Four-day weeks catching on

With the financial challenges facing public school districts not just in Minnesota but across the country, the four-day week is getting a serious look from many points of the compass. The LA Times wrote an editorial on the subject this week and highlighted some of the benefits:

There appear to be educational benefits as well. Absenteeism among students and teachers in these schools has fallen appreciably, the report said. (As a result, schools also paid less money for substitute teachers.) Students reported feeling more positive about school. Dropout rates fell, students behaved better and participation in extracurricular activities rose. Parents of young children often objected to the change because of the need to find childcare, but once the programs were in place, the report said, they often found that it was easier to find care for one full day a week than for several partial days. Test scores didn't fall, and in many cases, they rose.

We have seen indications of some of these things over the course of this year, but not all. We will certainly know more after the school and fiscal year end and we are able to look more closely at our implementation.

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Enrollments

Enrollment has been a topic of discussion lately and I, and likely you, have heard many things circulating in the community.

The Post Review today has an article on last Thursday's school board meeting, at which enrollment data was provided. I encourage all to read the article to be reminded that the district, like the community at large, is suffering due to factors beyond its control. Housing starts - present and past - indicate what has been happening:

As noted in a demographer’s report last February, the decline in enrollment is directly correlated to a slowdown in residential development in the area.

That can be seen by noting that for the year, North Branch has had only 2 housing starts. In the early years of this century, that number soared to some 200 starts per year.

If you would like further information on enrollments, click here to view the presentation from last Thursday which includes all the data available on current enrollments.

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Should be fun

I will be participating in an online debate forum today at noon. Hosted by MPR, the four-day week will be the subject of the debate, and the other panel member will be Perham-Dent Superintendent Tamara Uselman. Participation is welcome so join the fun!

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We are approved!

The district learned yesterday afternoon that the state has approved our application for a four-day week. You can read the press release here, and also view the letter sent to the district from MDE commissioner Alice Seagren.

I was pleased MDE noticed the great degree to which the district went to involve as many people as possible, and am looking forward to dedicating those "fifth day" dollars to the classroom, which so many have told us needs to be our top priority.

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More four-day news

Joe Nathan, education columnist for ECM Publishers, has penned a column based on what he has learned about the four-day week from Ogilvie superintendent Ed Harris. Nathan also spoke to Rush City superintendent Vern Koepp and myself. Also this week, another Minnesota district has approved a four-day week.

UPDATE: At the Post Review, an editorial expands on the Nathan column.

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