So, our school district referendum didn't pass - for the 2nd time. I'm realy disappointed by that but a writer for the Our Kids, Our Future page (a Pulaski page on Facebook) eloquently stated that our school district is a large, rural district covering 4 counties and numerous cities/villages. Though Pulaski is a very successful school district and the pride runs deep - it's hard for those without kids in the district, especially in those most rural towns, to feel connected. I'm frustrated, I can partially understand - but mostly I don't.
At any rate, due to extreme lack of funding we are facing, as a worst-case scenario, losing up to 35 teachers in our district, one of our elementary schools being abandoned and those kids bleeding into the most crowded elementary school in our district, because it's the closest to the school that would close. It's also a consideration that one elementary school will become a k-2 and another a 3-5, resulting in families divided by two schools - and one very disastrous highway.
At the Board of Education meeting I was very frustrated that so many people offered reasons why NOT to proceed with options presented by our Superintendent. Two people did come up with ideas, though. One was to look into split grade classrooms. Two principals spoke to their teachers and came up with a list of why that wouldn't work. Again, this disappointed me because my children attended a choice school in Green Bay that had split grade classrooms - and it worked very well. My oldest son, soon to be 15, was at the meeting and I asked him how he liked the split grade classes at Aldo. He said he enjoyed it very much and would encourage that option. I think it would be something new and different and after learning how to plan for a split grade classroom - teachers could make it work. If it offers a cost savings, then the teachers having to learn a new technique and teaching skills is advisable. Another suggestion was to write to the Joint Finance Committee members. I did send a letter to Ellis and Olsen.
But, I've also made another suggestion. Below is the email I sent to all of our Board of Education members about the possibility of a 4 day school week.
If you - whoever happens to come by my page - have experience with a 4 day school week, I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Hello everyone,
I propose adopting a 4-day school week. I have
done some looking around on the internet to see how that is working in other
school districts. Some main points I have found are that money is saved on
transportation, cafeteria, and facilities operations, as well as fewer need for
substitutes. There have been other positives in regards to academics as
well.
http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/high-school-notes/2012/10/15/educators-at-some-high-schools-tout-benefits-of-4-day-week This is an article from US News written in October of
2012. According to this article there are approximately 300 districts across
the nation adhering to the 4 day school week with many more making the
consideration as a result of budget constraints. A Georgia school has been able
to save $800,000 each year since it began the 4 day school week in 2010.
Apparently, student absences and discipline problems have decreased as a result of this 4 day school week as well.“U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has spoken out against four-day weeks, and school boards in several states have shot down attempts in their districts to move to shorter school weeks. Critics of the shorter week argue high school students should spend more days in school to prepare themselves for college and the workforce. But teachers and administrators immersed in the schedule say students are more focused while in school thanks to the three-day weekend, and the free day allows high schoolers to intern or enroll in college courses.”
http://www.minnpost.com/politics-policy/2010/12/rural-minnesota-11-school-districts-4-day-weeks-hope-less-doesnt-mean-lesser This is an article written in 2010 regarding several
school districts in Minnesota who’ve adopted the 4 day school week. Cost
savings are significantly less than the school in Georgia but I would be willing
to bet that has to do with population and the cost to expense ratio for the
area. Some quotes from the article:
“This year, a typical day at the junior-senior high begins at 8:20 a.m. and ends at 3:50 p.m. A year ago, school started at 8:35 a.m. and ended at 2:55 p.m. Class periods are now 58 minutes long rather than 48 minutes.
School Board chairwoman Judy Raske says the longer days can be taxing for students, especially those on the far edges of the district who may get on the bus around 7:15 a.m. and return home around 5 p.m. On the other hand, she says some teachers have told her they are further along in their curriculum than they were a year ago under the standard five-day week.
Instruction time will actually increase by 518 minutes (about 8½ hours) this year over last, according to district figures.”“State tests administered in the spring could shed light on whether the changes have affected student performance in the classroom. "At that point, we will evaluate it," Raske says. "But I would say that if things work well, we probably wouldn't go back to five days."”
http://www.ncsl.org/issues-research/educ/school-calendar-four-day-school-week-overview.aspx National Conference of State Legislatures (I
can’t find a publication date)
“Overview: With strapped state budgets and alluring promises of significant reductions in overhead and transportation costs, the four-day school week has been an increasingly attractive option for legislators seeking to cut education costs. For small, remote school districts, instituting a four-day school week may provide a savings by reducing transportation, heating, and staff costs. Supporters of the shortened week also boast of improved morale and increased attendance (by both students and teachers), open Fridays for sporting events and doctor appointments, and more time to spend with loved ones. Opponents of the four-day school week cite problems with long, exhausting class days and finding day care for children whose parents work outside the home. Additionally, educational experts worry longer weekends could lead to a regression in learned concepts while also making it more difficult to offer elective classes. However, the jury is still out on many of these issues, as there is a lack of comprehensive studies.”
This is just some
information I’ve been able to find online. Frankly, the idea seems brilliant to
me and I would really enjoy a 4 day school week. Taking a quick look through
the district calendar for the whole year I was able to spot 4 half-days, 6
Friday’s and 6 Monday’s off of school (though some of the whole days are
holidays). On one website I looked at where Monday was a holiday they had
school on that week’s Friday. We could easily eliminate the half-day (it seems
like we’ve had so many more) and some of those whole days. The extension of the
school day wouldn’t equate to hours but about 45 minutes, give or take.
It’s not that much of an extension.
As for the dilemma of childcare on the
5th day I propose training many of the high school students in CPR and
babysitting, putting their names on a list to be found on our district website
with information such as: do they drive, what hours are they available,
experience, and general location, a contact number, and a list of references.
Change is inevitable and that goes for
parents as well as staff. So, the argument of childcare, in my opinion, is
negligible.
Please, at the very least, run some
numbers and see if it is an option and share what you’ve found in regards to
this suggestion. I’m quite stoked about it and would love to know if it’s a
possibility. It would be a much greater option than having to see many of our
staff leave the district, programs cut, and buildings abandoned. It might not
be enough by itself but in conjunction with other options – it could be just
what our community and our school district needs.
Thank you very much for the work you do.
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