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Wake Schools Stick With Hurricane Makeup Day

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RALEIGH, N.C. — The Wake County Board of Education has decided to maintain the scheduledmakeup day for traditional calendar schools from Hurricane Isabel as October6.

In a special session Friday morning, the Board considered changing the daybecause of concerns raised by the Jewish community that Oct. 6 is YomKippur, a high holy day.

"This calendar was originally developed with input from the community, said Susan Parry, Board Chair. We had members of the Jewish community participate in its development. While we are certainlysensitive to the significance of this observance, we have directed the administration to make accommodations for Jewish students and staff, while maintaining the original calendar."

"The Board decided to take extra time in considering this issue," Parry said. We wanted to be diligent in our responsibilities to have time for reflection and to make the appropriate arrangements with school administrators to allow for Jewish students and staff to celebrate their faith."

Hurricane Isabel closed Wake County Public Schools for two days Sept. 18 and 19 which caused the system to invoke the first two inclement weather days which were set aside. Those days are Oct. 6 and 17.

Each year, the school system sets aside days for inclement weather from hurricanes andsnowstorms. System staff and community representatives developed thecalendar, which is presented to the Board for approval. This school year'scalendar was approved Nov. 5, 2002.

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