Schools
Parsippany Schools Open for MLK, Not for Election Day
Which would you prefer? Tell us in the comments section.
As many nearby school districts are closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, some in the Parsippany-Troy Hills may be wondering why their students don't get an extended weekend as well.
For those who may not know or have forgotten, the school board passed a measure last year to close schools on election days in exchange for MLK day.
Schools closed on Nov.5, general election day, and will close on June 3, 2014, primary election day.
"We took away Dr. Martin Luther King day—for this one year only—while we look at whether we'll permanently adjust our calendar," BOE member Fran Orthwein said.
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Under the plan teacher orientation and development will be offered Sept. 1, teachers will have Sept. 2 and 3 for preparation days and students in grades 6 and 9 will report for their orientation Sept. 4.
"All in all, this is a win for our students and faculty," Acting Superintendent of Schools John T. Fitzsimons said, adding an instruction to teachers to ensure, given the loss of the holiday honoring the slain civil rights leader in 2014, that lessons covering Dr. King's accomplishment be reinforced with students.
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"We want to make sure Dr. King received his rightful recognition," Fitzsimons said.
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