MLK Day likely to be school day
The school board’s proposed 2003-2004 school calendar, which has already met with controversy from the teachers union, also risks alienating the black community because it does not include the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
“Personally, I think it’s a national holiday and should be observed with no work, but it’s a school board decision,” said Warren County High School grade level principal Jeff Martin, the only black administrator in the school system.
The proposed calendar was passed on a provisional basis by the school board last month. In addition to the omission of the King holiday, teachers union officials have voiced several objections to the calendar, including that the school year starts too early (Aug. 11), does not include proposed extra in-service days, provides an inconvenient date and time for parent-teacher conferences and that it does not provide an abbreviated day before Christmas break.
The Dr. Martin Luther King holiday was first observed by the school system during the 2000-2001 school year. It was also during this year that Memorial Day was first observed. As both holidays were approved by the board at the same time, board member Mike Holland said it only makes sense that because the school year will end before Memorial Day, the King holiday should not be observed either.
Instead of as a holiday, the board’s proposed calendar lists Martin Luther King day as a teacher in-service day. Students would have the day off but teachers would be required to work.
The board will discuss the calendar further at its next meeting March 27.