Community pushes Bridgeport to add Eid al-Adha to school calendar

Bridgeport school officials are evaluating whether to include Eid al-Adha in the district calendar, following community advocacy and discussions during the March 25 Instruction and Support Services Committee meeting. Interim Superintendent Royce Avery noted that any change would require careful planning, including reviewing how neighboring districts handle the holiday. The proposal will be considered as part of future calendar planning, with attention to districtwide impact, scheduling requirements, and state guidelines. The Bridgeport Board of Education already recognizes Eid al-Fitr, along with other religious observances such as Good Friday, Christmas, Rosh Hashanah, and Yom Kippur. The district previously made history in 2015 by replacing Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day, though the current calendar still designates it as Italian Heritage Day. At an April 13 Board of Education meeting, community members, including Khaled Elleithy of the Bridgeport Islamic Community Center, urged the district to formally recognize Eid al-Adha. Elleithy presented a 15-year projection showing that only six of 30 Eid occasions between 2026 and 2040 would fall on school days, with minimal overall impact. He emphasized that the adjustment would have a meaningful and lasting effect on inclusivity. Waterbury, another Connecticut district, began recognizing both Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha in the 2023-24 school year, closing schools to allow students to observe the holidays. The move came after advocacy from local Muslim residents and civil rights groups. Speakers at the meeting highlighted the cultural and educational significance of recognizing Eid al-Adha. Marwan Majeed described it as a deeply meaningful religious obligation, while Jeffrey Schwartz of Congregation B’nai Israel noted that acknowledging diverse traditions broadens students’ perspectives. Mostafa Hassan, a teacher residency program coordinator, added that the recognition would help address misconceptions about Islam and affirm the value of Muslim students’ identities.