Peoria Unified School District approves revised school calendar

PHOENIX — The Peoria Unified School District approved a revised school calendar in the wake of the school closures that occurred during the teacher walkouts.

During a special meeting on Monday, the Peoria Unified Governing Board approved a plan to add an extra hour to the end of each school day, beginning Wednesday May 9, through May 24 — the last day of school.

The extra hour added to each day makes it so teachers and children do not have to go to class during their summer vacation after teacher walkouts closed schools around the state for numerous days.

Elementary schools that normally get out at 3 p.m. will release their students at 4 p.m., while other elementary schools that go until 3:40 p.m. will be dismissed at 4:40 p.m.

High schools will be dismissed at 3:20 p.m.

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey signed a plan Thursday to give striking teachers a 20 percent pay raise, ending their six-day walkout after a dramatic all-night legislative session and sending a majority of the state’s one million public school students back to the classroom.

Gov. Doug Ducey’s signature awarded teachers a nine percent raise in the fall and five percent in each of the next two years. The 20 percent also includes a one percent raise granted last year.

The new funding package provides schools with a partial restoration of nearly $400 million in recession-era cuts, with a promise to restore the rest in five years. Other cuts remain in place.

Hours after Ducey acted, strike organizers called for an end to the walkout.

Follow @KTAR923