Halloween is no longer being celebrated at schools in the Hollister School District. Oct. 31, 2014 was an off day not because of issues with Halloween, but because it was a professional development day for teachers.
The district, after many years of budget cuts that eliminated teacher training days, was able to restore them this year. The calendar was developed by the Calendar Committee and approved by the school board last year.
Hollister School District Superintendent Dr. Gary McIntire said there were several reasons to make Oct. 31 a Professional Development Day, but Halloween was not the reason.
The district leadership team, which includes principals, administrative staff and others, met regularly several times each month and the topic of Halloween parades was brought up by a member last year.
“The team felt strongly that if anything, we need more time with students in the classroom,” McIntire said,” if we are to be able to teach them everything we need to. “We have only 180 days with students every year. Halloween costume parades take precious time from teaching, and many felt that we lose an entire day of teaching for Halloween parades.”
After much discussion last year, officials concluded that they could not afford to lose so much time with their students and that starting this year they would no longer have Halloween parades. The decision was reached by consensus of the leadership team, but in the end McIntire was responsible for the decision.
“We never intended to take away Halloween,” said School Board President Elizabeth Martinez. She said that some students don’t celebrate Halloween, meaning parents would not allow their child to go to school, and some students can’t afford costumes. Students not allowed to go to school due to their beliefs lose important learning time, she said.
“Having no school on Halloween was definitely a little strange,” said Principal Bill Sachau of Sunnyslope Elementary School. “Personally, I was happy that the students of Sunnyslope were able to stay home from school with their families and enjoy a late night of trick-or-treating.” Sachau’s main goal is keeping students safe, he said.
Student learning and student safety are two important areas for Sunnyslope School as well as the entire Hollister School District. Having Halloween on a school days can lower students’ level of safety as numerous parents come onto campus, many without checking into the office, officials said.
“Managing this piece has been challenging,” Sachau said.