More Minnesota schools looking at 4-day week

When MACCRAY Schools adopted its four day school week last year, the Clara City based district couldn't have known what it was starting.

Superintendent Greg Schmidt estimates he's been contacted by 50 other school districts - 40 from Minnesota - looking for information as they too consider four day school.

"They're just looking at can we save dollars without cutting more people and electives," says Schmidt, whose been visited personally by representatives from thee other school districts, with another set to arrive later this month.

With 7000 students, the Forest Lake school district is ten times the size of MACCRAY, but is now seriously considering four day school for similar reasons.

Administrators estimate Forest Lake could save $500,000 a year in transportation expenses by parking its buses one day a week.

The MACCRAY district also claims savings in lower utility costs and fewer substitute teachers with four longer days, instead of five shorter.

Like MACCRAY, Forest Lake is proposing Monday as its off day. The district says the change would result in no less classroom time, because students would attend classes for an addition hour and twenty minutes on the four days they still go to class.

"We do know from Custer, South Dakota they went to this plan because of the cost savings and ended up liking it so much they stuck with it," says Ross Bennett, communications coordinator for Forest Lake Schools. "They've been doing it since 1996."

But not all parents are convinced. A public hearing this week on four day school drew more than 100 residents, many of whom opposed the plan.

"It will save the district money, but unfortunately I think it's going to leave a lot of kids home alone and unattended and it's going to create a hardship for working parents," said Kathy Borowick while dropping off her foster daughter Thursday at Forest Lake High School.

Sophomore Tianna Desrosiers, agreed in part with her foster mom, but said "I'm still for it because I would love to have an extra day."

Forest lake has two more public hearings scheduled later this month. The four day school plan would still need approval by the school board and the Minnesota Department of Education.

By Boyd Huppert, KARE 11 News

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