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Residents debating four-day school week
Published 10/29/2009 in Local News : Area coverage
By MONICA SPRINGER
JOHNSON CITY -- Residents in Johnson City will gather next week for a community meeting to discuss the possibility of shortening the school week to four days.
But the issue of potentially having school one less day a week has residents of Johnson City divided on the issue.
The Stanton County USD 452 Board of Education appointed a committee to look into the matter. Another committee formed in town opposed to a four-day school week, and that committee has met twice in the past two weeks to address their concerns.
The upcoming community meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday at the Stanton County High School auditorium, 200 W. Weaver Ave.
How it started
About 200 signatures were gathered when school ended in May, indicating there was interest in going to a four-day school week. Stanton County has a population of about 2,200 people, and the school district has 454 students.
Jim Cartwright, a member of the Stanton County USD 452 Board of Education, said the subject has come up in the past, most recently three years ago. He said this time around, the school board wanted to look into the issue again to see whether it would fit into the community.
The community meeting will be an informative meeting only. A decision likely will be made in December, Cartwright said, because if the issue is passed, it will take time for teacher negotiations and other matters to be put into effect.
Two committees
The committees have several questions and concerns: Are we making the best decision for our kids? Is the decision being rushed? Is money a concern?
Both committees have addressed the concerns prior to next week's meeting by submitting letters to the editor to the Johnson Pioneer, the newspaper that serves Johnson City and Stanton County.
A committee appointed by the school board estimates savings of between $60,000 to $70,000 if a four-day school week is implemented.
The committee that opposes the four-day school week said its members don't understand why eliminating between $60,000 and $70,000 from the district's budget is needed when the school isn't in a tight budget crunch.
The appointed committee said it expects more cuts in state aid in the future, and suggests that a proactive approach for saving money will allow the community to better handle when those cuts come.
The committee formed when the school board appointed about 10 community members to look into the pros and cons of a four-day school week. Shana Scott, a member of the appointed committee, said members have spent hours interviewing superintendents, school board members and parents in other school districts that have implemented the four-day school week.
Scott said the research the committee gathered shows that having an extra day off benefits students.
"There are a lot of good things that come out of it," Scott said.
She said through research, the committee found that students are more productive, have positive attitudes and behaviors and adjust well to the change.
Scott, a stay-at-home mom of three, said she's aware of the negative feelings parents might have about the issue. One aspect is day care. Scott said she's sympathetic to parents who both work, who would have to pay for day care should the four-day school week pass.
She said she's looking forward to spending more time with her kids if the four-day school week is implemented.
Addressing concerns
There are about 20 Johnson City and Stanton County residents who make up the committee that opposes the idea of a four-day school week.
The committee was formed by Denise Smith, a parent who said she is concerned over the time frame of the issue. Many members of the committee said they felt the process was being rushed and should wait until the board hires a permanent superintendent.
The Stanton County USD 452 Board of Education hired an interim superintendent, Jit Milner, last month, after firing previous superintendent Susan Scherling. The school district's office forwarded questions about Scherling's dismissal to the board president, Dan Kullot, who did not return messages left on his cell phone on Wednesday.
To address the opposing committee's concern of the process being rushed, Scott and the board-appointed committee said they spent numerous hours researching the topic and interviewing superintendents, principals, parents and kids. Scott said pros and cons will be discussed during the community meeting Monday.
"We'd like to educate the community," Scott said.
The 20 people who gathered to oppose the issue had varying reasons why they did so. Some thought the pregnancy rate would spike if teenagers are left alone during the day. Crime might go up if kids are left without supervision.
Members of the committee also said they are concerned that the school district's classified workers, who are hourly employees, would see a smaller paycheck if they work one day less a week. The committee also said those workers might leave for neighboring school districts that have classes five days a week to get more pay.
Others, like Clint Floyd, said if the school district needed money, the community would support a mill levy increase.
"We're moving way too fast," Floyd said. "This is a really, really big issue. It's not a light-hearted decision."
Terry Hudgins, a former school board member who has both children and grandchildren in Johnson City schools, said he's concerned about the quality of education students will receive if they go four days a week. He said he's afraid that student's won't retain the information with a three-day weekend.
"More time in front of a certified teacher is a plus, I think," Hudgins said.
Found 5 comment(s)!
As a former student in Johnson, I can understand the desire to plan ahead for potential budget cuts in the future. However, other nonessential expenses should be targeted first before considering an alternative with this broad of an impact. It has been a number of years since I was in the school system, but going without an updated computer lab for a year is one step of many that could lead to a more feasible solution.
Posted by: USD 452 grad on 11/4/2009
To Deerfield Resident
Yes, the school board passed the four day school week. I don't think there will be a increase in homework as the kids will be going to school the same amount of hours as they always have. It's mandated by the state that they go a specific amount of hours a school year, so they are not going any less and I don't see how that is going to make them have more homework. Also, there are several day care providers in Deerfield who have openings and are willing to care for the kids. What do the parents do with their kids in the summer? What do they do with their kids on days of in-services and Deerfield schools have plenty of those. I really don't think that it will be that big of a deal in the long run. It just will take a little bit of adjusting too. Life is about "change", so get used to it! About the school board not listening to the concerns of the citizens, I disagree with you. If I remember right, the community was split about right down the middle and based on the research on money saved, and other positive factors, I think they did what was best for Deerfield! If not, and it don't work, then the following year they can always go back to five day school weeks. It's not the end of the world!
Posted by: Tammy on 11/4/2009
Signatures
One thing I would like to correct is that there were only 121 signatures on the petition that is said to have had "about 200". Also, the petition stated that it was for the board to review and consider a 4-day school week, it was not a petition in favor of going to a 4-day school week.
Posted by: Cecilia on 11/1/2009
speak up on your concerns !!!
who really benefits from a 4-day week? Teachers get paid the same monthly, just a little longer each day & still have to teach the same quantity of materials. Students have gobs of homework they're expected to finish even with later evening sports practice. Hourly paid employees--if they work the 5th day, then electricity is still needed for empty buildings. Students aren't always "sick" on a set day of week. Find/secure daycare for 1 day a week isn't easy--have to pay extra to keep that spot open for your child. Extra cirricular activies are scheduled for all days of the week, so parents have to provide transportation on the days buses don't run. Isn't it hard enough to take 'vacation' days when school is closed for a Holiday, Teacher InService, PT Conf or snow-day? Single parents only have so many days they can take off... my guess is 4day week benefits those on Salary Pay that aren't teachers!
Posted by: area resident on 10/31/2009
enjoy
It will be a mistake to do this. Deerfield just voted a four day week in. There will be a big increase in home work for starters. Childcare will be an issue. Older kids will have too much free time. Deerfield faculty administration also informed us that the citizens had no say on the issue and that it was entirely up to the schoolboard to implement the four day week. Citizens of stanton county need to address this issue carefully before entering into the mess we have here. And i hope your school considers its taxpayers wishes instead of strong arming the community and creating a conflict the people of the town wont soon forget.
Posted by: deerfield resident on 10/29/2009
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