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Parent urges Rhinebeck board to recognize Eid and Diwali as school holidays
Summary
Zaima Sheik, speaking for Muslim families in the district, asked the board to add Eid as a distinct school holiday (not combined with a superintendent conference day) and also requested Diwali be added; she estimated the request represents roughly 20–25 families, or about 40 children, and said nearby districts already recognize these holidays.
Zaima Sheik, a Rhinebeck parent who identified herself during public comment, urged the board to add Eid to the district school calendar as its own holiday and also requested Diwali be added.
Sheik said she was "here on behalf of several Rhinebeck Muslim parents" and estimated there are "at least 20 families, if not 25, each with multiple kids," representing "probably at least 40 children in the district who have historically had to miss school to celebrate Eid." She told the board that 18 Westchester school districts recognize Eid and named neighboring districts including Harrison, Pelham and New Rochelle as examples.
Sheik asked that Eid be scheduled as a day off for students and staff, not combined with the superintendent conference day, and said a holiday would prevent scheduling of district tests and activities on Eid. She also urged the board to add Diwali, saying that several nearby districts already include Diwali on their calendars.
The chair then moved on to the next agenda item; no board action on calendar changes was recorded at the meeting. The public‑comment rules the board read earlier require a single spokesperson for group submissions and limit remarks to three minutes.
