4-DAY SCHOOL WEEK?
Tuesday, March 1st, 2011 -- 12:18 PM
Faced with a growing budget deficit, one local school is considering going to a 4-day school week in an effort to save money.Loyal superintendent Graeme Williams says the school board is definitely not rushing into any decisions, but have at least requested some information on the pros and cons of such an arrangement.
"The savings would include bus routes, a little bit of savings on food service, the electricity, the heat of the building," Williams says of the potential advantages. "There could be some savings."
Williams says some districts in other states have gone to 4-day weeks. Those schools typically don?t extend their school years; they simply extend the school day to fulfill hour requirements.
Of course, there could be some savings, but there are also some disadvantages.
"Your little kids may have to be in school a bit longer, which may not always be the best. The extracurricular activities and practices would get pushed back, so kids would practice later into the night," Williams explains.
Plus, many families would have to make new child care arrangements, he says.
The Loyal School Board recently nixed an April revenue cap exemption referendum.
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