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Western Oregon | Here all games have been on Friday nights, no change, but a day to get prepared now. Employee training and meetings on Fridays, if needed. Fewer kids breakfasts and lunches.
Been 4 day weeks for 11 years. Both my kids work for the district. Very small district, 2 buildings, grade and high + a small modular for 4 year olds. Daughter is the teacher. About 70 kids total. Janitors get a lot more done Friday mornings. Janitors, lunch lady and EA's work 32 hour/weeks. Much better and dedicated EA's since 4 day weeks. allowed us to have 1/2 the teachers, all combined grades with an EA in each classroom, saving a lot of money. District has gained 12 out of district students. Nearly 100% graduation rate since. I was on the school board during the time we went to 4 day school. Lots of people didn't want it. Lots of discussion. We had to save money or lose the district. We saw what happened at other districts. The other small rural schools were closed and consolidated within their district to save money. Kids were bussed to town Residents didn't want to lose control of their schools. Tough times. Took 1 more year than planned to get there. Lot of budget meetings to show where savings would be. Everyone likes it now.
Same in class hours, just 4 days instead of 5 days. Ends up that about 1/2 of Fridays have school because of days off the week before and to make up snow days and other emergency days off, instead of longer, at end of year. A lot more flexibility. Lot of Monday holidays these days. We had 2 big busses but now only need 1 purpose built single wheel 4 window 16 passenger van bus. Close district is working together for sports teams, shared busing and specialty teachers, each district has 1 van/bus. With school earlier and later most parents drop off and pick up students. Only 6 bus stops now, 2 routes before. Lot less mileage.
Both my kids like it, less times that they have to get kids settled in. Same classes all 4 days, 1 more period each day than 5 day school. P.E is now a period, all 4 days. 1 more recess, less excess energy. Son runs reset room and he sees less kids each day because kids have less time to goof off/get in trouble/excess energy. And an EA in each classroom can step in and handle before it gets out of hand and teacher had to send to reset room because they were upsetting the whole classroom. Kids get a better education. Less time between classes. Both kids are less stressed and less tired at end of week, 4 days instead of 5, more time to wind down even with meetings and training, maybe 2 Fridays a month, mornings....James
Edited by jwal10 12/1/2023 21:49
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4 Day School Week
