Monroe-Woodbury student urges full Eid holiday recognition, says excused absence isn’t enough
Summary
Student speaker Syed Kadir told the Monroe-Woodbury Board of Education the district’s inclusion efforts are welcome but insufficient, and urged the board to grant full days off for both Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha to avoid academic penalties and foster inclusion.
Syed Kadir, a senior at Monroe‑Woodbury High School, told the board on Nov. 19 that the district’s recent step to list Eid as a superintendent conference day marks progress but leaves Muslim students with an unacceptable choice on the other major Eid holiday.
"I am one of the many Muslim students at Monroe‑Woodbury High School," Kadir said during the public‑comment portion of the meeting, urging the board to recognize both Eid al‑Fitr and Eid al‑Adha as full days off rather than leaving one as only an excused absence. He said that when his second Eid falls during the school calendar — potentially conflicting with tests in advanced placement courses — students face stressful choices about whether to attend school or celebrate with family.
Kadir framed the request as an equity and inclusion issue: while some Christian and Jewish holidays already result in days off, Muslim students currently have only one Eid treated as a district day off this year and the other treated as an excused absence. "What you don't get with just an excused absence is the sense of inclusion and the sense of equity that comes with having your holiday be recognized," he said.
Board members thanked Kadir for speaking and acknowledged the district had added Eid to the calendar this year as a superintendent conference day. No formal action or vote addressing calendar changes occurred at the meeting; the board received the comment as part of its public‑comment period and moved on to other agenda items.
What happens next: Kadir’s request was presented as public comment. Any change to the official school‑year calendar would require staff recommendation and board action at a future meeting. The board did not announce a follow‑up timeline during the Nov. 19 session.
