Religious+Observances

**__LINKS TO SPECIFIC TOPICS__:** ** 2. ****__PLAYS, PAGEANTS, PROGRAMS WITH RELIGIOUS THEMES__**  **3.** **__ADOPTION OF GUIDELINES__** ** 4. **THEMES OF RELIGIOUS IN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM ** 5. **RELEASE OF STUDENTS FOR RELIGIOUS EDUCATION ** 6. **** __EMPLOYEE RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCE__ **  **7.** **__EMPLOYEE LEAVE – PAID OR UNPAID__**  **8.** **__EMPLOYEE LEAVE – PAID__** ** 9. **NEGOTIATIONS OVER EMPLOYEE PAID LEAVE **10. BOARD POLICIES** **11. REGULATIONS** || **1. __RELIGIOUS OBSERVATIONS: SCHOOL DISTRICT CLOSED FOR RELIGIOUS__ ****__HOLIDAY__ **
 * __SECTION V1: RELIGIOUS OBSERVATIONS __ **
 *  **1.** **__SCHOOL DISTRICT CLOSED FOR RELIGIOUS__**
 * Federal Appellate Courts: **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Declared unconstitutional an Illinois statute that required all public schools to close on Good Friday” (New York State School Boards Association [NYSSBA], 2010, p. 765, School Law § 36:23).
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Metzl v. Leininger //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">, 57 F.3d 618 (7th Cir. 1995)


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">2. __RELIGIOUS OBSERVATIONS: PLAYS, PAGEANTS, PROGRAMS WITH__ ****<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">__RELIGIOUS THEMES__ **


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Federal Appellate Courts (outside New York): **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> “School districts may acknowledge religious holidays in programs that have religious significance as long as these programs also contain some educational or cultural purpose” (NYSSBA, 2010, p. 765, School Law § 36:24).
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Florey v. Sioux Falls Sch. Dist. //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"> 49-5, 619 F.2d 1311 (8th Cir. 1980), cert. denied, 449 U.S. 987 (1980)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> “District policy prohibiting the performance of celebratory religious music at school-sponsored events did not convey hostility towards religion because it constituted the districts attempt to maintain neutrality toward religion” (NYSSBA, 2010, p. 765, School Law § 36:24). “In contrast, the policy permitted religious music when presented objectively and appropriate for the curriculum” (NYSSBA, 2010, p. 765, School Law § 36:24).
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Stratechuk v. BOE S. Orange-Maplewood Sch. Dist //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">., 587 F.3d 597 (3d Cir. 2009)
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Nurre v. Whitehead //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">, 580 F.3d 1087 (9th Cir. 2009), cert. denied, 130 S.Ct. 1937 (2010)


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Federal Appellate Court (New York): **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> “Ruled that Earth Day celebrations did not impermissibly endorse religion in a case where the record showed no one attending the ceremonies worshipped the earth or attached any significance of a religious nature to the celebration activities” (NYSSBA, 2010, p. 765, School Law § 36:24).
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Altman v. Bedford CSD //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">, 245 F.3d 49 (2d Cir. 2001), cert. denied, //Dibari v. Bedford// //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">CSD //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">, 534 U.S. 827 (2001)

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">** New York **** State **** Commissioner of Education Appeals: **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Singing of //God Bless America// at a general school assembly memorializing the tragic events of September 11, 2001 did not violate the Establishment Clause” (NYSSBA, 2010, p. 765, School Law § 36:24).
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Appeal of Cayot //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">, 42 Ed Dept Rep 97 (2002)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">“School boards resolution to change the name of its winter concert to the Christmas concert did violate the Establishment Clause because it began: ‘We, being a Christian community’, which the Commissioner of Education found indicated an unconstitutional religious purpose” (NYSSBA, 2010, p. 765, School Law § 36:24).
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Appeal of Sebouhian //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">, 31 Ed Dept Rep 397 (1992)


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">3. __RELIGIOUS OBSERVATIONS: ADOPTION OF GUIDELINES__ **


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Federal Appellate Courts (outside of New York): **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> “Ruled that a district did not violate the Free Exercise Clause of religion rights of an elementary school student when it denied the student permission to distribute gifts containing religious messages at an in-class holiday party” (NYSSBA, 2010, pp. 765-766, School Law § 36:25). “According to the court, because young impressionable students could easily misinterpret a fellow students’ message, schools must be able to restrict student expression that contradicts or distracts from a curricular activity” (NYSSBA, 2010, pp. 765-766, School Law § 36:25). “The court found significant that the student had not been asked to express his views about the personal significance of the holiday, in which case he would have been attempting to respond to a class assignment or activity” (NYSSBA, 2010, pp. 765-766, School Law § 36:25).
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Walz v. Egg Harbor Township BOE //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">, 342 F.3d 271 (3d Cir. 2003)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> “Found it was permissible for a district to prevent a student from selling a Christmas holiday candy cane ornament with a religious message attached as part of a class marketplace project” (NYSSBA, 2010, p. 766, School Law § 36:25). “According to that court, the class assignment did not invite the expression of personal views and the school exhibited a valid educational purpose in seeking to avoid offense to students or parents at a curricular event” (NYSSBA, 2010, p. 766, School Law § 36:25).
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Curry v. Hensiner //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">, 513 F.3d 570 (6th Cir. 2008)

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">** New York **** State **** Commissioner of Education Appeals: **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">“School district may adopt guidelines for the treatment of religious and cultural holidays in the instructional program” (NYSSBA, 2010, p. 765, School Law § 36:25). According to the Commissioner, “the adoption of such guidelines falls within the broad statutory authority of school boards to adopt bylaws and rules for the governance of the schools” (New York State [NYS] Legislature, 2011, Education Law § 1709; NYSSBA, 2010, p. 765, School Law § 36:25).
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Appeal of Pasquale //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">, 30 Ed Dept Rep 361 (1991)


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">4. __RELIGIOUS OBSERVATIONS: THEMES OF RELIGIOUS IN EDUCATIONAL__ ****<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">__PROGRAM__ **


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Federal District Courts (outside of New York): **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">“The performance of music containing religious content does not within itself constitute a religious activity, as long as it serves an education rather than a religious purpose” (Essex, 2012, p. 35).
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Florey v. Sioux Falls School District //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">, 464 F. Supp. 911 (D.S.D. 1979)

**<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">New York ****<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"> State ****<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"> Commissioner of Education Appeals: **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">When programs include themes of religious significance it is permitted as long as “the educational program is generally secular in nature” (NYSSBA, 2010, p. 766, School Law § 36:26). The “Commissioner of Education upheld a school district’s policy permitting religious music and art in its curriculum” (NYSSBA, 2010, p. 766, School Law § 36:26). These “were taught as part of a genuine secular program of education and the policy excused students from participating in those parts of the curriculum which conflicted with their religious beliefs” (NYSSBA, 2010, p. 766, School Law § 36:26).
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Matter of Rosenbaum //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">, 28 Ed Dept Rep 138 (1988)


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">5. __RELIGIOUS OBSERVATIONS: RELEASE OF STUDENTS FOR RELIGIOUS__ ****<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">__EDUCATION__ **

//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> County, Illinois //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">, 333 U.S. 203, 68 S. Ct. 462 (1948)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">United States ****<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Supreme Court: **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Offering religious instruction on a released-time basis in public schools was unconstitutional” (Essex, 2012, p. 35). The state “may not permit religious teaching on tax-supported public school property during regular school hours”(Essex, 2012, p. 35).
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">People of State of Illinois ex rel. McCollum v. BOE of District No. 71, Champaign //
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">School district may “permit public school student to attend religious centers during the school hours since no compulsion is involved and no public school resources are expended” (Essex, 2012, p. 36).
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Zorach v. Clauson U.S. Supreme Court //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">, 343 U.S. 306, 72 S. Ct. 679 (1952)


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Federal Appellate Courts: **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">“School absences for the observance of religious holidays outside of the official state holidays and for attendance at religious instruction are permitted by state law and regulation upon written request from a parent or guardian” (New York State [NYS] Legislature, 2011, § 3210(1)(b); <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> 8 NYCRR 109.2(a) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">). “Students may be released to take such religious instruction in accordance with the commissioners regulations (8 NYCRR 109.2), as long as that instruction is not provided at the public school” (NYSSBA, 2010, p. 766, School Law § 36:27).
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Zorach v. Clauson U.S. Supreme Court //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">, 343 U.S. 306, 72 S. Ct. 679 (1952)
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Pierce v. Sullivan West CSD //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">, 379 F.3d 56 (2d Cir. 2004)
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">H.S. v. Huntington Cnty. Cmty. Sch. Corp. //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">, 616 F.Supp.2d 863 (N.D.Ind. 2009)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Released-time program unconstitutional that allowed students to attend religious seminars and receive public school credit for classes that were viewed as denominational in nature” (Essex, 2012, p. 36).
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Lanner v. Wimmer //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">, 662 F. 2d 1349 (10th Cir. 1981)


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">6. __RELIGIOUS OBSERVATIONS: EMPLOYEE RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCE__ **


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">United States ****<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Supreme Court: **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Religious-based restrictions on expression of speech demonstrate hostility toward religion and violate the principle of neutrality” (Essex, 2012, p. 46).
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Good News Club v. Milford Central School //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">, 202 F. 3d 502 (2nd Cir. 1999)


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Federal Appellate Courts: **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Pursuant to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, employers must make reasonable accommodations that allow employees to fulfill religious observance requirements, unless to do so would create an undue hardship” (NYSSBA, 2010, p. 766, School Law § 36:28). “An accommodation that allows an employee to attend morning religious services but requires him or her to work after religious services would not be reasonable for an employee who must abstain from work totally on the Sabbath” (NYSSBA, 2010, p. 766, School Law § 36:28).
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Baker v. The Home Depot //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">, 445 F.3d 541 (2d Cir. 2006)


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Federal Appellate Court (New York): **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Ruled that an employer unlawfully discriminated against an employee by firing her when she refused to work at any time from sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday because of the tenets of her religion” (NYSSBA, 2010, p. 767, School Law § 36:28). “Employers must make a good-faith effort to accommodate Sabbath-observing employees, even though an accommodation ultimately may not be available” (NYSSBA, 2010, p. 767, School Law § 36:28). “The collective bargaining agreement required the employer to give senior employees preference in selecting days off” (NYSSBA, 2010, p. 767, School Law § 36:28). “The court determined that the employer still had an obligation under the law to attempt to accommodate the employees’ religious observance, and that the employer had not made any effort to do so” (NYSSBA, 2010, p. 767, School Law § 36:28).
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">New York City Transit Authority v. Div. of Human Right //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">, 89 N.Y.2d 79 (1996)

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Federal District Court ****<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"> (New York): **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> “Courts have permitted teachers to take approximately five to 10 days off for religious reasons, even where substitutes must be hired, as more absences would be considered an undue hardship for a school district and outside the scope of an employees Title VII protection” (NYSSBA, 2010, p. 766, School Law § 36:28).
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Wangsness v. Watertown Sch. Dist. //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">, 541 F.Supp. 332 (D.S.D. 1982)
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Niederhuber v. Camden Cnty. Vocational & Tech. Sch. Dist. BOE //, 495 F.Supp. 273 (D.N.J. 1980), affd without op., 671 F.2d 496 (D.N.J. 1981)


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Federal District Courts (outside of New York State) **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Authority of a local board of education to employ nuns as teachers and to permit them to dress in the custom of their order” (Essex, 2012, pp. 45-46).
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Hyson v. Gallitzin Borough School District //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">, 164 Pa. 629, 30 A. 482 (1894)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Prohibiting the wearing of any religious dress as insignia by public school teachers representing any religious order” (Essex, 2012, pp. 45-46).
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Commonwealth v. Herr //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">, 229 Pa. 132 78 A. 68 (1915)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Disqualified all nuns from teaching in public schools on the grounds that their lives were dedicated to teaching religion” (Essex, 2012, p. 46).
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Harfst v. Hoegen //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">, 349 Mo. 808, 163 S.W. 3d 609
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Impressionable young children would not be indoctrinated by the presence of a religious necklace and that it was a subdued expression of religious faith” (Essex, 2012, p. 46).
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Nichol v. Arin Intermediate Unit 28 //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">, 268 F. Supp. 2d 536 (W.D. Pa. 2003)


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Title VII and the New York State Human Rights Law (Executive Law 296(10)): **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Unlawful for any employer to discriminate against an employee because the employee observes a particular Sabbath day or days in accordance with his or her religious beliefs” (Executive Law 296(1)(b); NYSSBA, 2010, p. 766, School Law § 36:28). “Moreover, except in emergencies, a district cannot require a teacher to work on a Sabbath or holy day and must allow the teacher time to travel to his or her home or to places of religious observance” (Executive Law 296(1)(b); NYSSBA, 2010, p. 766, School Law § 36:28).


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">7. __RELIGIOUS OBSERVATIONS: EMPLOYEE LEAVE – PAID OR UNPAID__ **


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">United States ****<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Supreme Court: **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Public employees are entitled to unpaid leave for religious observances if they require days in excess of personal leave days already provided” (NYSSBA, 2010, p. 767, School Law § 36:29).
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Ansonia // //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">BOE v. Philbrook //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">, 479 U.S. 60 (1986)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Federal District Court ****<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> (New York): **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">“While dismissing a religious discrimination claim as time barred, the court stated a school board met its obligation to provide an accommodation when it allowed a teacher to take unpaid leave in excess of his paid leave to attend prayer services on Friday afternoons” (NYSSBA, 2010, p. 767, School Law § 36:29).
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">McLaughlin v. New York City BOE //, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 4794 (S.D.N.Y. Jan. 22, 2008)


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">8. __RELIGIOUS OBSERVATIONS: EMPLOYEE LEAVE – PAID__ **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">There is a difference of opinion among New York State courts regarding the availability of paid leave for religious observance.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Federal Appellate Court (New York): **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Upheld a school districts unilateral decision to no longer comply with a collective bargaining contract provision that allowed teachers to take paid religious holidays determining, in part, that the provision was unconstitutional” (NYSSBA, 2010, p. 767, School Law § 36:30).
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Matter of Port Washington UFSD v. Port Washington Teachers Assn //, 268 A.D.2d 523 (2d Dept 2000), appeal dismissed, 95 N.Y.2d 790, lv. app. denied, 95 N.Y.2d 761 (2000)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Upheld a collectively bargained provision that authorized three days of paid leave for religious observance leave because it did not specify which holidays could be taken. According to that court, the provision merely provided a religious accommodation” (NYSSBA, 2010, p. 767, School Law § 36:30).
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">//Maine// //Endwell Teachers Assn v. BOE of the Maine Endwell CSD//, 3 A.D.3d 685 (3d Dept 2004)


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Public Employment Relations Board (PERB): **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Ruled that paid leave for religious observance is a permissive subject of bargaining” (NYSSBA, 2010, p. 767, School Law § 36:30).
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Binghamton // //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">City // //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Sch. Dist. v. Andreatta //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">, 30 PERB 7504 (Sup. Ct. Broome Cnty. 1997)


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">9. __RELIGIOUS OBSERVATIONS: NEGOTIATIONS OVER EMPLOYEE PAID__ ****<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">__LEAVE__ **


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Federal Appellate Courts (outside New York): **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Deemed unconstitutional a negotiated provision allowing for such leave” (NYSSBA, 2010, p. 767, School Law § 36:31).
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Matter of Port Washington UFSD v. Port Washington Teachers Assn //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">, 268 A.D.2d 523 (2d Dept 2000), appeal dismissed, 95 N.Y.2d 790, app. denied, 95 N.Y.2d 761 (2000)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Ruled paid leave for religious observances “is negotiable” (NYSSBA, 2010, p. 767, School Law § 36:31).
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Maine // //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Endwell Teachers Assn v. BOE Maine Endwell CSD //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">, 3 A.D.3d 685 (3d Dept 2004)


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Public Employment Relations Board (PERB): **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Ruled in two cases that a school district did not violate its duty to bargain in good faith by unilaterally rescinding a past practice of allowing employees to take extra paid leave for religious observances, finding that it was an unconstitutional practice and therefore not mandatorily negotiable” (NYSSBA, 2010, p. 767, School Law § 36:31).
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Auburn Teachers Assn v. Auburn Enlarged City SD //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">, 29 PERB 4671 (1997)
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">CSEA v. Eastchester UFSD //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">, 29 PERB 3041 (1996)


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">10. **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> **__RELIGIOUS OBSERVATIONS: BOARD POLICY__**


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Board Policy 8360R: **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Subject to applicable state laws, schools have the discretion to dismiss students to off-premises religious instruction, provided that schools do not encourage or discourage participation or penalize those who do not attend. Schools may not allow religious instruction by outsiders on school premises during the school day. (Erie1 BOCES, 2011, Board Policy 8360R)

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS ** The Board of Education acknowledges the importance of religion to the understanding of society and the richness of the human experience. In approaching the teaching about religion in the school, the District will be guided by three concepts when making decisions about the appropriateness of activities for inclusion in the school program: the activity should have a secular purpose; the activity should neither advance nor inhibit religion; and the activity must not foster an excessive entanglement of “government” with religion. (RandolphCentralSchool District, 2011, Board Policy 8334)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Board Policy 8334: INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS - RELIGIOUS EXPRESSION **


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">District Calendar: **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">The days on which members of a religious group may be absent to observe a religious holiday (legal absence) will be noted on the school planning calendar and the District calendar distributed to parents/guardians. Out of respect for a student’s observance of these holidays, teachers will be sensitive to the needs of the student by allowing them to make up all class work, homework, and tests without penalty. Parents/guardians are encouraged to notify the school prior to the absence in order to assist the staff in instructional planning and in meeting the needs of the student. (Randolph Central School District, 2011, Board Policy 8334)


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Education Law § 3210: **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Absence for religious observance and education shall be permitted under rules that the commissioner shall establish. (New York State Legislature, 2011, Education Law § 3210)


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">11. **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> **__RELIGIOUS OBSERVATIONS: REGULATIONS__**

=** Administrative Regulation 8290R: **** RELIGIOUS EXPRESSION IN THE PUBLIC **= =** SCHOOLS **=

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">These regulations have been developed to provide guidance to District staff and students regarding religious expression in the public schools. Guidance beyond the statements in these regulations may be found in four basic principles which would apply to the topic of teaching about religion in schools:

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">1) Is it constitutionally permissible; <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">2) Is it educationally sound; <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">3) Is it culturally sensitive; and <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">4) Is it age appropriate? (Allegany-Limestone Central School District, 2011, Administrative Regulation 8290R)


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Released Time **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Subject to applicable state laws, schools have the discretion to dismiss students to off-premises religious instruction, provided that schools do not encourage or discourage participation or penalize those who do not attend. Schools may not allow religious instruction by outsiders on school premises during the school day. (Allegany-Limestone Central School District, 2011, Administrative Regulation 8290R)