Webster School Board to Consider Canceling Class Thanksgiving Wednesday

The 's Board of Education will soon be considering whether to make the Wednesday before Thanksgiving a day off for students and staff.

The district's calendar committee has recommended the change for the 2013-2014 school year. Linda Holliday, the district's human resources consultant and committee chairwoman, presented the recommendation to the board during a work session Monday.

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"We're making the recommendation to allow families a day to travel to prepare for the annual day of thanks," Holliday said, noting the day would not be a paid day off for teachers or staff.

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Holliday explained that the district recently conducted a survey on whether the Wednesday before Thanksgiving should be a holiday. The survey was on the district's website several weeks, she said. It was also sent to parents and staff in an email blast.

"One teacher commented that we don't advance our students academically on that day, and that many parents take students out of school the Wednesday before Thanksgiving," she said.

Holliday said during the meeting that according to the survey, 52 percent of parents don't want the day to be declared a holiday, and 50 percent were in favor of it. Meanwhile, 84 percent of teachers and staff voted in favor of having the day off.

Tomorrow on Webster Groves Patch, we'll hear some of the board members' concerns and those from alumni and taxpayers.