The Board of Education approved the 2025-2026 Academic Calendar during today’s meeting. Here’s what you need to know:
First and Last Day of School:
August 7, 2025, first day for Kindergarten, 6th grade, and 9th-grade students.
August 8, 2025, first day for all other grades.
May 21, 2026, last day of school.
Graduation Dates:
San Juan College High School: May 15, 2026
Farmington High School: May 18, 2026
Piedra Vista High School: May 19, 2026
Rocinante High School: May 20, 2026
The calendar includes the same number of professional development days for staff as this year, plus an extra day for teachers and staff to get ready for the new school year. You can view or download the 2025-2026 Academic Calendar here.
Behavior Academies
The Board learned about the Behavior Academies at Farmington Municipal Schools, which offer a supportive alternative to school suspensions for students with behavioral challenges. These Academies help students build essential life skills and learn positive replacement behaviors.
How It Works:
Sessions are 20 minutes long and held once a week for 6 to 8 weeks.
Lessons focus on areas like conflict resolution and impulse control, giving students tools to succeed socially and emotionally.
Academies Offered:
Hands Off Academy
Check-In Academy
Civility Academy
Social Skills Academy
Motivation Academy
Emotional Resolutions Academy
In the photo: The Board of Education recognized Mr. Tyler Gleason and the Piedra Vista High School Advanced Theatre Class for their outstanding achievement in winning the State NMAA One-Act Production Competition.
Closing Student Achievement Gaps
The Board also reviewed efforts to support students in Special Education, English Learners, and Native student programs. Here’s a quick recap:
The Multicultural Department shared:
1,390 students took ACCESS proficiency tests, and 45 students reached proficiency and exited the program.
Since July 2023, all teachers have access to English proficiency data for their students through the Ellevation platform.
Twelve teachers applied for TESOL waivers last August, and 18 more will begin TESOL certification training in January 2025 in partnership with Eastern New Mexico University. TESOL certification helps teachers specialize in teaching English as a second language.
Exceptional Programs Office Updated:
The district’s Exceptional Programs Office highlighted the use of the Brolly platform, which is used by 175 staff members to better document services provided to students.
Native American Programs detailed:
FMS has identified 5,085 Native students, with 3,693 students eligible for Johnson-O’Malley (JOM) funding, which supports Native students’ educational needs.
At least 1,976 Native students are receiving one-on-one support, focusing on their challenges and successes.
NAP is working with 16 chapter houses to verify and update the information provided to the district.
Health and Wellness Office Updated:
From August to November, the Health and Wellness Office recorded more than 57,000 visits to school counselors and nurses’ offices, demonstrating the district’s commitment to supporting students’ physical and mental well-being.
Policy Updates and Review
The Board approved updates to two policies (G-2936 and G-3134) regarding sick leave and leave donations. These updates expand leave donation options, allowing all staff—both professional educators and support staff—to share unused leave.
Finally, the Board also discussed Policy J-3400 as a reading step (before approval of a policy or policy change), which outlines procedures for student interviews and interrogations. The proposed changes clarify:
An interview is fact-finding and involves someone who is not suspected of committing a crime.
An interrogation involves someone who is suspected of committing a crime and includes important protections, such as Juvenile Miranda Rights. Students being interrogated by law enforcement will also have the right to have a parent or representative present before questioning.
The next Board of Education meeting is on January 14, 2025.