NYC schools’ scheduling snafu: Principals annoyed by last-minute switcheroo

Eid al-Adha Observance Shuts Schools Citywide

New York City public schools will be closed this Thursday in observance of Eid al-Adha, a major Islamic holiday recognized by the city’s official academic calendar. The closure applies to both students and staff, marking a significant day of religious and cultural importance for Muslim communities throughout the city.

Eid al-Adha, also known as the Feast of Sacrifice, is celebrated by Muslims around the world over several days. It commemorates the willingness of the Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God — a moment that is central to Islamic teachings. On this day, many Muslims attend special prayers at mosques and Islamic centers. Celebrations often extend into the weekend, making it one of the most prominent holidays on the Islamic calendar.

Confusion Arises Over Scheduling

While the observance of Eid al-Adha itself was known and marked well in advance — the city’s 2024-25 academic calendar was finalized over a year ago — a scheduling error by the New York City Department of Education (DOE) created unexpected disruptions for many schools. Principals and staff across the city were caught off guard by a last-minute adjustment to plans for the day following the holiday.

Originally, Friday was slated as a clerical day for elementary and middle schools. Students in these grades would stay home, while staff were expected to report in person for tasks such as grading, curriculum planning, technology inventory, and student orientation sessions. However, in a routine weekly email sent to principals on Tuesday morning — just two days before the clerical day — the DOE abruptly announced that Friday would instead be a remote work day for staff due to the continuation of Eid al-Adha.

Principals Frustrated by Late Notice

The sudden change has drawn criticism from many school leaders who felt blindsided by the poorly timed communication. Several principals, who requested anonymity out of concern for professional repercussions, expressed frustration over how the DOE handled the situation.

One Manhattan elementary school principal speculated that the confusion may have stemmed from a misunderstanding about the exact timing of Eid, which begins Thursday evening and extends into Friday. Because the holiday’s start date is based on the lunar calendar and moon sightings, it can vary slightly each year — but that variability, principals argued, should have been accounted for much earlier.

“This kind of last-minute scramble is incredibly disruptive,” said the principal. “We had already planned orientations, staff collaboration meetings, and other end-of-year activities that now need to be restructured or scrapped entirely.”

Official Statement Offers Little Comfort

In response to growing concern, Education Department spokesperson Chyann Tull issued a statement: “The change was made to provide greater flexibility for educators to complete various end-of-year tasks. We are working closely with school leaders to support them in adjusting plans as needed.”

Despite the department’s reassurances, some educators noted the damage had already been done. The timing of the announcement — buried within a broader newsletter — gave schools minimal opportunity to adjust their plans. Many were left scrambling to notify staff and families, reassign tasks, and determine which portions of the planned day could realistically be conducted remotely.

Disrupted Plans and Missed Opportunities

The change has had concrete impacts on several planned school activities. One Manhattan middle school principal said their team had already organized a full-day in-person orientation for incoming sixth graders, which now must be reconfigured or canceled.

“Most of what we planned won’t translate to remote work, or at least not without major adjustments,” the principal noted.

Another Brooklyn middle school leader expressed concern that shifting June planning sessions and student list preparations to remote would significantly reduce productivity. “While it’s technically possible to work remotely, the quality and effectiveness just aren’t the same,” the principal said.

A few leaders voiced cautious approval of the switch to remote work, particularly in support of staff members observing the holiday. One Bronx assistant principal said the change offered “relieved happiness” to many Muslim staff who had been concerned about needing to report to work during Eid.

Not the First Time for Last-Minute Changes

This is not the first time New York City schools have faced unexpected pivots in the school calendar. Two years ago, for instance, an outbreak of wildfire-related air pollution prompted the DOE to move both student and staff activities online during a scheduled clerical day. That decision, however, was widely understood to be an emergency response to an unpredictable environmental hazard.

“This time was different,” said a Manhattan elementary principal who recalled canceling an in-person orientation during the wildfire event. “That was an external emergency. This was an internal planning failure.”

The principal added that they had already stopped scheduling major events on clerical days because of the unpredictability. Nonetheless, they were left on Tuesday scrambling to create a remote work plan for staff such as administrative assistants and paraprofessionals whose responsibilities don’t easily transition to a virtual format.

A Pattern of Communication Gaps

Many principals pointed to the scheduling confusion as part of a larger, ongoing issue within the Education Department: poor communication and lack of transparency.

“The last-minute scramble and the gaps in communication — it’s a frustrating pattern that has happened over multiple chancellors,” one principal remarked. “It’s a ripple effect that disrupts more than just one day.”

Despite the current frustrations, some school leaders did acknowledge improvements in other areas of planning. Several praised the DOE’s decision to revise next year’s calendar early, giving schools ample notice that Friday, January 2 will now be a day off. That adjustment eliminates a standalone school day between winter break and the weekend — a common scheduling complaint among educators.

“This week’s change doesn’t inspire confidence,” said a Manhattan middle school principal. “But at least with next year’s fix, we’ve been given enough advance warning to plan accordingly.”

Looking Ahead

While the change to remote work on Friday has introduced chaos into many schools’ end-of-year routines, the city’s broader efforts to respect and recognize religious diversity continue to receive support. Eid al-Adha has been a designated school holiday in New York City since 2015, reflecting the city’s commitment to inclusivity and cultural acknowledgment.

Moving forward, educators hope for more timely, clear, and collaborative communication from the Department of Education — especially when it involves holidays and logistical changes that affect thousands of families and school staff across the city.