4-day School Week? Local administrators weigh in on proposed bills for shorter school weeks

Missouri legislatures are contemplating the passage of two bills that would allow school districts to adopt a four-day schedule instead of the usual Monday through Friday routine.

The purpose of the proposed legislation is to give school districts a way to cut down on expenses.

Although a four-day week would allow saving in many areas including utilities and bus fuel, it does present a problem of child care for younger children on the fifth day, according to local administrators.

If the bills pass, local school boards will be given the right to vote on whether they want to change to the four-day week or stay with the Monday through Friday routine. Schools that opt to go with the shorter week would have the option to lengthen their school day by one hour, thus maintaining the same number of annual instruction hours.

Although it will be an option if the bill passes, local superintendents have said they will probably not adopt the new week.

In the Southland School District, Superintendent Raymond Lasley said that although he has given the idea some consideration, he is not sure how the community would handle a four-day school week.

"I think it can work in a high school setting," Lasley said. "But I don't think elementary students have the attention span for the hours."

Lasley added that the shorter school week would also allow high school students more time to work jobs. He also said that the longer school days could cause potential problems for athletics as the students would not have as much time to get ready for the games after school.

"In actuality, most parents work weeks are set up on five days," Lasley said reiterating concerns of child care issues.

"Aside from the child care issues, I'm not sure it is good educationally," Lasley added.

"I would love to save some money, but I'm not sure it is a good idea," Lasley said.

He added, "[The Southland Board] may survey our parents to see if they think it is an advantage for them."

In the Holcomb School District, Superintendent Jeff Bullock said the board considered a four-day week as an option earlier this school year when gas prices were extremely high.

"At this time, I don't see us considering it," Bullock said. "It would save us money with utilities and gas, but parents wouldn't have many options for child care.

"It is a good idea from a fiscal stand point," Bullock added. "But unless things get real bad, I don't see us pursuing it."

In the Senath-Hornersville School District, Superintendent Larry Wood said that although he hasn't given the idea much thought, the board may discuss the options at the next board meeting.

On Tuesday, Feb. 24, the Missouri House voted 98-62 in favor of adopting the legislation.

The 98-62 roll call by which the Missouri House voted Tuesday to adopt legislation giving school districts the option of a four-day school week.

Voting "yes" were 77 Republicans and 21 Democrats.

Voting "no" were 10 Republicans and 52 Democrats.

Not voting were 2 Republicans and 1 Democrat.

REPUBLICANS VOTING YES

Sue Allen, St. Louis.

Walt Bivins, St. Louis.

Ellen Brandom, Sikeston.

Jason Brown, Platte City.

Dan Brown, Rolla.

Mark Bruns, Jefferson City.

Eric Burlison, Springfield.

Stanley Cox, Sedalia.

Mike Cunningham, Rogersville.

Cynthia Davis, O'Fallon.

David Day, Dixon.

Bill Deeken, Jefferson City.

Charlie Denison, Springfield.

Mike Dethrow, Alton.

Scott Dieckhaus, Washington.

John Diehl, St. Louis.

Bob Dixon, Springfield.

Tony Dugger, Hartville.

Ed Emery, Lamar.

Sally Faith, St. Charles.

Barney Fisher, Richards.

Tom Flanigan, Carthage.

Ward Franz, West Plains.

Doug Funderburk, St. Peters.

Chuck Gatschenberger, Lake St. Louis.

Jeff Grisamore, Lee's Summit.

Case Guernsey, Bethany.

Jim Guest, King City.

Steve Hobbs, Mexico.

Denny Hoskins, Warrensburg.

Allen Icet, Wildwood.

Tim Jones, Eureka.

Kenny Jones, Clarksburg.

Shelley Keeney, Marble Hill.

Gayle Kingery, Poplar Bluff.

Andrew Koenig, Winchester.

Mike Lair, Chillicothe.

Scott Largent, Clinton.

Scott Lipke, Jackson.

Tom Loehner, Koeltztown.

Mike McGhee, Odessa.

Cole McNary, Chesterfield.

Chris Molendorp, Belton.

Brian Munzlinger, Williamstown.

Bob Nance, Excelsior Springs.

Brian Nieves, Washington.

Jerry Nolte, Gladstone.

Mark Parkinson, St. Charles.

Mike Parson, Bolivar.

Darrell Pollock, Lebanon.

Jeanie Riddle, Mokane.

Marilyn Ruestmann, Joplin.

Don Ruzicka, Mount Vernon.

Therese Sander, Moberly.

David Sater, Cassville.

Rob Schaaf, St. Joseph.

Rodney Schad, Versailles.

Dwight Scharnhorst, Valley Park.

Charlie Schlottach, Owensville.

Shane Schoeller, Willard.

Tom Self, Cole Camp.

Ryan Silvey, Kansas City.

Jason Smith, Salem.

Bryan Stevenson, Webb City.

Rick Stream, Kirkwood.

Mike Sutherland, Warrenton.

Michael Thomson, Maryville.

Steven Tilley, Perryville.

Clint Tracy, Cape Girardeau.

Maynard Wallace, Thornfield.

Don Wells, Cabool.

Ray Weter, Nixa.

Larry Wilson, Flemington.

Kevin Wilson, Neosho.

Billy Wright, Dexter.

Anne Zerr, St. Charles.

Ron Richard, Joplin.

DEMOCRATS VOTING YES

Bert Atkins, Florissant.

Joe Aull, Marshall.

Kenny Biermann, St. Charles.

Ron Casey, Crystal City.

Michael Corcoran, St. Ann.

Curt Dougherty, Independence.

Talibdin El-Amin, St. Louis.

Linda Fischer, Bonne Terre.

Jason Holsman, Kansas City.

Ted Hoskins, St. Louis.

Paul LeVota, Independence.

Kate Meiners, Kansas City.

Jamilah Nasheed, St. Louis.

Paul Quinn, Monroe City.

Martin Rucker, St. Joseph.

Ray Salva, Sugar Creek.

Luke Scavuzzo, Harrisonville.

Ed Schieffer, Troy.

Tom Shively, Shelbyville.

Terry Swinger, Caruthersville.

Ed Wildberger, St. Joseph.

REPUBLICANS VOTING NO

Wayne Cooper, Camdenton.

Gary Dusenberg, Blue Springs.

Doug Ervin, Kearney.

Tim Flook, Liberty.

Will Kraus, Raytown.

Mike Leara, St. Louis.

Bryan Pratt, Blue Springs.

Joe Smith, St. Charles.

Dennis Wood, Kimberling City.

Brian Yates, Lee's Summit.

DEMOCRATS VOTING NO

Rachel Bringer, Palmyra.

Michael Brown, Kansas City.

Steve Brown, St. Louis.

John Burnett, Kansas City.

Don Calloway, St. Louis.

Chris Carter, St. Louis.

Maria Chappelle-Nadal, University City.

Mike Colona, St. Louis.

Kiki Curls, Kansas City.

Vicki Englund, St. Louis.

Joe Fallert, Ste. Genevieve.

Michael Frame, Eureka.

Jason Grill, Parkville.

Belinda Harris, Hillsboro.

Steve Hodges, East Prarie.

Leonard Hughes IV, Kansas City.

Jacob Hummel, St. Louis.

Tishaura Jones, St. Louis.

Jason Kander, Kansas City.

Chris Kelly, Columbia.

Jeanne Kirkton, St. Louis.

Sam Komo, House Springs.

Michele Kratky, St. Louis.

J.C. Kuessner, Eminence.

Sara Lampe, Sringfield.

Roman LeBlanc, Kansas City.

Al Liese, Maryland Heights.

Beth Low, Kansas City.

Rebecca McClanahan, Kirksville.

Tom McDonald, Independence.

Margo McNeil, Florissant.

Tim Meadows, Imperial.

James Morris, St. Louis.

Charlie Norr, Springfield.

Jeanette Oxford, St. Louis.

Sharon Pace, Northwoods.

Jeff Roorda, Barnhart.

Sue Schoemehl, St. Louis.

Jill Schupp, St. Louis.

Trent Skaggs, North Kansas City.

Michael Spreng, Florissant.

Mary Still, Columbia.

Rachel Storch, St. Louis.

Michael Talboy, Kansas City.

Tom Todd, Campbell.

Gina Walsh, St. Louis.

Rochelle Gray, Black Jack.

Steve Webb, Florissant.

Stephen Webber, Columbia.

Terry Witte, Vandalia.

Patricia Yaeger, St. Louis.

Jake Zimmerman, Olivette.

REPUBLICANS NOT VOTING

Jim Viebrock, Billings.

Jay Wasson, Nixa.

DEMOCRATS NOT VOTING

Michael Vogt, St. Louis.