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Board approves pursuit of state waiver to continue 4‑day school weeks for NES communities

Tooele County School District Board of Education · November 12, 2025
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Summary

The board voted to seek renewal of the three‑year waiver that allows selected outlying NES schools to operate a 4‑day week; staff will survey families and consider Vernon Elementary’s schedule before submitting the final state application.

The board voted to pursue renewal of a state waiver that allows several Tooele County School District NES (outlying) schools to operate a 4‑day school week, district staff reported. The waiver is on a three‑year renewal cycle; the district held required stakeholder meetings, including an in‑person session for Dugway and Vernon and a virtual session for Wendover, and reported approximately 25 attendees to an initial outreach meeting.

District staff explained the current schedule used in NES schools: roughly 8 a.m. to 3:03–3:10 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Thursday (a half day), noting community concerns that the longer daily hours may be burdensome for students. A board member said some parents want to keep the 4‑day week and others have expressed concern about long days; staff confirmed at least one school (Anna Smith Elementary) operates a full Thursday and accommodates teacher planning by alternate staffing arrangements.

The motion to pursue the waiver was moved by Bob and seconded by Todd; the board voted in favor. Superintendent Dustin Ernst asked district leadership to take a closer look at Vernon Elementary to determine whether the district should require or allow a school‑level decision on the half‑day Thursday, and staff agreed to return to the board with a recommendation before filing the state application.

The presenter also said the waiver application requires a packet of data — student achievement and attendance among other items — and that the district will run a staff/parent survey open through December to collect additional input and include any relevant planning‑time or schedule questions requested by the board.

The board’s vote authorizes staff to continue the application process; no final state approval was indicated at the meeting.