Watch CBS News

Illinois District Defends Having School On MLK Day

WINNEBAGO, Ill. (AP) -- The superintendent of a northern Illinois school district is defending a decision to hold classes on Martin Luther King Jr. Day to make up for a snow day in November.

Some members of the Rockford-area NAACP criticized the Winnebago district, west of Rockford. But Superintendent John Schwuchow said students in the district's four schools learned about King's legacy and impact.

"We used it as an opportunity to build the value behind what Dr. King accomplished," he said.

Monday was set aside as a possible weather makeup day at the start of the school year. The superintendent said students would have been off if they hadn't had a snow day earlier in the year.

Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.