SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. — Students across the valley finished their first day of school on Tuesday, but Central Valley families experienced something different this year as the district launched a new balanced calendar model that started classes a week earlier than usual.
The change marks a significant shift for the district, which has traditionally started school after Labor Day. Meaning, families had to cut their summer activities short to accommodate the earlier start date.
“This is usually our camping week,” said Sabrina Torres, a longtime Summit School parent of two daughters. “It is going to be a rough week because we are used to that extra week.”…