Stamford Schools Could Remove Columbus Day, Veterans Day Next Year

STAMFORD, CT — Stamford students could be in class for Columbus Day and Veterans Day next year, according to a rough draft of a potential 2023-2024 calendar. Additionally, the district could recognize Eid al-Fitr, a Muslim holiday, with an off-day in April.

In preparation of crafting a calendar for the next school year, Superintendent of Stamford Public Schools Dr. Tamu Lucero and the Stamford Parent-Teacher Council hosted a panel discussion last month.

Lucero stressed that no decisions have been made, and the board of education will have the ultimate say in what the calendar will look like.

"[The school district needs] a starting point to talk about where we would maybe be able to celebrate some of the holidays while we're in school, and some of the holidays we would be off," she said.

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."

During the panel discussion, Lucero presented a powerpoint slide showing 2023-2024 calendars from nearby school districts in Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan, Trumbull and Westport.

None have Eid al-Fitr off, and only Trumbull has Columbus Day off.

Imam Ashraf Nassar of the Islamic Cultural Center of New York-Stamford said during the panel discussion that including Eid al-Fitr would go a long way for Stamford's growing Muslim community. It's one of the biggest Muslim holidays, and marks the end of the month-long dawn-to-sunset fasting of Ramadan.

"It means a lot for the students, because they feel they are included, they are accepted, they are liked. They have the same rights as other beliefs and faith," he said.

Maisam Nouh, who has two children in the district, said they want to feel included.

"This is something that would make us feel like we are part of the community and involved," she said. Nouh also advocated for the inclusion of another holiday, Eid al-Adha.

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."

Lucero said when the district is considering the calendar, it thinks about the continuity of instruction; recognition of religious holidays and cultural celebrations; opportunities to integrate holidays into curriculum; educator and staff needs; family and caregiver needs; state mandates (180 days of school); and contractual requirements.

Some of the district's contracts with various unions state that Veterans Day or Columbus Day are days off.

"We would have to go back and have conversations with those unions before we could officially change the calendar," Lucero noted.

John Corcoran, head of the Stamford teacher's union, said that by taking away some days, it allows the district to add in other holidays "to recognize the diversity of our population in Stamford."

He said Lucero is in a "lose-lose situation," because not everyone will be satisfied with the calendar.

The Rev. Mark Lingle from St. Francis Episcopal Church said space could be made in the calendar, specifically with regards to Good Friday, which the district usually takes off.

"I am from a tradition that has been culturally dominant, and so I think the calendar defers to the Christian calendar a fair amount, and there's perhaps opportunity for space to be made," he said. "Christmas and New Year's are required... I think that Good Friday is the holiest day, but in terms of how it's practiced, I don't know if it's as critical as it once was."

Lingle added that many of the school districts cited are not close to the level of diversity Stamford has.

"I think that that is something that needs to be celebrated in terms of the strength of this community, and while it's difficult in terms of trying to balance everything, it also is expressive of how rich the culture is here," he said.

Lucero acknowledged that Stamford is diverse, and said not everyone will be satisfied with what gets recommended to the board of education.

She said that having the ability to allow people to take a holiday off if they so choose would help.

Lucero also noted that the district is looking to add another professional development day for teachers at the beginning of the school year.

Watch last month's full panel discussion