Starr eliminates references to Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Convention in 2015-16 Calendar

...I am recommending a different presentation for Attachment A for the 2015–2016 school year,which eliminates the references to Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, as well as the Maryland State Education Association (MSEA) Convention day (Attachment A1). All three of these days are no school days for students and teachers (and no work, no pay days for mostService Employees International Union [SEIU]Local 500 10-month employees).  However, as we have discussed in the past,decisions about closing schools on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, specifically, are not based on honoring or favoring a particular religious, cultural, or ethnic group. The decision to close on these days — originally made in the 1970s — has been based on the experience of significant student and staff absenteeism impacting the school system’s ability to continue an instructional program and operate safe schools...

Superintendent Joshua Starr's 2015-2016 calendar memorandum.