FORT MYERS, Fla. - A Lee County schools committee decided Monday to recommend the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah as a day off for students in 2010.

Previously, students have been given a day off for either Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur each year.

There had been concern from committee members about splitting up instructional days next year, since Rosh Hashanah falls on the Thursday after Labor Day in 2010.

"I was surprised, pleasantly surprised, very happy," said Rabbi Jeremy Barras of Temple Beth-El, one of the largest temples in southwest Florida. He came to Monday's committee meeting to make sure members considered the hundreds of Jewish students on one of the two holiest days of the year..

"We think its very, very important that our students are able to be in synagogue and worship that day," Barras said.

"There was a concern if we broke up the week like that, maybe students wouldn't come to school on Friday, families would decide to take that four-day weekend," said Donna Mutzenard with the Island Coast chapter of the Florida Education Association. "(But) I think everybody believes diversity is part of the issue, and it is the beginning of the school year, there's plenty of time after that."

It's been a complicated three-month debate on the school calendar that reached its deadline Monday.

Lee County already has one of the longest school years in the state, so the committee's school board representative, Dr. Jane Kuckel, suggested continuing to give Rosh Hashanah as a school holiday in 2010, but also re-examining all holidays for the future.

"I think it was very hard at this point in time to make a decision about a religious holiday, whatever that religion might be, for the following year, without looking at the big picture, without looking at all of our religious holidays," Dr. Kuckel said.

"I would support the right of anybody of any faith to not be penalized for celebrating their holiest days," said Rabbi Barras.

Final approval of the 2010-2011 schedule lies with the full school board in January.