Board adopts 2026–27 calendar after debate over delayed starts and meeting cadence

The Grants-Cibola County Schools Board voted to approve the district’s 2026–27 Calendar A after extended discussion over draft options that would have included delayed-start days for students and professional development time for staff.

Dr. Dalton Martin presented two calendar drafts and outlined stakeholder input and staff voting. He said staff meetings on January 17, February 23 and March 28 generated the community-vetted draft calendars. "Calendar B had delayed start days," Dr. Martin explained, and some parents raised concerns about childcare and logistics during those delayed starts. The superintendent recommended Calendar B, but after discussion the board moved to adopt Calendar A by motion of Mister Clausen and a second; the motion carried.

Board members also debated meeting cadence: whether to convert one monthly regular meeting into a formal work session to allow more policy discussion, budget vetting and collaborative review. Supporters said a work session would streamline action at the regular meeting by doing the heavy policy work in advance, while opponents said late-arising items (for example student travel that becomes known only after competitions) make keeping two regular meetings preferable at least through the end of the school year. The board agreed to schedule a work session on May 5 dedicated to budget, math adoption, strategic planning and policy review and to clarify which items will require formal action versus work-session discussion.

The calendar vote was recorded as carried during the meeting; staff and trustees will use the upcoming work session to address outstanding policy items and the budget timetable.