APS looking into calendar year options including pushing start of school year back

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – After a number of changes to school hours in recent years, Albuquerque Public Schools is once again looking at the possibility of revamping the school calendar by waiting an extra couple of weeks before sending kids to class.

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It comes after years of complaints from parents, especially over hot classrooms at the beginning of the year. “We’re pleased that over the next several weeks leading up to October 29th, we have the opportunity to hear from the community,” said APS Deputy Superintendent, Antonio Gonzales.

Albuquerque Public Schools launched a survey on Wednesday asking community members what they want to see moving forward starting with the budget. “There’s a lot of options that the community can rank and prioritize so we are able to get a better sense of how we should interpret the voice of the community in the budget planning process,” said Gonzales.

Those surveyed were asked to rank budgeting priorities including safety, technology, counseling, and curriculum but the question expected to stir debate is over the calendar for at least the next two years. Community members will have to decide between two choices; option A which looks like the typical school calendar and option B with a later start date.

Most students typically start classes around August 7 and parents can choose to support keeping it that way. The other option would push back the start date to August 19 with the goal of avoiding the yearly complaints about poorly functioning HVAC systems and hot temps in the late summer.

“The heat in August is different than the heat in June primarily because we have the monsoon season and the humidity in August whereas in June we have more of that dry heat so HVAC systems tend to work a little bit better in June,” said Gonzales.

In both versions, students still get Thursday and Friday of Balloon Fiesta off and two weeks for winter break but in option B fall finals wouldn’t take place until after winter break.

District leaders are hoping by starting the survey process early there will be plenty of time to consider adjustments to the proposals. “Over the last couple of years we’ve taken a lot of feedback and we believe we’ve learned a lot in regards to the preferences of our community,” said Gonzales.

Community members have until October 29 to submit input, from there the district will take the results and present them to the school board.

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