Montgomery County School Board members voted Tuesday to add a “professional” day for teachers, so Muslim students can celebrate one of their holidays without missing classes. News 4’s Chris Gordon reports.
After many years of debate, the Montgomery County Public Schools Board voted to close schools on an Islamic high holiday.
But the school system is not officially recognizing Eid al-Adha.
A school board member proposed a professional day for teachers that will fall on Sept. 12, 2016. The date coincides with Eid al-Adha. The school board passed the proposal in a 6-2 vote Tuesday and received a standing ovation from the audience in attendance, News4's Chris Gordon reported.
"Our diversity includes the ethnic, religious diversity that has been growing in Montgomery County," board member Christopher Barclay said.
The board has not decided whether students will have the Eid holiday off in years to come.
In recent years, parents and students have asked the board to close schools in observance of Eid al-Adha. Students previously had to take an excused absence from public school to celebrate the holiday.
"I think what you've seen is that there were institutional racism forces and they got beat today," Muslim leader Saqib Ali said.
