WAKE COUNTY, North Carolina (WTVD) -- Wake County schools have decided to close on Thursday so that Jewish students can celebrate Rosh Hashanah, which is a holy day marking the start of the Jewish New Year.
According to the News and Observer, Thursday will be a teacher workday for traditional-calendar schools, so only staff is required to come in.
A liaison to the school district's calendar committees, Tamani Anderson-Powell, said they try to build in a day off for one of the Jewish holy days if there's an extra work day, vacation day or holiday available.
"We develop a calendar that serves students first, but we also want to create a calendar that serves the community as well," said Anderson-Powell, "If we're able to honor one of the high holy days, we do."
Jewish students who don't attend traditional-calendar schools can get an excused absence for Thursday. Jewish school employees can also get Thursday off if they work it out with their supervisor.
Next year's traditional-school calendar has a vacation day on Yom Kippur, meaning neither students nor staff has to report in on Sept. 19, 2018.
Most Wake County schools are closed Thursday for Rosh Hashanah

WTVD
More Videos