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Committee unanimously renews Box Elder district's 4-day school week waiver for remote schools
Summary
The committee renewed Box Elder School District's waiver (R277-121) that allows three remote elementary schools to operate a 4-day instructional week, citing community support and logistical benefits for remote families; staff said budget savings were modest because the school day was lengthened and many operating costs persisted.
The Utah State Board of Education committee unanimously approved a renewal of Box Elder School District's waiver request to maintain a 4-day instructional week at Snowville Elementary, Grouse Creek Elementary and Park Valley Elementary under R277-121.
Box Elder representatives described the waiver as a response to extreme remoteness: families have long commutes to reach retail, medical and other services, and community members favored the 4-day model at public meetings. "We had a great number of people turn out and 100% of the people that we had turn out at each location were in favor of this," the district representative said.
On finances, district staff said the move produced only modest net savings because daily schedules were lengthened and many classified staff (kitchen, custodial, educational support personnel) remained on the payroll. "We still ensure the special ed is met," the district representative said, describing arrangements such as locally based instructional coaches and hired paraprofessionals in individual cases.
Committee members who have worked with Box Elder praised the waiver as an appropriate accommodation for geographically remote communities and cited teacher-recruitment benefits; one member called it "exactly why I usually favor 4-day waivers when they have to do with geography and distance." The committee moved the renewal forward to the full board unanimously.
The full board will receive the committee's recommendation; committee members asked the district to continue monitoring student services and staff retention.
