Trustees lean toward keeping five‑day school week, consider moving weekly early‑release to Friday

Trustees discussed whether to pursue a four‑day week, a five‑day hybrid, or retain a traditional five‑day schedule. Staff presented a draft survey to gather community input and included definitions to clarify what different models mean; the board debated whether to release a broad survey or first narrow options internally.

Several trustees emphasized concerns about impacts on student learning and special education services and highlighted the importance of professional learning communities (PLCs) and professional development time for teachers. Amy Bowie, who identified herself as curriculum director, cautioned that PLC time is central to student achievement and urged care before reducing scheduled collaboration time.

Board members expressed competing priorities: some said teachers and their union have asked for a four‑day option, while others said the district’s rural context and effects on special needs students favor keeping five days. A compromise gained traction: keep a five‑day school week but explore moving the existing Monday early‑release teacher work time to Friday and consider whether some collaborative workdays could be concentrated twice a month rather than weekly.

Chair summarized the emergent consensus: the board will not move to a four‑day week immediately, will not publish the broad survey now, and asked staff to return within a week with concrete options for shifting the early‑release day and for semester/trimester scheduling. The board scheduled a special meeting immediately following the regular board meeting next week to act on the matter.