Cook County News Herald

Is 4-day school week plan a lemon?




Is the four-day school week what is best for the majority of students in ISD 166 and the community as a whole? In my opinion what is best involves much more than discussions about academics or budget. These are the two main talking points of a 4-day week.

A 4-day week is not a long-term financial solution and this fall we’ll be asked to pass a referendum even if the school board decides to switch to a 4-day week.

Questions and concerns about the 4-day week have been brought forth at public meetings, such as:

Don’t kids lose information with a three-day break between school days?

Will businesses in town suffer because of folks not being in town?

When will my child have time for piano lessons, Scouts, church school, etc.?

Will people move away or not move to our community because of it?

Won’t the cook and other nonteaching staff lose jobs or income?

If there are school activities on the day off will there be transportation?

Thelist of concerns is endless and many have not been addressed or resolved.

A 4-day week is not guaranteed to save the district money or increase academic learning or even raise test scores. There are no conclusive reports of increased community satisfaction when schools make the change. If this were a great idea then there would be a large group of supporters or at least a group of teachers who would be passionately for the change.

I’m unaware of one person at any of the public meetings who is strongly in favor of the 4-day week. A comment heard at the most recent meeting regarding the presentation given by the superintendent was, “I feel like I’m being sold a lemon in a used car lot.”

Our community and our children deserve more than lemons. When switching to a 4-day week, academic achievement does not increase and there aren’t reports of overwhelming money savings. Thebenefits of a 4-day week do not outweigh the risks and most importantly no one is excited about a change because it doesn’t make sense.

This important and far-reaching decision will be made by the administration and school board. Thefuture of our children and our community is in their hands. Will you let them know our community deserves better? Susan Prom
Grand Marais



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