Mesa Unified School District students will have the same calendar for the 2007-08 and 2008-09 school years.
Governing board members voted 4-1 Tuesday night to stick with the current calendar, which features a two-day October break, and the same mid-August start date.
There were eight options.
The board considered more than 1,500 e-mails, faxes, phone calls and speeches at local forums in the past two months to come to the decision, said board president Mike Hughes.
In the end, Hughes said members had to look at what was best for the district "as a whole."
Board member Lynn Burnham voted against the same calendar because he said he wanted to give parents, staff and students what they typically requested — more break time.
But other board members, such as Elaine Miner, said she was concerned about how longer breaks would affect hourly workers, such as bus drivers.
"We have a lot of classified employees that would be hurt by the long break," Miner said.
That thought was echoed by Richard Berumen, president of the Mesa Education Support Personnel Association, which represents hourly employees.
He said he was happy the board decided not to change the calendar, especially because of the work that needs to be done for school improvement projects this summer, such as updating air conditioning systems.
The projects will be funded by a voter-approved bond, which passed in November.
Approved Mesa school calendar
Start: Aug. 13 October break: Oct. 11 and 12 Winter break: Dec. 20 to Jan. 2 Spring break: March 17 to 21 Last day of classes: May 22
