MEMO
TO: Kari Cremascoli Jayne Yudzentis
FROM: Melissa Jerves
DATE: March 5, 2019
RE: School Activities on Specific Legal School Holidays
Background Provided certain conditions are met, Section 24.2 of the Illinois School Code allows school activities to occur on five legal school holidays: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday (third Monday in January), Abraham Lincoln’s birthday (February 12), Casimir Pulaski’s birthday (first Monday in March), Columbus Day (second Monday in October), and Veterans’ Day (November 11).
In developing the 2019-2020 school calendar, the District proposes to use Casimir Pulaski Day (March 2nd), Lincoln’s Birthday (February 12th), and Veterans’ Day (November 11th) as regular days of student attendance. To do so, the statute requires:
1) the person or persons honored by the holiday are recognized through instructional activities conducted on that day or, if the day is not used for student attendance, on the first school day preceding or following that day; and
2) the entity that chooses to exercise this authority first holds a public hearing about the proposal. The entity shall provide notice preceding the public hearing to both educators and parents. The notice shall set forth the time, date and place of the hearing, describe the proposal, and indicate that the entity will take testimony from educators and parents about the proposal.
Recommendation To use Casimir Pulaski Day, Lincoln’s Birthday, and Veterans’ Day as regular days of student attendance in 2019-2020, all District 58 schools will conduct instructional activities on those days to recognize the persons honored by these holidays.
Furthermore, the Board is required to hold a public hearing preceding the March 11, 2019 Regular Board Meeting to allow testimony from educators and parents about the proposal. The District will provide notice of the hearing to teachers and parents through the SchoolMessenger system, as well as on the Board agenda.