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Trustees debate research and risks of a 4‑day school week as potential legislation looms
Summary
Superintendent warned that upcoming legislation may target 4‑day school weeks and critiqued a University of Montana report he says excluded district data; trustees discussed comparability of studies, potential unintended consequences for staffing and student services, and the need to organize local advocacy.
At length, trustees discussed the 4‑day school week and potential legislative attention. Superintendent (speaker 2) said he had read a University of Montana analysis and raised concerns that the district’s data were not represented in the report, arguing the research could be skewed by omitted variables and that comparisons between districts may not be apples‑to‑apples.
"I read through it today...there were some things that they omitted from it," the superintendent said, urging trustees to be ready to make their views known at the legislative session if local control of the 4‑day week is threatened.
Trustees exchanged concerns about unintended consequences: possible staff losses if districts are forced back to a five‑day week, increased student absence percentages under some measures, and impacts on feeding programs and extracurricular scheduling. One trustee pointed to roughly 75 districts reported to be on a 4‑day schedule and noted examples of districts that later returned to a five‑day week, underlining that policy outcomes have varied across districts.
Board members discussed organizing locally, collecting more robust district data on academic and attendance impacts, and coordinating with other districts if advocacy is needed. No formal motion or vote occurred; the board directed staff to monitor legislative developments and suggested convening stakeholders if action is required.
