The scheduled graduation ceremony for Eden Prairie High School is facing backlash from parents and students due to its coinciding date with a significant Muslim holiday. The ceremony is set for Saturday, June 7, at 2 p.m. at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Francesca Pagan-Umar, a parent of an EPHS senior, expressed her disappointment, stating, “It’s the most significant day of my daughter’s academic career, and this is a huge milestone.” She added that as the first in her family to graduate high school, the timing is particularly heartbreaking, as many family members will be unable to attend due to the celebration of Eid al-Adha, which falls on the same day.
Pagan-Umar, along with other community members from diverse backgrounds, attended Monday night’s school board meeting to voice their frustrations over the scheduling conflict. The district estimates that approximately 20% of its 3,196 students are Muslim, according to the Muslim American Society of Minnesota.
“Eid al-Adha is an all-day event with profound religious and spiritual significance, as well as social elements,” Pagan-Umar explained. “It’s my daughter’s last Eid at home before she heads to college, and we wanted her to celebrate with both our family and community.”
Fadumo Hassan, another concerned parent and former district staff member, likened the situation to scheduling graduation on Christmas for Christians, expressing her disappointment in the decision.
Principal Jaysen Anderson addressed the date announcement in an email, stating that the decision was made after careful consideration of community input, including feedback from a survey conducted last November. He acknowledged the challenge of finding a date that accommodates everyone’s needs, asserting that the plan reflects community input.
In a statement to KARE 11, Eden Prairie Schools expressed empathy for the concerns of the Muslim community, emphasizing their collaboration with cultural liaisons and local Imams to determine the graduation date and time. The district is committed to continuing discussions with students and families to identify additional accommodations for a meaningful celebration.
However, Hassan pointed out that the outreach to local religious leaders has created divisions within the Muslim community, as no single group represents all members. Pagan-Umar also noted translation issues and mentioned that the imam she spoke with did not approve of the date selection.
Reflecting on past decisions, Pagan-Umar recalled how the district moved the first day of school two years ago to avoid overlapping with Rosh Hashanah. “That was the right thing to do. I hope they will do the right thing now,” she said.
