Once this occured, the District was aware that Juneteenth Day, which falls on Sunday, June 19, 2022, was identified as a Federal Holiday. The District had planned to recognize and educate our students on Juneteenth Day during the school day in June 2022.

However, at that time, it was anticipated that Juneteenth Day would be recognized on Monday, June 20, 2022. Speaking for myself, my thinking was based on the following:

a. Lindenwold District Policy (Holidays 3434): "if the recognized holiday falls on a Saturday, the Friday immediately preceding is a holiday; if the recognized holiday falls on a Sunday, the Monday immediately following is a holiday."

b. Federal Holiday Recognition Statute [Excerpt from U.S. Office of Personnel Management]: "Federal law (5 U.S.C. 6103) establishes the public holidays listed in these pages for Federal employees Please note that most Federal employees work on a Monday through Friday schedule. For these employees, when a holiday falls on a nonworkday -- Saturday or Sunday -- the holiday usually is observed on Monday (if the holiday falls on Sunday) or Friday (if the holiday falls on Saturday)" (OPM.GOV).

The Board of Education and District, upon learning that New Jersey identified Friday, June 17, 2022 as the workday in which New Jersey would honor Juneteenth Day, brought the issue to the full BOE.

The BOE wanted to welcome community feedback in our decision making process, and as such, a brief survey was developed. The District decided to survey the entire community including: our LHS Senior Class, our families, and our staff.

Moving forward, the District will ensure alignment to New Jersey's day of recognition. Unfortunately, however, this is does not solve our current problem:

1) We want to honor our community and their time together as they celebrate Juneteenth Day.

2) We are unsure if families will be celebrating Juneteenth Day on Friday (6/17) or Sunday (6/19).

3) We began communicating District graduation plans for the Class of 2022 last April 2021. Since High School Graduation is a once in a lifetime moment in our students' lives, we want to ensure our high school seniors and the important people in their lives are in attendance for this significant milestone.

To all of our families: I sincerely apologize for this conflict and the difficult decision we now must address. However, I sincerely do thank you for your feedback, communication, and your continued support and understanding.

I wanted to take a moment to bring an item to our community’s attention for consideration. The District’s newly established Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, made up PK – 12 staff, administration, and LHS student representation, is currently planning ways in which the District will recognize Juneteenth Day.

Students and staff will spend time in June to learn more about this important day in History and celebrate together as a school family.

President Biden signed legislation on June 17, 2021 recognizing June 19th as a Federal Holiday. Juneteenth Day is the oldest nationally celebrated day to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States. It is observed to remember the date in which Union soldiers brought the news of the emancipation of African Americans to Galveston, Texas in 1865. Juneteenth Day is often also referred to as: Juneteenth National Independence Day and Emancipation Day. This is a special time when families celebrate together to reflect upon the past as well as take time to focus on the future. As is tradition, this day is often honored by families gathering together to celebrate African American culture and tradition with both great food and music.

Our current District calendar shows our last day of school and our LHS Graduation as being held on Friday, June 17, 2022. However, since our calendar adoption last spring, New Jersey has designated Friday, June 17, 2022 (not Monday, June 20, 2022) as the workday in which our state will recognize Juneteenth Day.

Since we want to respect our families and give our school community voice on this issue, we have a few options for THIS year. (This question only effects our current calendar as we will make adjustments in future years in advance.)

For 2021 - 2022, we have the option of:

1. Adjusting our calendar to recognize Juneteenth Day on Friday, June 17th by closing school for the day as a sign of respect for this important day in our country’s history. Since Districts are required to educate students for 180 days, adjusting the calendar will impact both the date our families will also celebrate the last day of school and high school graduation. Graduation and the last day of school will then be moved to Monday, June 20, 2022.

This decision may significantly impact our families, too, as families have prepared for Graduation that evening.

2. Maintain our current calendar for this year; however, moving forward we will align our calendar to New Jersey's day of recognition.