Questions and comments for April 9, 2024 School Board Meeting

[Morgan White]

Dear administrators and school board members,

We understand that with the recent NM PED regulation changes the draft calendar that was circulated previously may need to change.

We believe that it is important that proposed changes be discussed publicly, with enough opportunity for all concerned parties to understand the changes and suggest solutions that may find more optimal balances for everyone.

These are our comments, along with two questions that should be addressed.

Our town is unique in that many who live and work here maintain strong family ties to other communities, often traveling to be with family or close friends to where we still consider home (often we feel we have two, or more, homes).

The change to the Thanksgiving week is likely the most disruptive from the draft calendar and it is exceptionally likely to cause undue absenteeism, as well as actual harm. This can be judged by your sharing the answers to two questions.

==> Question -- (Q1) What is the historic rate for absentee for both students and staff during the Thanksgiving week when school is in session. (Q2) Please compare this to a typical day.

This comparison is likely to strongly support the view that these days are not productive learning days. Too many students are out, often teachers as well, and the time is used for alternative activities that have marginal educational benefit.

Harm can come about in two ways.

If a teacher conducts activities when no one expects them, many students will miss these learning opportunities.

If a family changes its plans involving committed costs -- particularly airline travel -- the family pays more for the same trip to make the change, or loses the opportunity to be with loved ones.

This would be a serious issue to consider if the draft calendar included attendance these two days next fall due to the likelihood of families to take their children out of school those days.

Having proposed no school days that week, many, many families have made plans to be out of town, including already purchasing airline tickets. There is the potential of hundreds to thousands of dollars of harm to individual families and considerable expense to our community.

** We ask that you restore the plan to have no work or school during Thanksgiving week.

It seems best that these go into an earlier start date.

Moving the start date also triggers families to have to change travel and child care plans. This should also be closely considered.

We appreciate your consideration.

Best regards,

Morgan and Sarah White