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December 20, 2002/Tevet 15 5763, Vol. 55, No. 17
No school on Yom Kippur
Grassroots effort leads to day off in Scottsdale district
BETH OLSON
Staff Writer
The Scottsdale Unified School District Governing Board has adopted a calendar for the 2003-2004 school year that includes Yom Kippur as a district recess for both staff and students.
Alan Spalter, a parent of two students in the district and a member of the district's Calendar Committee, said a grassroots effort led to the decision.
Spalter said the effort began when he attended High Holiday services and heard parents discussing the fact that their children felt compelled to attend school on the High Holidays because there were tests or assignments scheduled that they couldn't miss.
Several parents then joined him in an effort that began with phone calls to school administrators and eventually led to Spalter and a few other Jewish parents being named to the Calendar Committee.
Carol Hughes, public information officer for the district, said the decision for a district recess was based upon many factors, including the needs of parents, students and staff, the absentee rate on Yom Kippur, and the overall schedule for the school calendar.
The committee, comprised of parents and district staff members, recommends a two-year calendar to the district governing board. Last week, the board approved the calendar for the 2003-2004 school year - including the district recess on Yom Kippur - but not for 2004-2005.
Hughes said the failure to approve the second year of the calendar was based upon factors unrelated to district recesses. Since Yom Kippur falls on a Saturday in 2004, that school year's calendar isn't affected by it.
Other days designated for district recess for 2003-2004 are April 9, Good Friday; and April 12, the day after Easter.
Hughes said the day on which Yom Kippur falls was approved as a district recess for the 2003-2004 calendar but has not been adopted as future district policy. A district memorandum dated Nov. 26 states that the committee recommended that "future calendars recognize Yom Kippur as a district recess day when it falls on a school day."
Randi Sherman, parent of two children in the district, said her children's teachers have always been accommodating during the High Holidays, but she was happy to hear of the district's decision.
"I need to give kudos to Alan Spalter," said Sherman. "He was instrumental in forming a grassroots campaign. It's amazing how one person can truly make a difference. ... We have so many students in the Scottsdale School District who are Jewish."
The 2002 Greater Phoenix Jewish Community Study estimates there are 18,100 Jewish households in the Northeast Valley (Scottsdale and Paradise Valley) - a number that represents 41 percent of Jewish households residing in the Metropolitan Phoenix area.
Contact the writer at beth_olson@jewishaz.com.
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