Our school district is actively exploring the possibility of transitioning to a 4-day school week, and we want to include you—our families and community members—in this important conversation. Your feedback is essential in helping us make a decision that best supports our students, staff, and families. Below, we outline the proposed options, key considerations, and next steps in this process.

Key Details About the Proposal

• Total School Days: The total number of on-campus days for students (158 days per year) will remain the same.
• School Calendar: The most drastic changes to your summer in any of these options could be a start time (around August 5th) and extend a week to two weeks later in May (approximately May 20th).
• We currently are on campus for 23 – 5 day school weeks and 13 abbreviated school weeks. These options below would transition this split anywhere from 18 – 5 day weeks, 13 – 5 day weeks, or 6 – 5 day weeks or 4 – 5 day weeks.
• Schedule Options Under Consideration:
  1. After Spring Break: Implementing 4-day school weeks from Spring Break through the end of the school year.
  2. Spring Semester Only: Transitioning to 4-day school weeks for the entire spring semester, starting in January.
  3. After Fall Break: Beginning 4-day school weeks after Fall Break and continuing through the rest of the year.
  4. Full Academic Year: Adopting 4-day school weeks for the entire year, starting in early August and ending later in May. This option would include anywhere from 4 to 8 weeks of a 5 day weeks. Their tentative start and end date would be approximately August 5th and May 20th).

Our Commitments

• Minimum On-Campus Days: Students will continue to attend school on campus for a minimum of 158 days annually.
• No Distance Learning Days: Virtual days will only be used to replace professional development days when necessary.

Why Are We Exploring This Change?

The decision to consider a 4-day school week is driven by the evolving needs of our students, staff, and community. Several factors have led us to explore this option:

1. Teacher Retention and Recruitment: A flexible schedule has become an increasingly important factor in attracting and retaining talented educators.
2. Family Needs: In our conversation with families, more and more they are seeking options that provide flexibility in attendance and scheduling.

What Happens Next?

Over the next three months, we will engage in a thorough evaluation process, which includes:

• Conducting staff and community surveys to gather your input.
• Researching neighboring districts that have adopted a 4-day school week.
• Consulting with our district calendar committee to develop potential calendar options.

How You Can Get Involved

Your voice is crucial to this decision-making process. We invite you to share your thoughts, concerns, and suggestions. WE WANT AND NEED YOUR FEEDBACK click the link!

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QSHB3NK

Together, we can thoughtfully assess whether a 4-day school week aligns with our district’s goals and the needs of our community. Thank you for your partnership as we navigate this important decision.