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School Board to Explore Four-Day Week

Posted on: Thursday, 15 December 2005, 18:00 CST

By STEVE PEOPLES Journal Staff Writer

School Committee members say ultimately they may not support a four-day school week, but last night's vote was necessary to notify the state and keep the option open for the town.

* * *

PORTSMOUTH - The School Committee last night took its first step toward implementing a four-day school week, voting unanimously to inform the state commissioner of education of the school system's interest in the rare cost-saving measure.

"I don't think anyone in the state realized it was a possibility," Schools Supt. Susan Lusi said of the four-day concept, which is unprecedented in Rhode Island, but has been done in at least 10 states.

Elementary and high schools must have 330 minutes of instruction each week, according to 2004 state education standards. But there is no requirement that those minutes of instruction -- about 5 1/2 hours each day -- must be distributed over a five-day school week.

While the School Department has gathered feedback from school administrators and staff in recent weeks and researched the four- day practice in other systems across the country, Lusi did not have any estimates on the potential cost savings or specifics on the schedule changes. Generally, however, the school day would be an hour and a half longer should the School Committee and state commissioner of education ultimately approve the change.

"None of us want a four-day week, but we have no where else to go," School Committee chairwoman Sylvia Wedge said before last night's meeting. "It's all about money."

Other committee members cautioned that their affirmative votes didn't mean they'd support the dramatic change next month when a final vote is planned. But a Dec. 31 state deadline required a School Committee vote last night expressing interest simply to keep the option alive.

"I think we need to move forward and at least look at the options," Committeeman E. Richard Carpender said. "But this is a Herculean task to accomplish in a month."

Facing major budgetary problems, school officials have already cut more than $600,000 from this year's budget. Those reductions have largely spared student programs, but included closing school buildings by 6:30 p.m. each night, cutting a professional development day for teachers, eliminating bus monitors from middle school buses, and shrinking budgets for school supplies and textbooks.

Foreseeing similar problems in the future, Lusi said it made sense to explore the four-day option. The school district could likely save hundreds of thousands of dollars in utilities and transportation costs.

While there are concerns regarding whether special education and younger students could withstand a longer school day, current research indicates the shorter work week has no effect -- neither negative nor positive -- on student achievement, Lusi said.

In fact, some studies released last night noted several benefits of the shorter school week, including better attendance rates among students and teachers, a lower drop-out rate, and improved school morale.

The primary concern, however, as noted by some school staff who responded to feedback requests from the school administration, is for working parents.

"Personally, as a teacher, I wouldn't mind a four-day week," wrote one Elmhurst Elementary School teacher whose name was redacted from a school memo. "I also feel that the parents will be very upset with this schedule. It will cause hardships, parents having to schedule a babysitter for a full day."

Wedge said the committee was fully aware of the possible implications of its actions.

"If we don't have a budgetary problem, this will be put on the sidelines," she said of the four-day concept. "But one day we may have to say, 'are we not going to have a football team, or will we have a four-day school week, or are we not going to have band?' We can only do so much with the money we have."

To contact staff write Steve Peoples phone (401) 277-7459 or e- mail SPeoples@projo.com

Source: Providence Journal

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