MARCH 21 • 2024 | 15
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• Formalize absence policies 
for minority religious holi-
days
• Reschedule major events if 
written notice of the conflict 
is given to the principal or 
superintendent
• Improve communications 
to staff about the district’s 
non-discrimination policy 
• Expedite notice to the Board 
of Education of complaints of 
discrimination
Also, absences for religious 
observance of minority religious 
holidays will not be counted as 
a missed class in any course in 
which attendance is a measure 
of academic performance.
The agreement takes effect 
at the beginning of next school 
year and continues through the 
2032-2033 school year or when 
a written agreement to mod-
ify it is reached between the 
school and the presidents of the 
Jewish Federation of Southwest 
Michigan, Congregation of 
Moses, Temple B’Nai Israel, and 
Chabad of Western Michigan.
“When a school schedules 
events meant for ‘everyone’ on 
a religious holiday of a minority 
group, the reality is that the 
events are for everyone who is 
not of that minority group,
” said 
Saraphoena Koffron. 
“We appreciate that Portage 
Public Schools is willing to 
put their words into action 
and show other districts what 
it means to give every student 
an equal opportunity without 
having them compromise their 
individual beliefs.
”
Minaleah, who is studying 
psychology and Jewish studies 
and is active with the MSU 
Hillel, said for many years she 
internalized the message that 
people like her weren’t worthy 
of consideration because they 
weren’t the majority.
“It’s a message easy to 
internalize, but it’s also pure 
nonsense. Whether you think 

about it morally or legally, we 
are entitled to equality,
” she said. 
She describes the settlement as 
a “triumph for equality.
”
“I underwent a lot of hard 
times due to exclusionary 
scheduling,
” she said. “It is 
beyond meaningful to me that 
no other Jew within the district 
will have to feel marginalized 
and excluded like I did.
”
Her brother, Blue, added, “
As 
a high school teacher, I find it 
meaningful to hear about this 
kind of change. All too often 
institutions — educational and 
otherwise — trumpet that they 
are paragons of inclusivity, but 
quietly ignore minorities until 
they are forced to pay attention. 
When anyone who doesn’t fit in 
is pressured and ostracized until 
they assimilate, nobody should 
feel safe, not even the majority.
”
Dan Koroblin, legal director 
of the American Civil Liberties 
Union of Michigan, said the 
agreement was important. 
“Every student should have 
a complete and meaningful 
opportunity to participate in 
school programs, activities 
and events regardless of their 
religion,
” he said. “Scheduling 
major school events so that they 
don’t conflict with religious 
holidays is an important 
recognition that everyone’s 
religious identity should be 
honored and respected.
” 

Minaleah Koffron won the 
Kalamazoo County Senior 
Award in Accounting

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