Parents at San Antonito STEM Magnet Elementary School in Tijeras have been spared a jarring change less than two weeks before the start of a new school year.
An email and automated phone call from Albuquerque Public Schools went out July 25 informing parents that the school day would run from 7:20 a.m. to 2:05 p.m. The original bell schedule had called for the day to start at 8:40 a.m. and run until 3:25 p.m.
San Antonito parents were not receptive to the change, with more than 200 signing a petition asking that the bell schedule remain the same.
APS spokesperson Martin Salazar said on July 29 district officials discussed the matter and decided to change the schedule to start classes at 8:45 a.m. He said that news would be communicated to parents the same day.
Parents’ concerns with the proposed schedule included misalignment with their work schedules, earlier bedtimes for their children and lack of openings for childcare and in after-school programs. Some, including Michele Falzone, said winter weather will make it difficult for children to get to school on time.
Maggie McGuinness, who has children entering second and fifth grades, said the later schedule would have meant her family would have an hour together on school nights, including dinner. She characterized the situation as a choice between spending time with her children or letting them sleep.
Other parents said district representatives didn’t adequately explain the reasoning behind the new schedule, adding that the confusion hurt their trust in the schools.
Fourth-grade parent Matthew Steele said the official explanation, to align with other schools, was ambiguous, and that his subsequent requests for information resulted in a prewritten response directing him to submit his concern through an online portal.
Steele said school staff also implied few parents were concerned about the new schedule. He said the petition response makes it clear the issue is on a lot of minds.
McGuinness said she didn’t think district officials wanted to cause such a disruption but likely were trying to provide needed services using the resources they had as best they could. She said she was heartened to hear the schedule was set to near its original state, but believes the issue needs more attention.
“A lot of schools are still dealing with this,” she said. “It’s a very early time for very young children.”
She said that some school communities in Albuquerque aren’t able to mobilize as well as East Mountains residents, and will have to live with bell changes.
McGuinness said the answer over the long term is APS hiring more bus drivers and obtaining more buses, so not as many routes have to be doubled.
She suggested budget changes or a new bond issue might help address the situation. She also said that as the district increases its transparency, it might find more community members working to help find solutions.