Four day school week approved for one MN school district

It will be like a snow day every week.

The MACCRAY school district in western Minnesota won approval this week for a four day school week, starting with the upcoming school year.

The reason for the shorter week is simple: save money.

MACCRAY is a 700 student school district, covering the communities of Maynard, Clara City, and Raymond.

The school board approved the idea in May; the state approved it this week. "We wouldn't do the four day school week if we had money," said Greg Schmidt, MACCRAY Superintendent, back in May. "With the state budget the way it is, there's just no hope right now."

Schmidt said the MACCRAY schools would be closed on Mondays, while adding roughly an hour to the regular school day to make up for 23 lost Mondays.

Teacher salaries would not be impacted, though the district estimates it would save about $100,000 a year in costs for busing, heating, substitute teachers, and school lunches.

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