Desert Sands board adopts alternate calendars after heated debate over spring break and heat mitigation
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Summary
After a lengthy debate about spring-break timing, heat mitigation and transparency of the calendar committee, the Desert Sands Unified board approved alternate instructional calendars for 2026–27 and 2027–28 on 4–1 votes. A dissenting trustee criticized the process and said parents and classified staff had not been properly heard.
The Desert Sands Unified School District Board on Dec. 16 approved alternate instructional calendars for 2026–27 and 2027–28 after extended discussion about spring-break timing, professional development scheduling and whether the joint calendar committee adequately represented parents and classified staff.
A motion to adopt the alternate calendar for 2026–27 (item 22.11) passed 4–1. Trustees later approved the alternate for 2027–28 (item 22.12) on a 4–1 vote.
A trustee who opposed the alternate calendar voiced several specific criticisms of the process and outcome, saying the joint calendar committee did not reflect parents' and classified employees’ concerns. “I’m not pleased with the process… the transparency isn’t there and that we’re not being heard,” the trustee said during a lengthy floor statement. The trustee also argued the instructional calendar group had been given misleading information about heat-mitigation days and called for greater classified-staff participation in calendar decisions.
Supporters of the alternate calendar said moving a professional development day into October yields better midyear PD timing, which they argued improves effectiveness for teachers who are overwhelmed with start-of-year tasks. One trustee said the alternate keeps in-service days where staff can better use them after teachers have worked with students for several weeks.
Board discussion before the votes included an extended public exchange about aligning spring breaks with neighboring districts for family consistency, the practical effects of calendar timing on heat mitigation in summer months, and the representation of diverse staff voices on the calendar committee.
At the meeting the board framed its actions as procedural approval of the calendar option; no changes to instructional minutes or statutory obligations were announced. The board recorded the motions and votes on the minutes and moved on to consent business following the calendar decisions.