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Trustees debate four‑day school week; no decision after discussion of transportation and family impacts
Summary
Board members discussed a proposal to consider shifting to a four‑day school week for some programs and the district as a whole, with concerns raised about transportation, childcare and equity; trustees asked staff for more detailed cost and routing analyses and a quick parent poll.
At a Lakeland School District Board of Trustees meeting, the superintendent opened discussion on a potential four‑day school week as a cost-saving option and asked trustees for direction on whether to explore the idea further.
The superintendent said she expected KTEC (the technical education consortium) “will be a 4 day school week” next year and noted the district may need additional cost savings even if a levy passes. She described potential benefits cited elsewhere, including longer instructional blocks at technical centers and the possibility of using Fridays for professional development or focused student supports.
Trustee Jones said bluntly, “I have no interest in it whatsoever,” arguing the move would cause hardship for working families and is not justified by the district’s stated goals. Other trustees raised a mix of concerns and questions: transportation implications (including whether single-route adjustments would require additional buses), impacts on child care for parents who work five days, whether the district could repurpose Fridays for professional development to reduce substitute costs, and how other districts’ experiences might translate locally.
Board members cited Post Falls’ multi‑year experience and savings; one speaker said Post Falls reported roughly $800,000 in savings and noted utility and ADA (average daily attendance) effects. Trustees asked staff to prepare a deeper, written analysis that would include transportation modeling and estimated fleet impacts, a clear summary of operational savings and costs, and community input. The superintendent proposed a rapid parent poll (yes/no) and said staff would report back at the Feb. 19 meeting with initial data.
No vote or policy change occurred. Trustees agreed to gather more information, with staff directed to return with transportation scenarios, financial estimates and a summary of community survey results before any formal action.
