Columbus Day, Veterans Day Back In Draft Calendars For Stamford Public Schools

STAMFORD, CT — In late November, Stamford Public Schools hosted a community conversation centered around crafting the school calendars for the next two years.

Notably, there were discussions about having students in class for both Columbus Day and Veterans Day, and recognizing Muslim holidays Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha for the first time.

However, the latest draft calendars from the district include Columbus Day, Veterans Day and the Muslim holidays. The last day of school would tentatively scheduled for June 12, 2023, and June 16, 2024.

Eid al-Fitr would be recognized with a day off in April. Eid al-Adha is recognized on the calendar in June, but classes would be held.

Diwali, an Indian holiday observed in November, was added to the new draft calendars with no classes scheduled.

>>>View the draft 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 calendars

During the community conversation in November, Dr. Alfred Fusco, past president of UNICO National in Stamford, the Italian service organization, and chairman of the Columbus Coalition of Stamford, expressed disappointment that Columbus Day and Veterans Day could be removed.

"It's a little disconcerting to me that two of the holidays that are basically American holidays, not religious, but American holidays — Columbus Day and Veterans Day — have been left off the calendar," he said. "You must keep these two holidays on the calendar. We must teach it to our children that these are American values, that these are important American values."

Superintendent of Stamford Public Schools Dr. Tamu Lucero said at the time that no final decisions were being made, and the board of education will have the ultimate say in what the calendar will look like.

Other Stamford Italian-Americans protested the potential omission of Columbus Day at a Board of Education meeting on Dec. 6, the Stamford Advocate reported.

In her weekly message to the school district on Dec. 16, Superintendent of Stamford Public Schools Dr. Tamu Lucero said the district plans to discuss the draft calendars with staff during a follow-up session on Jan. 9.

School officials will also continue to meet with families and community members who want to share their thoughts on the calendar. Public feedback can also be submitted through email.

The Board of Education Labor Committee will hold a discussion on the calendars during its meeting on Jan. 10. Students will also have a chance to voice feedback that day through student voice sessions, Lucero said.

"The goal of this process is to create a calendar that prioritizes continuity of education, while at the same time acknowledging Stamford’s rich cultural diversity," Lucero said in her Dec. 23 weekly message to the district.

According to state statute, individual school districts have local control over closing for holidays that fall on a school day outside of December and January. However, if classes are held, the board of education requires that each school hold "a suitable nonsectarian educational program in observance of each holiday."