As most everyone living in the United States knows, there has been a substantial, if not record-breaking, heat wave throughout most of July 2023. New Mexico has been no exception, with until the last day or two, a dozen or so days of temperatures exceeding 100 degrees right here in Albuquerque (and many other parts of the state).
FGGAM’s Pastor Dewey Moede noted this writer’s informal commentary on Facebook about Albuquerque Public Schools’ (“APS”) new schedule. Fortunately, timing has turned more favorable for APS, as the 100(+) degree temperatures have subsided in the last two days. According to AccuWeather.com, the high-90s and one projected day of 101 degrees will come to an end after the first week of August. The temperature forecast (as of today) may be viewed HERE.
The 2023-2024 school year started August 1, with most K-12 students scheduled to return to class on Thursday, August 3. The APS 2023-2024 schedule may be downloaded or viewed by clicking this link – APS 2023-2024 School Year Calendar.
Although there was no certain way to know about the moderation of high temperatures at the time APS finalized this school year’s schedule, it is a positive development. Here is the commentary this writer made on July 22, 2023:
I read a local news story this morning about APS being unable to sufficiently cool many of its classrooms and electing to stay with swamp coolers in many schools due to a lack of funds. [As a side note, I’d be curious to know what would be considered sufficient funding – but I digress.] APS is starting the ’23-’24 school year earlier than normal, moved HS start times later in the morning, and extended the school day later into the afternoon across the board.
It seems to me that doing these things in the midst of a serious heat wave, with admittedly insufficient cooling, is possibly not the best of ideas. Am I being overly critical, or does this sort of decision making or inflexibility miss the mark? In light of current circumstances, even if on an emergency basis, why not start this school year a couple weeks LATER, start the school day EARLIER, and end the school day EARLIER, so it will be more bearable, productive and safe for the students? The construction industry and certain governmental agencies (e.g., USACE) have taken the approach of adjusting work days to coincide with cooler temperatures for decades.
I suppose APS is so large that making on-the-fly adjustments just isn’t possible…oh wait, it wasn’t a problem when COVID-19 struck! The whole system, schedule, manner of teaching and funding issues changed overnight – so don’t tell me that it can’t be done! The needed maintenance and cooling upgrades at APS seem to, perhaps, justify the position of those wanting to break up the bureaucracy to allow maintenance, procurement and operations to be more streamlined and localized.
I’m thankful for the projected moderation of temperatures, for the sake of the students and their teachers, but the general concerns articulated above could still stand some further discussion, if not for now, for the future.
If you are willing, let’s pray. Thank you, Father, for the cooler temperatures and for the dedicated teachers and staff who work hard every day to educate our children. Please keep them safe and help them to learn the very things that will provide the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed into the future, without the distractions or competing issues of excessive temperature, hunger/homelessness, racial strife, violence and improper political influence in the classrooms. Thank You, Father, for deeply loving all the children in New Mexico. We ask that You would be glorified in all things, including our students’ education. We pray in the precious name of Jesus. Amen!
Proverbs 22:6 (ESV)
“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”
Luke 18:15-17 (NKJV)
“Then they also brought infants to [Jesus] that He might touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to Him and said, ‘[l]et the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.'”
Praise Jesus forevermore!