The Yellow Board

4 day school week

Posted by Obi Ron Kenobi on 4/13/2022, 11:54 am

Discussions on that topic start tomorrow in my district. I'd like to collect some opinions from anyone who has already changed to a 4 day week or is discussing it.

Re: 4 day school week

Posted by Possible schedule on 4/18/2022, 8:50 am, in reply to "4 day school week"

I have heard of M-Th all year with only about 15 minutes added to the schedule. Also heard about a schedule that is M-F in the Fall and then 4 day M-Th in the Spring with only about 5 minutes added to the schedule.

Re: 4 day school week

Posted by Directo Mo on 4/15/2022, 12:50 pm, in reply to "4 day school week"

I hope you guys that are excited about a 4 days weekend realize you aren't actually getting a 3 day weekend. You will more than likely have to show up to work and have PD or PLC's all day......

Well unless your district wants to pay you 150 days instead of 187.

Re: 4 day school week

Posted by retireder on 4/14/2022, 2:39 pm, in reply to "4 day school week"

Are they reducing the number of instructional days? 36 week school year minus one day a week. Have to tack on 36 days to what we usually do. Still four day weeks, so that is nine extra weeks. Can you say year round school?

The four day work week has been a undercurrent theme of the 'work less for more pay and the government takes care of lots of my stuff' crowd for a long time. I can see the four day school week as a grass roots movement to build toward that. After ten years or so of four day week school, you think there won't be pressure to institute the four day work week?

Re: 4 day school week

Posted by FYI on 4/14/2022, 7:45 pm, in reply to "Re: 4 day school week"

There’s no “day” requirement. It’s minutes.

Using hours for math purposes.

If you lose 36 7 hour instructional days, you need 252 hours in addition. Divide that over the other ~140 usual days and you just add basically 2 hours to the school day without lengthening the school year a single day.

Re: 4 day school week

Posted by fumw on 4/18/2022, 6:04 am, in reply to "Re: 4 day school week"

So you are going to lengthen every day to nine to ten hours? 730-430, or 830-530, then do after school band, athletics, etc after that? So those kids get to spend as up to 12 hours a day at school? That'll work just fine.

Re: 4 day school week

Posted by DesertJazz on 4/16/2022, 8:10 am, in reply to "Re: 4 day school week"

Kids are based on the minutes, but I will agree I don't know how they can give the teachers four day weeks and keep the teacher days. The state tied the students to minutes a legislation cycle or two again, but left teachers at 187. I served on our calendar committee, and it's a regular pain in the butt even with a traditional calendar to start and end at reasonable dates because of those. We could probably have given kids an additional few days off for next year, but why bother when teachers have to be there still?

Now, if the state starts allowing teachers a set number of minutes too, that becomes a more interesting proposition to me. The only hesitancy I have is the experiences we had in 2020-2021. We did like seven four day weeks in a row from mid January to late February. Made contest prep absolutely more difficult as you had less days before they forgot everything, and the same number of Mondays!

Re: 4 day school week

Posted by BDSO on 4/17/2022, 8:08 am, in reply to "Re: 4 day school week"

In every scenario I have seen regarding a 4-day school week, the day is extended to get the required minutes and teachers have to come in on the 5th day. The translates to more work hours for teachers that those on a traditional 5-day week plan. As someone who values their non-work time, this does not sound like a good idea. In fact, I would probably leave that district for one that has a traditional calendar.

Re: 4 day school week

Posted by DesertJazz on 4/17/2022, 8:55 am, in reply to "Re: 4 day school week"

I completely agree with you in that scenario. I would avoid it just like I avoid year-round school districts. If people truly want to move that direction they need to get the state to change the way teacher contract days are determined. You're completely locked in otherwise. I don't think DOI status would let you change it either. (So many options I can't remember if that was one)

Re: 4 day school week

Posted by DOI on 4/18/2022, 11:48 am, in reply to "Re: 4 day school week"

DOI lets you change both start and end dates.

Re: 4 day school week

Posted by NLABD on 4/14/2022, 1:39 pm, in reply to "4 day school week"

I'd like to see a student 4 day week and a teacher 5 day week.

Monday is the student free day.

only one hour on the Monday is allowed to be a faculty meeting.

The rest can be used for planning, grading, and allowing teachers to handle their business like the professional adults they are.

Taking Fridays off for students crashes horribly when considering high school athletic schedules and band.

Re: 4 day school week

Posted by 1A HBD on 4/14/2022, 8:13 am, in reply to "4 day school week"

I understand that a four day week is attractive on the surface but I am not a fan of it.

1. Band Directors and coaches will not ever really have a four day week.

2. A majority of parents do not like it because they still have to work and now have to find child care one day a week.

3. The students are better served at school instead of being home by themselves.

Re: 4 day school week

Posted by hmmm on 4/15/2022, 9:48 pm, in reply to "Re: 4 day school week"

So what do parents do in the summer when schools are not in session? Do the parents not work, then?

Re: 4 day school week

Posted by 1A HBD on 4/20/2022, 9:54 am, in reply to "Re: 4 day school week"

The difference is, during the summer, parents can arrange care for their children because they will need care all week for a couple of months. People are willing to take a job like that. I do not know many places that will take on a child or children only one day a week.

Yes, students might be home alone during the summer, but we can minimize that during the school year and I think we should.

Re: 4 day school week

Posted by Me on 4/21/2022, 7:38 am, in reply to "Re: 4 day school week"

Sounds like a business opportunity to me.

Friday-only day care and child care.

There's a demand for it. Surely someone can create this as a part time job? And surely some senior citizens or non-working adults (read: SAHM or SAHD) can work those positions?

Re: 4 day school week

Posted by Snerk on 4/14/2022, 12:10 pm, in reply to "Re: 4 day school week"

Continuing to tie the "school year" to the agricultural calendar isn't serving anyone. We should be on a six weeks on, two weeks off, three weeks for holidays schedule all year long.

Imagine how we'd all benefit if kids and teachers alike didn't have to shake off the 9-week summer break every year.

Re: 4 day school week

Posted by Not just Ag on 4/18/2022, 8:56 am, in reply to "Re: 4 day school week"

Some of these kids need the summer to work because they can't work during the year. You would kill high school kids getting summer jobs if they could only work 2 weeks every 6. I understand what you are saying but I am really not a fan of year round school as a teacher or parent.

Re: 4 day school week

Posted by Nope on 4/14/2022, 3:10 pm, in reply to "Re: 4 day school week"

I can't work my pace year-round for the pay... some reset and R&R are the things that keeps me churning.

Re: 4 day school week

Posted by Respectfully on 4/18/2022, 7:37 am, in reply to "Re: 4 day school week"

You probably already do.

You work until a week or two after the kids leave.

You take a few weeks off in the middle of the summer.

You probably work a camp or go to some masterclasses, or leadership training events.

Take another week off.

Then you go to Summer Convention in late July.

And it all starts again ...

You ALREADY work year-round. And it's worse if you're a HSBD.

Re: 4 day school week

Posted by Okay... on 4/13/2022, 2:24 pm, in reply to "4 day school week"

We're going to a M-Th week next year. However, with the way things are going here, along with how this was "sold" to everyone, it's more like the district is re-arranging deck chairs on the Titanic. To be honest, I don't see the benefit.

Re: 4 day school week

Posted by Dollars on 4/18/2022, 8:54 am, in reply to "Re: 4 day school week"

The biggest cost saving that I have seen in regards to the 4 day week is fuel costs and energy costs on that 5th day. If you have a rural district spending lots of money on bus drivers and fuel cutting out how many Fridays over the year is a HUGE cost saver. HVAC can bump up several degrees which helps shave operating costs. If you are a teacher in the building with kids in the district, (and don't do extra-curricular), then a 3 day weekend all year long would be a HUGE bonus. I'd love it outside of marching season. Probably would love it during marching season because I wouldn't have to deal with classes getting in the way of a good warm up and football game.

Yes, certain parts of the buildings still have climate control on Friday and Saturday but not the entire building most likely and that was happening anyway. Athletics running their normal schedule with coaches driving and most of their activity outside, (except volleyball), still saves the money from busing several hundred students hundreds of miles.

Re: 4 day school week

Posted by Respectfully on 4/14/2022, 7:28 am, in reply to "Re: 4 day school week"

Are they playing their home football games on Thursday nights?

Re: 4 day school week

Posted by Okay... on 4/14/2022, 10:05 am, in reply to "Re: 4 day school week"

Nope, Fridays as usual. In fact all of the athletic schedules remain the same.

Re: 4 day school week

Posted by Anon on 4/13/2022, 12:21 pm, in reply to "4 day school week"

My district is not discussing the idea but I LOVE the idea!!!

I would prefer to work Monday and Tuesday then Thursday and Friday. Wednesdays off would be amazing!!!

Re: 4 day school week

Posted by drumguy on 4/14/2022, 8:18 am, in reply to "Re: 4 day school week"

From those who have any experience with this, either in practice or in theory, I'd be interested to know a couple of things...

1. What is the schedule like on M-Th? How long is the school day compared to the traditional version?

2. What do you do on Friday? Is it an off day, a work day, a study hall day, etc?

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