Council Rock To Name Principal, Consider Revised 2023-24 Calendar

NEWTOWN, Pa. — The Council Rock School Board will meet on Monday, August 8 beginning
at 7:30 p.m. at the Chancellor Center at 30 North Chancellor Street, Newtown.

In its final meeting before the start of the new school year, the board will hear from Superintendent Dr. Andy Sanko on preparations for the upcoming school year, will act on a contract with the Springtime School and will handle a number of routine matters.

The board is also expected to fill several open positions in the district including the appointment of a principal at the Churchville Elementary School and the appointment of a Security Manager/Safety & Security Coordinator.

The board is also expected to approve a revised school calendar for 2023-24 that includes a day off from school for the Islamic holiday of Eid on Wednesday, April 10, 2024.

Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, a 30 day period where Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset, abstaining from food, water, and unhealthy actions. The day is marked with prayers, family gatherings and big meals.

In July the board approved the addition of Eid to the school calendar as a holiday and a day off from school beginning in 2023-24 after listening to students and residents requesting that the holiday be added to the calendar.

“If you’re going to represent one religion you need to represent them all. That’s just the way it works in this country,” said board member Mike Thorwart.

While there wasn’t enough time to make it happen for this school year, Dr. Sanko promised to ask the district’s teachers to be mindful of the holiday and not to schedule tests or to assign homework to free the district’s Muslim students to celebrate the holiday with their families.

Also at Monday’s meeting, the board will vote on a contract with the Sheraton Valley Forge as the host venue for the Council Rock South 2023 Prom and a contract with the Princeton Hyatt Regency to host the 2023 Council Rock North Junior Prom.

The board will also act on a number of personnel actions, hear from the public and conduct first readings of student wellness, personnel files, attendance at meetings via electronic communications and change to responsibilities policies.

The meeting is open to the public.