How would you like to have every Monday off during the school year? Well, that’s the way it is in 30 percent of school districts in Missouri.
Schools across the Missouri district have been switching to 4-day school weeks due to budget concerns, for the past decade. While Parkway hasn’t adopted it, other school districts around have been dropping Mondays or Fridays, mostly to cut food costs, building maintenance, bus maintenance, and more.
Despite the research showing no decrease in student’s learning outcomes in 4-day school weeks, Missouri legislators are trying to pass laws restricting districts from going to 4-day school weeks. One bill would require the citizens in the district to vote to approve any plan to move to 4-day school weeks.
Although there are currently no school districts in St. Louis County operating on a 4-day schedule, the Fox School District almost went to a 4-day week last school year to save money. Additionally, the Hazelwood School District is implementing a vocational school in their district where teachers will only come to school 4 days a week. However, students will still attend 5 days a week. Fox School District is also reconsidering its decision, and is currently hosting parent meetings to discuss going to a 4-day week, due to pandemic funds running dry in the recent year.
The largest school district in Missouri to have a 4-day school week is the Independence School District near Kansas City, with around 15,000 students in the entire district.
There are two main reasons districts contemplate moving to 4-day school weeks: teaching shortages and saving money. With a 4-day school week, the buildings and buses could be shut down during the day off, which would save energy costs. Additionally, a 4-day school week for teachers could be an incentive for teachers entering the job field.
Although there is currently no discussion of such a thing in Parkway, students and teachers at South have differing opinions on a 4-day school week.
Junior Ian Banks said he would favor a 4-day school week.
“As a student here, things can already get pretty stressful. I wouldn’t mind a day off in the week,” he said.
Math teacher Anne Erehart also said she’d be there for a 4-day week.
“A longer school day in trade for another day off would be wonderful. Teachers would have more time to work on grading, and Ac Labs wouldn’t be taken from students so often,” she said.
Senior Deea Anton also said she would enjoy having a 4-day school week, for reasons not relating to school.
“If we got Monday off, I think that students that have work can get another work day in, get more hours. By Friday everyone including teachers, just seems so ready to get the week done with,” she said.
However, school isn’t all about schoolwork. Things like after-school sports and after-school activities could be in jeopardy with 4-day school weeks.
Coach Jermy Houchins stated this exact issue for after-school sports, like the upcoming track season.
“It’d sound intriguing for teachers, and students would love it. But parents would hate it, with 5 days of practice needed, some students would need transportation,” he said.
The biggest issue on 4-day weeks that most staff covered is the lack of parental support for the 4-day week idea. Parents who work usual weeks will be working the same times as their kids attending school; this is especially helpful for parents with kids in elementary school or even middle school. With a full day off for the kid, the parent isn’t always able to supervise them at home, and that’s simply not something many parents can get behind.
Attendance Secretary Kayla Penn said she is interested in the idea, but thinks more research needs to be done.
“It sounds appealing, and so long as students get work done, it’d be beneficial for students and staff. But I’d want to check in on other districts that are participating in 4-day weeks before making the switch, to see how they’re dealing with it,” she said.
