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No School On Fridays

Schools Are Looking For Unconventional Ways To Save Money

Jun 2, 2006

Winter Fuel Prices Greatly Affect Budgets, ablestock.com

Schools in remote or rural areas have decided to cut petroleum costs by switching to a four day school week. No school on Friday!

School budgets are running into the red because of fuel prices. School districts in rural areas have buses that travel massive miles daily. Students are to receive a mandated number of hours of education per week and there are few options to save money.

Pros

Districts may save 20% on bus fuel costs by cutting one day out of the week. In addition to this, the school building temperature may be lowered three days instead of just two. And, the free day can be used for appointments and other necessities.

Cons

Families that rely on the school to feed children on the Free and Reduced Lunch Plans have to feed them at home. This is often both breakfast and lunch. Daycare is another issue. If a household budget is set and now you have to arrange daycare for one day a week, it may be difficult. Not only finding the money is difficult but finding a daycare provider that will take children only one day a week may be even harder. Now add the gas for the car that is used to take the child to daycare and bring home.

Longer Days

Schools are required to teach children a prescribed number of hours per day. If students stay until 5:00 p.m. instead of 3:30 p.m., they put in the same hours as a five day week.

How Is It Working?

Laura Zuckerman from Reuters, states schools that have tried it this year like it. Teachers and parents also like the new schedule. Surveys show that the four day week has a 90% approval rate. There has been a surprise twist. Students are attending school better because they know they have Fridays off for appointments. Perhaps this is just something that makes sense for the future?

Read previous articles on Educational Issues.

The copyright of the article No School On Fridays in Educational Issues is owned by Barbara Pytel. Permission to republish No School On Fridays in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Winter Fuel Prices Greatly Affect Budgets

Fuel For Bus Routes Major Budget Item

Schools Find It Difficult to Budget for Fuel

Comments

Jun 2, 2006 8:31 AM

Lynn Byrne :

Before I comment on the Friday issue, I have to say first that this was a great article. Both pros and cons were presented. Nicely balanced.

As for the topic--I'm floored. No school on Fridays? And a previous article in the E&C section dealt with short days on Mondays. So... now its 3 1/2 instructional days per week? And we wonder why students in U.S. public schools typically perform poorer than students in other developed countries.

Jun 2, 2006 10:05 AM

Barbara Pytel :

I believe the number of hours spent in class would be the same. Some local schools tried this alternative plan when the school budget did not allow for the jump in gas prices a few years ago. I think the reason it was not done this year is because schools set aside extra funds for gas as a precaution. Of course, this means that something else didn't get funding. By the time you budget for health insurance increases and fuel, the leftovers go for books, computers and learning. The half days come from the state legislatures mandating in-service days. Teachers would rather teach a full day.

Jun 2, 2006 2:14 PM

Irene Taylor :

Wow - flex time for schools! Now I've seen it all, but I think it makes sense. I'll bet teachers also like the day off from traveling, but I wonder how they like teaching those weary tykes at 4:30 p.m.! I know the last hour was always a challenge for my students - now that last hour will last for 2 hours!

As to half-day in-service days - I would rather be teaching a whole day any day! Trying to fit in the important "stuff", most likely lunch, and dismissal all before noon and then spending the afternoon in a workshop isn't my cup of tea. I guess my "last hour" is also a challenging one when I'm the student!

Great article!

Irene

3 Comments