Board’s ‘Good Friday’ decision disappoints Jewish leaders

Jonathan Ellis Federation president The Hillsborough School Board’s decision to make Good Friday a school holiday is disappointing and sets a bad precedent, Tampa Jewish leaders say.

The board voted 5-2 on May 18 to add Good Friday to the 2010-11 school year calendar. The five members voting for the inclusion said the high absentee rate — 42 percent of students and 19 percent of bus drivers — on Good Friday this year (April 2) made it impractical to hold classes.

Good Friday is the only religious holiday listed on the school system calendar, although Christmas is included in the two week winter break that begins on Dec. 20.

“We want to see Jewish holidays treated the same as other religions. It’s disappointing that it’s not taking place,” Tampa Jewish Federation President Jonathan Ellis said, indicating that if Good Friday is made a holiday, Jewish and other major religious holidays should be scheduled.

Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur used to be holidays for Hillsborough students, along with Good Friday. But in 2004, the board switched to a secular calendar after Muslim groups asked for some of their holidays to be added. In 2008, the first year classes were held on Good Friday, there was a 60 percent student absentee rate.

Last year, Good Friday fell during

the spring break.

Unlike Hillsborough, the Pinellas County School System hold classes on Good Friday when it does not coincide with spring break and has not reported any serious absentee problems.

Rabbi Mendy Dubrowski of Chabad Lubavitch of South Tampa spoke at the Hillsborough School Board meeting in opposition to the Good Friday holiday.

He said that making Good Friday a holiday rewards students for skipping school.

“I think that it sets a horrible precedent,” he said.

Rabbi Jason Rosenberg of Congregation Beth Am in Tampa sent an email to Jewish parents before the meeting asking them to contact school members in opposition to the Good Friday holiday. He said he did not know how many did. “I’m disappointed,” he said of the vote.

Hillsborough allows excused absences for religious holidays. Teachers are given notice of the holidays and told not to schedule tests or to teach new material, school board spokesman Linda Cobbe said. Students are allowed to make up any work they miss.

Ellis, who also attended the meeting, said Jewish students make up about two to 2.5 percent of Hillsborough’s 190,000 students.

Good Friday in 2011 is on April 22 and will be followed by spring break from April 25-29.

Ellis and Dubrowski said they hoped the school board would reconsider the issue when the calendar for the 2011-12 school year is considered.

“I think it’s an issue that is not going to go away,” Rabbi Dubrowski said.