Medford Public Schools to Close on Good Friday Due to Staff Shortage

District cites high number of expected absences on the holiday as reason for canceling classes

Apr. 2, 2026 at 10:10pm

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An abstract, out-of-focus photograph showing the warm, muted tones of an empty school hallway, with soft pools of yellow and orange light, conveying a sense of stillness and solitude on an unexpected day off.The unexpected closure of Medford Public Schools on Good Friday leaves classrooms and hallways empty, creating challenges for families but also a moment of quiet reflection.Boston Today

Medford Public Schools announced that all schools in the district will be closed on Good Friday due to a districtwide staff shortage. The superintendent cited an expected high number of absences on the holiday as the reason for the closure, stating there would not be enough staff to safely and effectively support teaching, learning, and building operations for students.

Why it matters

The decision to close schools on short notice creates challenges for families and disrupts the school calendar. It highlights the ongoing staffing challenges many school districts are facing, especially around managing staff attendance on religious holidays.

The details

Medford Public Schools leadership said they had been closely monitoring staff attendance on all religious holidays, including Good Friday. After meetings with union leaders, the absence totals continued to climb at an even higher rate, prompting the decision to cancel classes. The district and school offices will remain open on Friday, but all after-school activities will be cancelled.

  • Medford Public Schools announced the closure on Thursday, April 2, 2026.
  • The school day will be made up at the end of the school year, pushing the last day of classes in Medford back to June 25, 2026.

The players

Suzanne Galusi

Superintendent of Medford Public Schools.

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What they’re saying

“We recognize that canceling school on limited notice creates challenges for students and families, and we apologize for the impact this has caused, especially our families with young students.”

— Suzanne Galusi, Superintendent

“In the coming weeks, the district will be further reviewing our current policies and procedures relating to the school calendar and the use of religious holidays to ensure we can best support our students and Medford community.”

— Suzanne Galusi, Superintendent

What’s next

The district will be reviewing its policies and procedures around the school calendar and use of religious holidays in the coming weeks.

The takeaway

This closure highlights the ongoing staffing challenges many school districts are facing, especially around managing staff attendance on religious holidays. It also underscores the need for districts to proactively plan and communicate with families when making decisions that disrupt the school calendar.