I have always been a proponent of year round school. Our current school calendar was set up many years ago because so many families were in agriculture and the children helped out. But now comes Federal, State, Local and, yes,
School District budget woes.
Caddo seriously needs to cut back 20 - 30 million dollars. We must cut $20,000,000 this year.
Four day school weeks first came to my attention when my sister, Debbie, started teaching in Caldwell Parish. Caldwell is a small rural and rather poor district. But when I visited their district, there was an undeniable richness in the people there. Anyway, Debbie started teaching there the first year they had cut to 4 days. Yes, parents had to adjust. What were they going to do with their children when they are at work? Well, to tell you the truth, a large part of our society does not work just weekdays from 9-5. So what do they do? By the time the second year rolled around, no one, teachers, students and parents wanted to go back to the 5 day week.
But what about the academic side of this 4 day week? Well, Caddo piloted year round schools for several years and saw no difference is academic achievement. So the district decided to keep only one year round school. To tell the truth,
Shreve Island would have shown the same achievement no matter how many days of school they had. It was the
right combination of leadership, teachers, students and parents. You can't beat that and you can't stop them from achieving. After the budget meeting tonight, I came home and googled 4 day school week. Wow, I didn't expect to see so much written on this. I read the first 5 and decided to blog about it. First, to help me get my mind around it and then to get feedback from my readers who are parents, teachers and Caddo citizens. When I requested that staff consider this option, I got the usually dumb struck look from other board members.
They are waiting to be told what we will do.
Who are we to come up with an idea? Oh heaven help me. And I
really mean that. So I know if I bring an idea, I will have to push it, if I think it is a worthy idea.
http://www.caddo.k12.la.us/boardmember-contact.cfm
Call and write your board members!!!!!!!!!!!
These are my initial reasons to consider the 4 day work week. When we start cutting, we will increase class sizes. We will cut music and band programs. Art programs will be cut. Educational trips will be eliminated. None of these ideas are good for student achievement. We have already closed schools and moved middle school students to high schools. I believe this will actually put our students' safety at risk and kill very good successful communities.
I reject all of these ideas.
Of course my first response is to cut Central Office. Hopefully, that will be done. But it
will not amount to 20 million dollars. The first article I read said that some school districts decided not to go to the 4 day week when they realized that they would only save 5%. Five percent of $350,000,000 is $17,500,000.
Check my math, please. That is very exciting to me in this budget crisis. The Superintendent put it in writing tonight that it costs 1 million dollars a day to run our school system. So 17.5 million actually seems on the low side.
http://www.caddo.k12.la.us/boardmember-contact.cfm
From the feedback I received from talking to people in the systems that are on 4 day weeks and just reading the first 5 articles; this is the information I got about the
academic impact of 4 day weeks.
1. Uncertain that it made any difference in the students' achievement.
2. School scores increased dramatically - because of these factors that make up the scores:
1. Lower absenteeism with students.
2. Lower absenteeism with faculty.
Substitute hiring was cut in half--not just 1/5.
3. Graduation rates increased. Why?
They didn't get so sick of school they dropped out.
4. Reduction in discipline problems.
I guess one less day to act bad.
5. Students were more focused and there were less interruptions.
What do the students do on Monday when they are not in school?
1. Churches step up and offer tutorials.
One local minister has already mentioned this to the board.
2. Students do community volunteering.
3. Older students work or do job training programs.
4. Younger children spend the day with grandparents.
(I might have to rethink this.) Not really
5. Do what parents do with their children who don't just work weekdays and 8-3.
The bottom line is,
we are going to have to change or cut somewhere. The Superintendent has already recommended increasing class sizes, cutting music, art, and extra curricular activities. Also freezing all employees' salaries. Our employees' salaries have already fallen behind our surrounding area. We will not be able to choose the best and the brightest teachers in this situation.
To tell you the truth, I don't like any changes or cuts. But let's get real.
Someone is going to get hurt with this budget. Will all of Caddo share it? Or will it just be the children and the employees?
Below are 5 articles that I have read so far. I wonder what the other board members did tonight after the meeting?
Please post a comment. I really need your feedback.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124501288
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/06/04/national/main6548010.shtml
http://www.education.com/magazine/article/4-day-school-week/
http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/09/02/four_day_week/
http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/news/columnists/mayo/blog/2009/02/fourday_school_week_could_work.html
The next day she sent this picture with the caption 
Anyway, Friday after school I received 6 very cute little chicks; 2 Plymouth Barred Rocks, 2 Rhode Island Reds and 2 Buff Orpington. I have to say that Mrs. Flint was extremely determined to give her students a great experience. 
