D.C. Public Schools closed Friday for Juneteenth, America鈥檚 newest federal holiday, but the last-minute decision surprised and frustrated some parents.
On Thursday, President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, making June 19 the country鈥檚 12th federal holiday. It marks the day when Union soldiers brought the news of freedom to enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed.
In response to Biden鈥檚 declaration, D.C. Public Schools (DCPS) the same day that it would close on Friday to commemorate the new federal holiday.
DCPS Chancellor Lewis Ferebee acknowledged Friday that the decision would cause some inconvenience.
鈥淚 do want to recognize 鈥� the difficulty and the unfortunate impact on some families given the short notice,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd similar to what we鈥檝e done with inclement weather days or other related closures, even for COVID, we have to make quick decisions 鈥� and whenever we close schools, we don鈥檛 take those decision lightly.鈥�
But he added that 鈥渨e have not in the history of DCPS, in my understanding, ignored a federal designation of a holiday,鈥� and so even though the school system only gave parents 72 hours鈥� notice, 鈥渨e would always recognize a federal holiday.鈥�
That didn鈥檛 go down well with some parents, though.
Robert White Jr., an at-large member of the D.C. Council, : 鈥淛ust got a message that schools are closed tomorrow. Trying to figure out how I break this to an excited 4 y/o planning for her first time back at school for her pre-k promotion ceremony, and hearing from parents trying to figure out child care. I鈥檝e reached out to the chancellor.鈥�
He got a few messages of support, such as: 鈥淵ep鈥ur son was very excited for his last day of school party tomorrow. Didn鈥檛 even get to say goodbye to his teachers or friends.鈥�
Another said that while the intention was good, the execution was a bit rushed.
Others, though, weren鈥檛 as sympathetic: 鈥淭ell them it鈥檚 the price to celebrate freedom. The kids can wait a weekend. The enslaved had to wait years by the dozen,鈥� one person tweeted.
Ferebee, too, stressed the importance of commemorating Juneteenth because it has 鈥渁 very deep symbolic meaning for many of our staff and families,鈥� he said. 鈥淒CPS is proud to recognize the day and continue to be a very inclusive environment.鈥�
Just got a message that schools are closed tomorrow. Trying to figure out how I break this to an excited 4 y/o planning for her first time back at school for her pre-k promotion ceremony, and hearing from parents trying to figure out child care. I鈥檝e reached out to the chancellor
鈥� Robert C. White, Jr. (@RobertWhite_DC)
