Valdez school board keeps two-week spring break in 2027-28 but plans one week after

The Valdez City Schools Board of Education on Monday passed first reading of a 2027-28 calendar with a two-week spring break, then agreed that later years should go back to a one-week break. The calendar vote was 5-0, with two members absent.

The longer break adds a week to the 2027-28 school year, but Superintendent Jason Weber said it would still end before Memorial Day weekend, according to the meeting minutes.

A district calendar committee met Oct. 21 to write the draft. Weber wrote in a memo to the board that the group got stuck on whether to bring forward a two-week break, noting that 2027-28 is "year three when we have historically done that." The district surveyed certified staff, classified staff and parents, and all three groups favored two weeks off. Only 27 parents answered, and Weber wrote that it was hard to know whether they were representative. The committee narrowly chose the two-week option.

Board member Carey Wade asked whether a two-week break fits the district's priorities of attendance and academic achievement. She said the break does not cover the week when many students will be away for basketball, which could bring an estimated 250 absences for extracurricular activities.

Scott McCumby said the extra week off could hurt attendance and academic performance.

Kyra Meyer cited the district's mission and its commitment to academic excellence. She said a longer break cuts instructional time and questioned whether a week added at the end of the year makes up for it during spring testing.

Kathleen Todd asked whether the break could move to cover more activities. Weber said regional and state competitions fall about a week apart, making it hard to fit a two-week break around both. He said the committee first considered a one-week break in early March to leave teaching time before April testing.

Board member Kalin King then polled the board, and members agreed to plan for one-week spring breaks in later years. The 2027-28 calendar still needs a second reading before it becomes final.