East New Mexico News

Clovis Municipal Schools is moving forward with the finalization of its academic calendar for the 2025–2026 school year. The district encourages families, staff, and community members to review three new draft calendars and provide feedback.

A recent survey collected preferences from the community, highlighting several important themes. A significant preference emerged for starting the school year on a Monday, avoiding a midweek start, and many supported a later start in August, steering clear of any start dates in July. Opinions about Thanksgiving Break were split; some advocated for a full week off, while others preferred a shorter break to aid student attendance and working families.

Further input revealed "Super Snow Monday" was considered non-essential, with suggestions to redistribute it elsewhere in the calendar. Feedback on the May 1st holiday varied, with some suggesting its removal or reassignment, and some participants viewed the spring holiday following spring break as redundant.

Operational and staffing concerns were also raised, as staff pointed out that the calendar affects work schedules, particularly the issue of staff and students finishing the school year simultaneously. Many noted that starting midweek and having short holiday weeks could negatively impact attendance and academic consistency.

The draft calendars each include 173 instructional days for students, one Parent/Teacher Conference Day, 183 contract days for teachers, delayed starts for Kindergarten and Pre-K, and a complete two-week Winter Break. Differences among the drafts include varied lengths for the Thanksgiving Break and the reallocation of certain holidays such as "Super Snow Monday" and Veterans Day.

Each calendar is designed to meet state requirements, ensuring at least 1,140 instructional hours annually.

The community is invited to complete a revised survey to express their calendar preference by April 11, 2025. The district values this feedback as a crucial element in decision-making and is appreciative of the ongoing support from the community in promoting the success of students and staff.