MLK Day Disagreement

The Northeastern School Board’s discussion Monday regarding the calendar for the 2008-09 school year prompted a debate over the role of two holidays.

The district designated Jan. 19, 2009, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, as a day off.

It designated Feb. 16, 2009, Washington’s Birthday, and Presidents Day, as a snow makeup day.

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Northeastern School District board member Joseph Griffith told the board that MLK Day and Presidents Day should be treated equally in the school’s calendar.

“I just think they should be treated the same,” Griffith said. “Why not make Martin Luther King Day a snow day?”

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After the meeting, Santiago [board President Timothy Santiago] stressed that his views are very different from those of Griffith.

“As long as I am president of this board, we will never consider having school on Martin Luther King Day,” Santiago said.

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