Wayland families press School Committee to recognize Diwali, Eid

WAYLAND — October 8, 2025 — Wayland families press School Committee to recognize Diwali and Eid on the school calendar. Wayland High School senior Vaidh Acharya, whose family has lived in town for 47 years, asked the committee Oct. 8 to formally recognize Diwali, citing 1.5 billion observers worldwide and recent moves by Natick, Lexington, Acton and the states of Pennsylvania, Connecticut and California. His father, Nish Acharya, said a Change.org petition had collected 170 Wayland signatures and urged the board to consider a proclamation tied to the Oct. 20 holiday, calling a day off "the ultimate recognition, but … one of many things we can do." Parent Estee Al-Halabi asked the committee to add the two Eid holidays as well, and a second Muslim parent, returning for a third year, called selective recognition "pure discrimination." Chair Erin closed public comment without committing to a vote or agenda date. The committee also heard a technology update on its summer PowerSchool and ParentSquare rollout from director of technology Jen, reviewed draft goals from Superintendent David Fleischman, and entered executive session on collective bargaining with the Wayland Educational Association.