Starting in the 2010-2011 school year, students in Central New Jersey will have days off for two Islamic holidays.

The South Brunswick school board has approved school closings for the Muslim holidays of Eid al-Adha and Eid ul-Fitr.

The board also recognized the Hindu New Year, Diwali.

School board president Matthew Speesler told the Star-Ledger newspaper that it was time to recognize the holidays.

Some parents opposed the decision, he said, because they felt there were "enough days off in the calendar and there shouldn't be any more days off."

About 10 of New Jersey's 600 school districts currently recognize Muslim holidays, including the Paterson School District, which runs schools in the city of Paterson.

According to the Council on American-Islamic Relations, New Jersey is home to approximately 400,000 Muslims.

The school board's decision was watched closely by Muslim leaders outside of South Brunswick, especially in New York City, where activists have campaigned since 2006 to have Muslim holidays included on the school calendar.

In July 2009, the New York City Council voted in favor of the move, but Mayor Bloomberg veto the idea, saying that children need more time in the classroom, not less.

The leader of the South Brunswick mosque, Imam Hamad Ahmad Chebli, told the Star-Ledger that many people have called him asking how he got the school board to agree.

"You start by working gradually," he advised. "You start by supporting your library. You support your police department. You be proud to be an American, because that's what you are."