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Meeting Date:
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6/19/2019 - 7:00 PM
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Category:
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SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORTS
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Type:
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Action
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Subject:
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12.4 Add the Muslim holiday of Eid-al-Fitr, which marks the end of the Muslim period of Ramadan, as a recognized religious observance day for the purpose of closing school.
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District Goals:
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Enclosure
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N/A
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File Attachment:
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Rationale:
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To alleviate the circumstances whereby a significant number of students in the Yonkers City Public Schools are forced to choose between a religious observance and attendance in school.
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Funding:
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N/A
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Resolution:
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WHEARAS, pursuant to Education Law § 3210, the Board of Education of the Yonkers City School District shall determine whether school shall be held at an individual public school, or district-wide, on any day where “if school were in session, absenteeism may result in the waste of educational resources because a considerable proportion of the student population is unlikely to attend because of a religious or cultural day of observance.”
WHEREAS, the District Policy 4110 of the Yonkers City School District sets forth that the school calendar for each ensuing year shall be prepared by the Superintendent of Schools and presented to the Board of Education for approval, and that such calendar shall include, among other things, approved religious observance days;
WHEARES, a significant number of families whose children attend the Yonkers City Public Schools are of Islamic faith, and/or identify themselves as of the Muslim religion;
WHEREAS, children of particular faith and religious practice should not be forced to choose between observing that faith and attending school, and the Yonkers City Public Schools has adhered to this principle, among other things, by directing that school be closed to accommodate other religious holidays where significant portions of the student population would be absent;
WHEREAS, the absence of a significant number of students from school due to religious observance, or forcing students to choose between religious observance and attending school, would pose a material interference and disruption to the function of a school, including its administration and staff, and would impact how state-mandated curriculum is implemented within the school;
WHEREAS, the Muslim religious holiday of Eid-al-Fitr is recognized by those identifying themselves as Muslim as marking the end of the period of Ramadan, a month-long period within which practicing and observant Muslims do not consume food or drink from sunrise to sunset, and the end of that period is signified by engaging in certain religious observance;
WHEREAS, the Muslim religious holiday of Eid-al-Fitr is a holiday within the Muslim faith as a day when families practicing in that religion may be forced to choose between their children participating in those events as part of their religious observance, and therefore not attending school, or alternatively attending school and therefore not being able to engage in their religious observance;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that families and students within the Yonkers City School District should not be placed in a position where they must choose between their religion and the education provided to by the Yonkers City School District; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that in accordance therewith, the Muslim holiday of Eid-al-Fitr is to be recognized as a religious observance day, as that term is used under District Policy 4110; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Superintendent of Schools is directed to recognize Eid-al-Fitr on the academic calendar of the Yonkers City School District, beginning with the 2019-2020 school year, and continuing each school year thereafter, as an approved religious observance day, consistent with this Resolution.
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Approvals:
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Recommended By:
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Signed By:
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Dr. Edwin M. Quezada - Superintendent of Schools
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Vote Results:
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| Original Motion | Member Andrea Brown Moved, Member Dr._Ammir Rabadi seconded to approve the Original motion 'WHEARAS, pursuant to Education Law § 3210, the Board of Education of the Yonkers City School District shall determine whether school shall be held at an individual public school, or district-wide, on any day where “if school were in session, absenteeism may result in the waste of educational resources because a considerable proportion of the student population is unlikely to attend because of a religious or cultural day of observance.”
WHEREAS, the District Policy 4110 of the Yonkers City School District sets forth that the school calendar for each ensuing year shall be prepared by the Superintendent of Schools and presented to the Board of Education for approval, and that such calendar shall include, among other things, approved religious observance days;
WHEARES, a significant number of families whose children attend the Yonkers City Public Schools are of Islamic faith, and/or identify themselves as of the Muslim religion;
WHEREAS, children of particular faith and religious practice should not be forced to choose between observing that faith and attending school, and the Yonkers City Public Schools has adhered to this principle, among other things, by directing that school be closed to accommodate other religious holidays where significant portions of the student population would be absent;
WHEREAS, the absence of a significant number of students from school due to religious observance, or forcing students to choose between religious observance and attending school, would pose a material interference and disruption to the function of a school, including its administration and staff, and would impact how state-mandated curriculum is implemented within the school;
WHEREAS, the Muslim religious holiday of Eid-al-Fitr is recognized by those identifying themselves as Muslim as marking the end of the period of Ramadan, a month-long period within which practicing and observant Muslims do not consume food or drink from sunrise to sunset, and the end of that period is signified by engaging in certain religious observance;
WHEREAS, the Muslim religious holiday of Eid-al-Fitr is a holiday within the Muslim faith as a day when families practicing in that religion may be forced to choose between their children participating in those events as part of their religious observance, and therefore not attending school, or alternatively attending school and therefore not being able to engage in their religious observance;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that families and students within the Yonkers City School District should not be placed in a position where they must choose between their religion and the education provided to by the Yonkers City School District; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that in accordance therewith, the Muslim holiday of Eid-al-Fitr is to be recognized as a religious observance day, as that term is used under District Policy 4110; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Superintendent of Schools is directed to recognize Eid-al-Fitr on the academic calendar of the Yonkers City School District, beginning with the 2019-2020 school year, and continuing each school year thereafter, as an approved religious observance day, consistent with this Resolution.'. Upon a Roll-Call Vote being taken, the vote was: Aye: 6 Nay: 0. | | The motion Carried 6 - 0 | | | | | Dr. Rosalba Corrado Del Vecchio | Yes | | Dr._Ammir Rabadi | Yes | | Kevin Cacace | Yes | | Andrea Brown | Yes | | Rev. Steve Lopez | Yes | | Judith_Ramos Meier | Yes | |
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