Photo by Ashleigh HenegarThe Prince William County School Board voted unanimously Wednesday evening to make this year's U.S. Presidential Inauguration Day, Jan. 20, 2017, a day off from school for students and staff.
Acting Brentsville School Board Member Shawn Brann requested the school division place the item on the agenda for action saying Prince William residents often bring their family to witness presidential inaugurations in Washington, D.C.
Brann said he wanted the item voted upon that night as he felt it was important to allow enough time for parents to find childcare.
Chairman At-Large Ryan Sawyers said it would have been better if the matter had been decided upon one year ago during the creation of the 2016-17 School Calendar.
Gainesville School Board Member Alyson Satterwhite spoke to that, saying she was on the board in 2016 and failed to address adding the day to the calendar.
Satterwhite watched the video of the meeting in which they discussed the 2016-17 calendar and saw that the issue was only briefly mentioned.
“I missed it. Somehow I missed it in the discussion,” Satterwhite said, adding that it was also not included in the paperwork she received prior to the meeting.
However, she noted that school board provided a school holiday for the 2008 inauguration. That year, the school division was concerned many staff members would take off work to witness the swearing in of President Barack Obama, the nation's first African American president.
According to Satterwhite, after making that decision, the board agreed to close schools for future presidential inaugurations. In 2012, the inauguration was held on a Saturday.
Potomac District School Board Member Justin Wilk said 80 percent of those who participated in his online survey said they wanted the day off; however, he indicated with a wink and a nod that students would likely vote for day off regardless of the reason.
Superintendent Dr. Steven Walts said they could aim to cancel most activities scheduled for that day, but likely could not control school events held outside of their own district.
Occoquan District School Board member Lilly Jessie asked that the issue be reviewed again for future calendars since there are already so many days off school in November, December and January.
Satterwhite told Bristow Beat Dec. 7 that the school board chairman and vice chairman had refused to add Brann's item to the agenda. However, in a subsequent conversation she said they had changed their minds.
The item officially made it onto the agenda for action when it was approved by unanimous consent at the beginning of the meeting.
School board members noted they will have to remember to add presidential inaugurations to the calendar in future years.
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