Committee who themselves have demonstrated continued unwillingness to build bridges between Quincy’s Asian community and American Christian community should step down from School Committee leadership. 

Please vote yes to officially recognize Lunar New Year as an official holiday in the academic calendar or step aside so that this long-overdue bridge can finally be built.

Thank you,
Stuart Rowe