Regarding Calendars, Breaks, and Programs

[Brandi Engeman]

Good Morning,

I am writing in my capacity as the Executive Director of the Los Alamos Arts Council to ask that a few issues around school calendars, breaks, and the programs around those breaks be considered during discussion with administration and board members.

Our organization hosts a variety of art camps, activities, theater programs, and open studios for teens, and has done this historically over summer breaks and Wednesday after school. Last year we also incorporated the longer fall breaks and spring break in order to meet the needs fo the Los Alamos community.

The nature of these programs requires that we secure contractors to provide the services that families know and love. The recent calendar upheaval (since 2022) has made it increasingly difficult to secure these contractors, as we often do not have time between the publication of the school  calendar for the following year and our camps to recruit these amazing teachers. Most cannot wait until May to figure out how they will spend their summers, and for the last two summers, and now 2024, we are finding that many have secured their summer contracts with other organizations in outside districts where the calendar is not being shifted until the last minute.

We know this is a legislative issue, and we respect that in the scheme of things, this impacts us a lot less than the staff and families at the schools. That said, we cannot provide programming that is high quality and covers the needs of the families we serve if we are not given a seat at the table during discussions about breaks, calendars, release times etc. and are not at the very least, surveyed or polled as to our ability to provide programming for families once the calendar is concluded.

Additionally, this will be the second summer in a row that we may have to completely cancel our June programs due to the school district providing childcare at schools sites. I want to be clear: I think that the extended programs the schools are providing are vital for many students, and I am not calling for those to be dismantled or changed. I am asking that organizations like ours be considered for a voucher program, or some sort of collaboration efforts with the district when you are planning those June programs. While we are not child care, and do not intend to become child care, we provide valuable art related services and activities and many families rely on us for full day camps in the summer months. Cancelling these programs is detrimental to our families and the staff relying on summer income. Additionally we are contractually obligated with Los Alamos County to provide summer camps for students interested in the arts and the uncertainty has definitely put that programming at risk. 

I am asking, please, that you start including more of the programs and non-profits in town that provide education programming to be included in the discussions around calendars, breaks, and child care type programs during these breaks. This has been promised in the past and we have had no one reach out further and in the end, we are left trying to scramble programs together for the families who will not utilize the school break child care and competing for the limited pool of staff and teachers who work with educators in town. 

When you are considering calendar changes, whether from internal or legislative pressure, bring all of us to the table, not just a few of the afterschool programs as we are all very unique and  make sure each invested stakeholder has a seat at the discussions so you can at least understand the broader impacts of these calendar changes. While we know that more voices can make decisions more difficult, we encourage you to include those of us who are on the ground with students and their families, to bring a fresh perspective to the discussion and to ensure that while the schools thrive, the enrichment activities those of us on the "outside" provide do not die in the process.

Thank you,

--

Brandi Engeman

She/Her

Executive Director

Los Alamos Arts Council

505-662-1635

www.losalamosartscouncil.org 

Uniting Our Community Through the Arts since 1967

Take a quick survey to help us better serve our community!