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Islamic Center asks Spotsylvania board to add Eid al‑Adha to school calendar
Summary
The Islamic Center of Fredericksburg requested the board include Eid al‑Adha on the school calendar for 2026–27 (dates given) to allow Muslim students and staff to observe without penalty; the speaker offered to meet with board committees to plan calendar inclusion.
Crystal Walcott, director of education and women's programming at the Islamic Center of Fredericksburg, asked the Spotsylvania County School Board to add the second major Islamic holiday, Eid al‑Adha, to the school division calendar for upcoming years when the observance falls during the academic year.
Walcott said the dates likely to fall during the school year are May 27, 2026, and May 17, 2027, and noted that local divisions including Fredericksburg and neighboring systems have already included the holiday. She urged the board to involve Muslim community representatives in calendar planning so families and staff can plan in advance.
Walcott also said the current 2024–25 calendar was finalized in December 2024 and that any retroactive change would not affect a finalized calendar; rather, the request is for future planning. She extended an offer for board members or staff to meet with her committee to discuss details.
Board members did not take immediate action at the meeting; the request was heard during the public‑comment period and will be referred to calendar/committee discussions that typically precede final calendar adoption.
