Board discusses 4-day school week

By Bob Stuart

Published: July 9, 2008

Higher fuel costs have spurred the Waynesboro School Board to talk about a four-day school week.
But several board members have significant concerns about a longer school day, the impact on student learning and child care costs for parents.
The school district has discussed the idea at its past two meetings, including Tuesday night’s.
Waynesboro has switched to a four-day work week this summer to save on fuel and electricity costs.
Across the country, school districts will attempt four-day school weeks this year.
In Louisiana, the Caldwell Parish School System will use a four-day week during the upcoming school year to save on fuel costs, substitute teachers and cafeteria food costs.
Waynesboro School Board Vice Chairman Jeremy Taylor does not like the idea of a longer school day.
“I’m not convinced we would be charging the essential function of educating students the best way,’’ he said. “Even if we lost some potential savings on fuel and utilities, our basic mission is to educate children.”
Taylor said studies he has looked at show that shorter school days and more school days contribute to a better learning environment.
Waynesboro School Board member Brian Edwards said he would need convincing.
“The motivation needs to be illustrated clearly that this will benefit our students,’’ Edwards said. “The only reason I would go for a four-day school week is that they will become better students or not impair their ability to learn.”
Waynesboro School Board member Jonathan Lovelady wonders about students being alone at home on the fifth day unsupervised.
“Some parents cannot afford a day of child care or have extended family to watch kids,’’ said Lovelady.
A four-day school week would also impact extra curricular activities and joint programs with the Augusta County and Staunton Schools, he said.
Frank Barham, executive director of the Virginia School Boards Association, said the discussion in Waynesboro is one that will happen in many Virginia school districts this summer.
“No one has money in their budgets to cover the increases in costs over the past few months,’’ Barham said.
Barham said he has sent articles to all Virginia school boards about other U.S school districts going to four-day school weeks.
The Waynesboro School Board met with a company Tuesday night to discuss ways to save on fuel costs in its buildings. Lovelady said he would prefer to look at other ways to cut costs.
“We need to gain every efficiency out of the current program and schedule,’’ he said.
Lovelady likes the idea of having an energy-management company partner with the school district before taking the radical step of a four-day school week.
Taylor said once a change is made, it would likely stand.
“If we enter into this based on the premise it is necessary, it’s a permanent change,’’ he said.
Taylor said a longer day “is not good for our mission.”
He said if the school district needs more money for fuel, it can tighten its budget in other areas.