ALPENA — Alpena Community College is set to enhance its relationship with local schools by aligning its spring break with those in the Alpena-Montmorency-Alcona Educational Service District. This decision, aimed at benefiting both high school and college students, has been in the works for years and will take effect in the 2024-25 academic year.

“We’ve been working for quite a few years to get these schedules aligned,” Lee Fitzpatrick, Supervisor for Early College at Alpena Public Schools and an AMA-ESD board member, said. “It’s really important because it impacts a crucial part of the second semester. When students miss school due to family vacations during spring break, which can have a detrimental effect, especially when there are only a few weeks left in the college semester.”

According to Nick Brege, Vice President of Administration and Finance at ACC, there were a number of challenges that needed to be addressed for this plan to come together.

“There are many variables and constraints in setting the calendar, including assessment schedules, athletics, operational considerations, and existing contracts,” Brege said. “Ultimately, we think having a common schedule with a full week off from both institutions will be the best benefit for the students.”

Brege emphasized the significance of the relationship between ACC and local schools.

“Our dual enrollment and Early Middle College programs comprise 55% of our total headcount, with 25% of our total enrollment coming from the AMA-ESD district,” Brege said. “Aligning our spring break with local districts is a big win for everyone.”

Looking ahead, Brege mentioned that ACC is already planning for future spring breaks to ensure continued alignment.

“We’re starting to look at the spring breaks for 2026 and beyond, aiming to plan out five years at a time,” he said. “This will help us maintain open communication and ensure everyone is on the same page when setting their schedules.”

In a press release, ACC announced the new spring break dates for 2025, which will be from March 17 to 21. The college expressed gratitude to everyone involved in the discussions and planning, including ACC faculty, academic partners in the local schools, and the AMA-ESD.

The release stated, “We believe this change will make participation in dual enrollment and early college opportunities at ACC even better for local high school students.”

The alignment of spring breaks is expected to minimize disruptions for high school students attending ACC courses and allow them to fully participate in both academic and extracurricular activities during the break.

This collaborative effort demonstrates a strong commitment to the educational success and well-being of the students in the Alpena community.

Temi Fadayomi can be reached at 989-358-5693 or tfadayomi@thealpenanews.com.