LCHS public hearing to discuss holiday waiver

[May 11, 2012]  Public Act 096-0640 has changed the process for school districts with regard to holiday waivers. School districts no longer petition the General Assembly, but instead pass a motion or resolution that gives each school district the flexibility to decide whether or not they want to use any or all of the holidays listed below as student attendance days, parent-teacher conference days, teacher institute days or professional development days. Holidays include:

• The birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. -- third Monday in January

• The birthday of President Abraham Lincoln -- Feb. 12

• The birthday of Casimir Pulaski -- first Monday in March

• Columbus Day -- second Monday in October

• Veterans Day -- Nov. 11

Passage of the "forever" holiday waiver by a board of education allows a school district total flexibility with their annual calendars.

The Lincoln Community High School Board of Education will have a public hearing about the proposed waiver on May 21 at 6:45 p.m. in the media center. Educators and parents will be afforded the opportunity to provide testimony for or against this proposal.

For each holiday that is waived, the person or people honored by the holiday must be recognized through instructional activities conducted on that day or, if the day is not used for student attendance, on the first school day preceding or following that day.

[Text from file received from Lincoln Community High School]