Tri District Calendar Team finalizes school calendars aligning Kyrene and Tempe districts

In a recent Kyrene Governing Board meeting, the atmosphere buzzed with anticipation as educators and administrators gathered to discuss the future of school calendars for the upcoming years. The focus was on a collaborative effort among the Kyrene, Tempe Elementary, and Tempe Union High School Districts to create a unified calendar that addresses the needs of families and students across the three districts.

The associate superintendent for Future Ready Schools, alongside colleagues from the other districts, presented proposed calendars for the 2026-2029 school years. This initiative stems from a desire to improve alignment among the districts, which had faced challenges in the past due to differing calendars. Families expressed frustration over misaligned breaks, prompting the revival of the Tri District Calendar Team in spring 2022. This team, comprising ten members from each district, aimed to establish a cohesive calendar that would ease the burden on families with children attending multiple schools.

One of the significant outcomes of this collaboration is the adoption of a "two-two-two" calendar, which features two weeks off for fall, winter, and spring breaks. This structure was designed to provide consistency for families, even though complete alignment remains a challenge due to varying teacher workdays and district-specific agreements. The team acknowledged that while they may not achieve perfect synchronization, they are committed to aligning the major breaks as closely as possible.

To gauge community sentiment regarding the calendar changes, a survey was conducted, yielding over 5,000 responses. The results indicated that approximately 60% of families were satisfied with the current calendar structure, while 29% expressed dissatisfaction. Notably, the survey also revealed that only a small fraction of respondents felt the calendar changes negatively impacted student learning.

The meeting highlighted specific feedback from stakeholders, including a preference for having the Wednesday before Thanksgiving as a non-school day, which was well-received. However, some concerns were raised about the school year starting in mid-July and ending after Memorial Day, as these adjustments are necessary to maintain the two-week break structure.

As the board reviewed the proposed calendars, they emphasized their commitment to addressing community feedback while striving for alignment with the other districts. The proposed calendars were ultimately approved by the governing boards of Tempe Elementary and Tempe Union, marking a significant step forward in fostering collaboration and meeting the needs of families in the Kyrene community.

With these developments, the Kyrene Governing Board is poised to enhance the educational experience for students and families, ensuring that the school calendar reflects their needs and preferences while promoting a sense of unity across the districts.