'We Are Listening:' East Brunswick BOE Says As Muslim Parents Request Eid Holiday

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ — Board members on Thursday told the community they were listening to their concerns and hoped to have a solution soon to their requests for a school holiday on Eid.

“Your voices are always going to be heard,” Board president Laurie Lachs said after around 62 residents spoke during the Board of Education meeting on Jan. 19.

After hearing comments from the community members, the BOE tabled a financial service resolution awarding a contract to Russell Marketing to provide research to the district on the school calendar. More: Add Eid To School Holiday Calendar, Residents Urge East Brunswick BOE

In 2016-2017 the district hired the East Rutherford-based company to conduct a survey asking which days of observance were important to community members. Based on the survey, the district works on the school calendar.

The current contract was for the company to work with the district to formulate a questionnaire to be sent to district families. The company is expected to provide "an independent, unbiased assessment.” to the school district so that the priorities and interests of the “families and staff can be better understood.”

Board member Mark Csizmar called for the item to be tabled after hearing public comments.

“I appreciate people coming out tonight and this is something I’d like to look into a little bit more,” Csizmar said.

BOE member Jeffrey Winston agreed with Csizmar. “As chair of the calendar committee, I believe this particular item circumvents my particular responsibility to that committee,” Winston said. “I look forward to addressing this issue for the group.”

During Thursday’s Board of Education meeting, community members asked the district to consider their request for an Eid holiday as many Muslim children have to miss school to celebrate with family.

Almost 62 community members, including parents and students, appealed to the BOE.

"We all appreciate the folks coming our to speak today," BOE member Barbara Reiss said. "That we are quiet does not mean we are not listening. If it’s something important to you, it’s important to us."

Muslim students who spoke during the meeting told BOE members they often have to miss classes if they want to celebrate with family. Eid currently counts as excused absence for students who take the day off to celebrate.

In New Jersey around 27 districts have added Eid to their school calendar, according to the NJ chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

According to CAIR, New Jersey has the highest population density in America of people who identify as Muslim.

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