HOLIDAY AGENDA ANGERS SOME RELIGION DICTATING SCHOOL CALENDARS?

Byline: Sue Doyle Staff Writer

CASTAIC - When it comes to politics, it often comes down to Republicans and Democrats.

But lately, when it comes to school politics, it's been coming down to the school calendar and religious holidays.

Integrating Jewish High Holy Days and other religious observances into school calendars was a hot political issue last fall when candidates were vying for seats on local school boards.

The struggle continues now as local districts finalize their school calendars for next year. And not everyone is happy about the plans.

Recently, Castaic school board members and some employees sparred over how school holidays were scheduled for the 2006-07 school year.

The point of contention was winter break, which was scheduled from Monday, Dec. 25, through Friday, Jan. 5, by a district committee.

Northlake School fourth-grade teacher and committee member Neal Schneider told the board that board member John Kunak called committee members ``grinches'' for their scheduling.

Kunak admitted the comment and said the dates weren't fair because they don't give families enough holiday time to prepare for Christmas.

Schneider said he has to use sick days to take time off for the Jewish High Holy Days of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, and he was upset that Kunak said the time off at Christmas wasn't sufficient when none at all is granted for Judaism's holiest days.

``When a committee member is called a name because of where a break falls, that disturbs me,'' said Schneider.

Kunak told the board that it was unconscionable not to give families more time to get ready for the holiday. He asked the board to table the calendar and wait to get community input about it.

He said families would rather spend time together before Christmas than after the New Year ``when Santa's out of the mall and Christmas trees are out on the curb.''

But other board members disagreed. The calendar was approved Thursday night in a 4-1 vote.

Castaic calendar committee members said dates were chosen to coincide with the William S. Hart Union High School's calendar, so families with children in both districts could have the same vacations. They said vacation dates change every year on the district's calendar and the next year could bring something entirely different.

Hart's winter break will take place from Friday, Dec. 22, through Monday, Jan. 15. Its calendar was decided upon by district officials, the teachers union and school employees.

Hart vacation days next year will also include the Jewish High Holy Days of Rosh Hashana, which begins Friday, Sept. 22, and Yom Kippur, which begins Sunday, Oct. 1. That happened by coincidence because of where those holidays fall this year, Hart spokeswoman Pat Willett said. The Hart district's calendar was based on testing dates and other educational parameters, she said.

Castaic's fall break doesn't encompass Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. Castaic's fall break is Oct. 9-13.

The Hart calendar wasn't a big hit with everyone on the Hart school board, either.

Hart board member Dennis King said the high school's three-week winter break is too long and stretches too far into January for his liking, because there's very little for teens to do during that time.

``It's sad that it gets down to a controversy between faiths,'' he said.

King said the state has a provision that allows people to take time off from school for religious observances and that should take care of any special time off that people need.

He said planning school calendars comes down to recognizing when a majority of people will observe a holiday and won't be in school.

``The real issue is, when does a number of people participating in a certain religion become enough to take a day off?'' he said.

Sue Doyle, [phone]

sue.doyle(at)dailynews.com