EDUCATION

New Jersey school board rescinds controversial vote over removing holiday names

Tuesday, June 22, 2021

New Jersey school board rescinds controversial vote over removing holiday names

A New Jersey board of education has rescinded a controversial vote earlier this year which would have removed all holiday names from the school calendar.

RANDOLPH, New Jersey (WABC) -- A New Jersey board of education rescinded a controversial vote earlier this year which would have removed all holiday names from the school calendar.

The Randolph Board of Education held a meeting Monday night, resolved to reinstate the calendar to the way it existed prior to the May 13 meeting with the addition of all New Jersey state and federal holidays.

Back in May, the Randolph Board of Education sparked backlash by voting to change the name of Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples' Day.

Amid the public outcry and a vocal turnout at the June 10 meeting, which resulted in a walkout, the board then voted to remove all holiday names and refer to them instead as just "Days Off."

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The Randolph School Board issued a statement saying their intention was mischaracterized.

"These state, federal and other holidays have not been cancelled or taken away by this board of education as some are falsely claiming," the statement read. "Schools will still be closed on the days that we originally approved and our children will know why. Everyone should remember that the primary purpose of the school calendar is to inform parents when schools will be open and when schools will be closed."

It is unclear if any action will be taken.

The Italian American One Voice Coalition rallied Sunday against the decision and promised a robust presence at the meeting Monday to address the concerns of Italian Americans and residents in general.