Reply to MoCo Councilmembers who Don't Pay Attention to the School Calendar, Push Back on MCPS Using Established Make-Up Day

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Reply to "MoCo Councilmembers who Don't Pay Attention to the School Calendar, Push Back on MCPS Using Established Make-Up Day"

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[quote=Anonymous]I don't disagree that optics are bad to only cancel the Eid non-instructional day, while Jewish holidays, Lunar New Year and several Christian hoildays remain untouched.  But--why didn't these councilmembers speak out when the calendar was approved with Eid as a designated makeup day? MCPS has 3 makeup days in the calendar and only 1 snow day, so MCPS is just doing what it said it would do.

For these councilmembers to say it's better to get a waiver the state of Maryland to not have the required amount of instructional days in lieu of cancelling the Eid non-instructional day, are saying it's better to shortchange all kids the required instructional time, because MCPS didn't plan adequate snow days and makeup days into its calendar.

These councilmembers should pay more attention to what's and give their opinions when decisions are being made, rather than coming in after the fact to complain.

Councilmembers Glass, Jawando and Mink
https://mocoshow.com/2026/02/06/councilmembers-criticize-mcps-decision-to-use-eid-as-make-up-day/
[quote]
Councilmembers Push Back on MCPS Plan to Use Eid al-Fitr as Make-Up Day
Montgomery County Councilmembers are raising concerns about a decision by Montgomery County Public Schools to designate Eid al-Fitr as an instructional make-up day following weather-related closures.
Councilmember Evan Glass said using the Muslim holiday as a make-up day is troubling and sends the wrong message about inclusion and equity. In a statement, Glass noted that other major religious and cultural holidays, including Christmas, Rosh Hashanah, and Lunar New Year, are treated as non-instructional days, and said the situation could have been avoided with similar treatment for Eid al-Fitr.

Councilmember Will Jawando also criticized the proposal in a letter to the Board of Education, calling on school leaders to reverse the decision. Jawando said holding classes on Eid al-Fitr places Muslim students and families in a position of choosing between religious observance and school attendance. While acknowledging the challenges created by recent winter storms and state instructional requirements, he urged the district to pursue alternative solutions that do not require holding classes on religious holidays.

Councilmember Kristin Mink said she strongly disagrees with the proposal and expressed disappointment that Eid al-Fitr, March 20, would be designated as an instructional day. Mink said Montgomery County should prioritize equitable respect for cultural and religious holidays within the school calendar and that Muslim families should not be singled out to give up a previously recognized holiday to meet instructional requirements.
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