The Hillsborough Board of Education is responsible for creating a calendar every year. It features important dates for staff and students to have as reference points when deciding if their personal schedules overlap with the schools agenda. The total number of days of school required by New Jersey and Hillsborough schools is 180 days, and the planned amount of days for each school year determines the length of school breaks and holidays. This time frame serves as the basis for how many days we are allowed to have off for snow days and other instances.
One of the factors Mr. Volpe and the Board of Education looks into making sure that there is equity among the days our school recognises as off days. Jeffery DiLollo, Principal of Hillsborough High School said, “As it pertains to the diversity of our school, key religious holidays also come into play when the BOE maps out the calendar for the school year.”
During this process, the Hillsborough BOE came to the realization that spring break was potentially an area that could be shortened, so the end of the school year would not extend farther in the month of June. The BOE asked the community for input. Collectively, the district needed to decide between two options, elongating the school year by a few days in favor of a longer spring break. Or, having an abbreviated spring break to allow for the school year end to be earlier.
Paul Marini, Hillsborough BOE member said, “We have two calendars. Option one is the shortened spring break, and option two is referred to as a full spring break. Between the members of the board we need to agree to move forward with one.”
The decision of the board was influenced by the voices of the student body. According to DiLollo, Student Representative Cassandra Montoya gathered results of a poll she conducted with over 400 students participants, including freshman, sophomores, juniors and seniors. “The majority of students preferred to have an extended spring break as a much needed rest in the year as opposed to the plan to shorten the length of their holiday,” DiLollo said. “Montoya’s effort to carry the views of the student body heavily influenced getting their shared majority opinion to the BOE to make their final decision.”
Montoya shared her role in voicing the opinions of the students. “I love being looked at in a mature and serious environment and being able to represent everyone who otherwise may not have had a say,” Montoya said. “58.1% of responders from my google form wanted a longer break and later end to the year. After presenting that info to the board yesterday, they ended up deciding on that calendar for the 2026-27 school year. It is super cool to have a voice on the board and one of my favorite parts of this year. I’m so happy that I can make an impact,” she said.
The final 2026-2027 district calendar is available on the district website. https://www.htps.us/o/htps/page/district-calendars-marking-period-dates
