During a recent school board meeting, officials discussed the development of the academic calendar for the upcoming school year, emphasizing the importance of maximizing student learning and supporting teacher collaboration. The process begins with a preplanning survey to gather community input, which has shown consistent preferences over the years.

Board members were informed that the school calendar is closely tied to the budgeting process, with potential changes mandated by the New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED) and state legislation. The current instructional hours and calendar days are under an injunction, adding uncertainty to the planning process. Despite this, the district aims to present draft calendars for review at the first board meeting in January, with final approval expected by the end of that month.

Survey results indicated a strong preference among staff for spreading professional development days throughout the school year rather than front-loading them. Parents expressed a desire for specific holidays, with Good Friday and Veterans Day ranking as top priorities for days off. The board also noted that all general election days are now required to be school holidays, which will impact the calendar.

The discussion also touched on the possibility of a year-round school calendar, which has not garnered significant interest from parents. Additionally, the board addressed concerns regarding graduation dates, which are set two years in advance with UTEP, and the challenges of scheduling around Memorial Day weekend.

Overall, the meeting highlighted the complexities of calendar planning, balancing community preferences with state requirements, and the ongoing need for stakeholder engagement in the decision-making process. The board remains committed to ensuring that the academic calendar supports both student learning and teacher collaboration while considering the feedback from parents and staff.