PLACENTIA : School Schedule Generates Conflict
A group of parents in the Placentia Unified School District is upset that their children will miss the first day of school because it falls during Rosh Hashanah, one of Judaism’s two holiest days.
District officials said the first day of school was scheduled for Sept. 9 several years ago, based on a calendar circulated by the county’s Department of Education. So far, they have been unable to reschedule the first day to account for Rosh Hashanah, which falls on Sept. 9 and 10.
Chelle Friedman, director of community relations for the Jewish Federation of Orange County, and other parents have urged the Placentia school board to find a way to solve the conflict.
The dates of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, fluctuate during a 30-day period each year and are based on the Jewish lunar calendar.
Placentia Supt. James O. Fleming said administrators and the district’s unions were unable to agree to move the starting date up a week.
Instead, school officials have opted to start a day later, on Sept. 10, giving teachers an added day to prepare for classes.
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