SE Valley Times

The calendar for the 2023-2024 school year was the main topic during the Gilbert Public Schools Governing Board's May 2 meeting, as Assistant Superintendent Jason Martin gave a presentation on the format.

Martin's presentation and the discussion was an effort to nail down a calendar to follow its new “2-2-2” pattern for the year. The district has followed a 1-2-1 pattern until now, having students starting during the first week of August, getting a one-week fall break, a two-week winter break, and one-week spring break before ending before Memorial Day. The 2-2-2 pattern would begin the school year in the third or fourth week of July and feature a two-week break in fall, winter, and spring, and also end before Memorial Day, Martin said.

"Everybody has a different lens on whether we should be in school or not when it's really hot, and then potential disruption ... to the learning routine with three two-week breaks throughout the year," he explained. "So what we're proposing is next steps. Of course, we shared here tonight kind of the proposed calendars as well as the survey results, and then in two weeks we would like to bring to you for approval the 2-2-2 calendars based on that for your governing board approval."

Though this is the first year with the new format, Martin said, the district wants to also plan for the coming years through 2026-27 based on survey results from teachers and families. 

The plan includes making each quarter 45 days, each semester 90 days, with winter break being the divider between the two semesters. Though not always divided perfectly, the school year totals 180 days, he explained.

The reasons behind moving to a 2-2-2 schedule include better care for students with the severe heat of August and September, ensuring all students are in an environment that can provide cooler temperatures and adequate water. It also allows for more family vacations throughout the year, and longer breaks over holidays to allow for travel, Martin said. 

Families have enjoyed the extended breaks, which are long enough to provide time for travel and relaxation at home. The district is also able to provide greater interventions for students falling behind throughout the year, as they offer one-week sessions during those breaks to help students and not relying on summer school to play catch-up.

The results of the survey showed growing approval for the 2-2-2 over the 1-2-1 plan, increasing from 48% in 2018 to 75% this year. Staff surveys have always had a majority favor of the 2-2-2, from 63% in 2018 to 87% this year. Most school districts in the area have also moved to the 2-2-2 calendar, with Apache Junction, Chandler, Higley, and Queen Creek all adopting it. The state’s athletic coordinators are always working to ensure alignment with sports activities. 

The board is set to decide on the calendar during the May 16 meeting of the governing board.