Ray Parker
The Arizona Republic
Feb. 27 2008 12:09 pm
Mesa school kids can rejoice. Starting with the school year that begins in August 2009, they will get a full week off in October instead of the two-day break they have received the last several years.
The Mesa Public Schools board voted 4-1 Tuesday to adopt the new calendar for the 2009-10 and 2010-11 school years. In 2009, school will start on Aug. 12 and fall break will be Oct. 12-16. The current calendar remains in place for the 2008-09 school year. Classes begin Aug. 11 and the two-day break will be Oct. 9-10.
The calendar affects nearly 11,000 employees and 72,000 students, so officials allowed the public to weigh in on three options. Out of 638 e-mails, staff wrote 417 and parents 221, with 74 percent approving the option selected Tuesday.
Cindi Hobbs was the only board member who dissented. She said the October break would be a burden for families having to find child care.
Board President Rich Crandell acknowledged that not everyone would be satisfied with the outcome.
"You're not going to make everyone happy with one calendar," he said.
The calendar can be viewed on the district Web site: mpsaz.org.
