JERSEY CITY — Council President Rolando Lavarro introduced a resolution at the Sept. 9 meeting asking the Jersey City school district to close public schools in observance of the Muslim holiday of Eid al Adha.
Over the last several weeks, the Board of Education has discussed closing schools for Eid, after community members signed a petition in June in support of the closure.
The Board of Education is scheduled to meet on September 17 and will vote to add this holiday closure to the public school calendar.
Jersey City Board of Education President, Vidya Gangadin, said, “We are delighted to propose the closing of schools in observance of Eid al Adha this year as we continue to review how we recognize our other major observances for the following school year. “
Jersey City superintendent Dr. Marcia Lyles said she also supports the collaborative agreement between the city and school district to engage the diverse communities of Jersey City.
If approved by the school board, Jersey City Public Schools will join several other districts in New Jersey, Vermont, Massachusetts, and New York in closing their public schools in observance of the Muslim holiday. The City Council resolution also supports public school closure for the Hindu holiday of Diwali. This year, Diwali coincides with Veteran’s Day on Nov. 11, which has already been a designated as public school observed holiday.
The school closing will result the school year being extended one additional day, from June 22 to 23, if no emergency days are needed throughout the year.
For more information on the 2015-2016 Jersey City Public School calendar and school closures, please visit http://www.jcboe.org/boe2015/.
City asks schools to give off for observance of Eid al Adha
