APS asks community for input on school calendar, budget

Albuquerque Public Schools released a survey on Wednesday asking students’ families and the general public for input on next year’s budget and the instructional calendar for the next two school years.

The survey, which can be taken at the APS website, aps.edu, is open until Oct. 29. It includes asking participants to rank the school district’s budget priorities and choose between two options for what the calendar for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years could look like.

While APS annually surveys the community on budget matters, the latest survey draws on feedback from another APS survey conducted last year on instructional calendar priorities.

In a news release announcing the survey, Superintendent Gabriella Blakey acknowledged that setting the school year calendar can be a controversial subject within the district, which means “not everyone will be happy” when the APS Board of Education determines it later this winter.

“But if we get input at the front end, we can make the best and most informed decisions,” Blakey said.

Blakey was not available for an interview on Wednesday, but Deputy Superintendent Antonio Gonzales noted the two-year calendar plan is part of his boss’ vision as the new leader of APS.

“This year, we are hoping to really forecast into the future to give people the conditions that they need to plan (and) function in a more coherent way,” Gonzales said. “We feel that a two-year calendar will help give some stability to our schools to be able to move forward.”

The school year calendar options include similarities, such as keeping in place the Thursday of Balloon Fiesta as a virtual learning day for most students and including part of the annual event into Fall Break.

“We have our break built around Balloon Fiesta because (the event) is an opportunity for Albuquerque to show off the very best of who we are,” Gonzales said.

But the options are distinct, most notably with the school year start and end dates. While Option A starts in early August and ends in late May, similar to the current school year, Option B starts in late August and ends in mid-June.

Option A, similar to the current school year, would end the first semester in December. Option B would have the semester end in January, when finals would be taken.

APS said in the news release that the later start date could offer “some relief from high heat and humidity” that affect school HVAC systems, while also appeasing “many members of the community (who) have expressed concerns about the school year starting earlier in the month.”

Gonzales added, “Perhaps a later start date would be conducive to the will of the community.”

Asked what he wants to say to encourage them to take the survey, Gonzales said, “We want to hear from you.”

“We’re in a space right now to really do some community dreaming, some community conversations, through the survey and through community meetings, to consider these very important topics,” he said.

He was referring to meetings the APS Board of Education will hold later this month to allow community members to offer ideas about the budget.

The first listening session is scheduled from 5-6:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 24, at the Berna Facio Professional Development Center, 3315 Louisiana NE. This session will be livestreamed on the district’s YouTube channel.

The second listening session is scheduled from 5-6:30 p.m., Monday, Oct. 28, at Jimmy Carter Middle School, 8901 Bluewater NW.