A move to close schools in Baltimore County for Muslim holidays failed by one vote.
The 6-5 vote came after an emotional discussion among school board members, while dozens of Muslims stood in the audience. Some school board members said they believed it was the right time to give equity to the Muslim community. But other board members questioned whether closing schools would meet a legal challenge. They argued that court rulings said that schools could only close for a secular reason. School board member Ann Miller said there was no data to prove that enough Muslim students would be absent and disrupt the normal course of business in classroom to close schools.
Board member Romaine Williams argued vehemently that there was as much anecdotal evidence to close schools for Muslims as there had been 20 years ago when the board made a decision to close for the Jewish holidays.
After the vote, Muslims in the audience expressed their displeasure. Some shouted “Injustice!” The board had to call a five-minute recess before continuing. Other members of the Muslim community thanked the board for their consideration of the issue.
The vote came after more than a decade of advocacy by the Muslim community. A school board subcommittee recommended the move, which has been considered by other school systems around the state. The school system would have been the first in Maryland to close on the two most important Islamic holidays.