Parent tells Teton County trustees four-day week is imposing financial and safety costs on families

Brad Bonner, a parent and public commenter, told the Teton County School District Board of Trustees the district's move to a four-day school week has imposed direct financial and safety costs on families.

Bonner said the change has “led to significant financial impact to our family of at least $1,200 for Friday programming” and has disrupted the family’s professional schedules, requiring weekend work to make up productivity. He also said the district quietly ended a popular winter-sports program without public discussion and that residents feel their feedback was ignored during the calendar change.

The comment came during the board’s public comment period. Bonner said he sent feedback to the calendar committee and other administrators before a January town hall and received no replies. He said several parents skipped the town hall because they believed their input would not be taken seriously.

Bonner urged the board to improve communication and to “find more ways to improve the current calendar and mitigate the negative impacts it has had in our community,” and to make public engagement more meaningful for families.

The board did not take immediate action on the comment: public comments were recorded during the agenda’s public comment period and the meeting proceeded to the information agenda and administrative reports. The board’s calendar committee and administration indicated they have been meeting on calendar options and will return proposals to the board at future meetings.

Board members and staff did not debate or vote on a calendar change while Bonner spoke. No additional formal direction to staff was recorded on the transcript during the public comment item.