School board expected to vote on four-day week

WASHINGTON — Washington school board members are expected to vote Wednesday night on a proposed four-day school week for Washington in the 2025-26 school year, although some on the district’s decision-making body suggested they’d rather hold off for another few months.

The group held a work session last week, braving Wednesday night’s ice storm to gather at the district office and go over results of a survey, community info meeting and feedback from constituents.

Survey shows close split between ‘pro’ and ‘con’ camps

Board members reviewed findings from a survey sent out last month, which showed the plurality of participating students, staff and family members favored the switch to a four-day week, while a quarter to a third of each group opposed the change. A sizable number of each category said they “supported either option,” while roughly 10% answered “maybe.”

Some on the board said they were only focused on the hard-line yes and no votes.

“The other two, I don’t read because that’s not answering,” said Board Member Troy Suchan. “I only put the percentages of the yeses and nos.”

Survey results showed those in favor of the switch saying it’d improve student and staff mental health, and prevent burnout for both groups. Students added that it would add more time for their own work, hobbies and families, while staff said they hoped it would make Professional Development more productive and offer flexibility for appointments and errands during the business week.

Those who voted no argued that changing schedules would disrupt routines, drive up child care costs in the community and increase food insecurity among populations that rely on school meals — about 45% of Washington’s students use free and reduced lunch. Others said they worried longer hours would trade off with after-school activities, or that fewer school days would mean less contact for kids using IEPs and who need specialized support for disabilities.

Superintendent Willie Stone said at least some of those concerns could be addressed. He said schools planned to partner with nearby community action groups on food insecurity if they switched to a four-day week, and said he was in talks with the Y to open up child care slots on Fridays without class, using school buildings.

That said, increasing the availability of child care may not necessarily decrease the cost.

“I assume the cost would have to be about the same,” Stone said.

School board seems likely to delay decision

Washington’s high school uses a “block” schedule, with longer class periods and rotating classes throughout the school year, rather than putting students in more classes per day with a balance of credits every semester.

That schedule would likely end under a four-day week, according to school officials at Wednesday night’s work session, who said the longer class periods made less sense on lengthened class days. But Stone said such a drastic change in daily schedules probably couldn’t happen before the next school year starts in fall.

“I think it would be really hard to get it changed before next year,” he said. “We’re currently scheduling classes for next year.”

For that and other reasons, several school officials say they’re likely to delay implementation of a four-day week for at least another school year. Superintendent Stone at one point suggested that was his recommendation to the board.

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Upsides of waiting include extra data from other districts, and time to sort out details on unanswered questions like daily schedules, food programs and day care.

“My recommendation to the board, if the board decides to move forward with it, I would recommend that we … either bring it up again in October, November, try to get more answers,” he said. “If this is done, this will be a major change for our district and I want to make sure we don’t have a false start.”

School Board Member Troy Suchan said he felt similarly.

“The more we talk about this, to be honest, I think … it’s something that we need to do,” he said. “But it’s something that, I would say needs to be put off for the following school year … we’re just kind of leaving it in limbo again, but as far as I’m leaning right now, that would be my motion.”

Some, however, suggested they opposed the four-day model altogether.

Board Member Kara Williams said she worried the model would make students less fit for the workforce, if it’s adopted.

“As an employer, I worry about the future of these kids,” she said. “If they’re only going four days to school, what’s going to make them work five days? … there’s a lot of people that work five days, six days, twelve-hour days, and we kind of keep shortening things, so what kind of precedent are we setting for the kids?”

Others at the meetings were hesitant to share their opinions ahead of a planned school board meeting Wednesday night at the high school. Superintendent Willie Stone encouraged board members to hold off on major deliberation until then.

“This discussion, I believe, has to happen at a public meeting,” he said. “We want to be as transparent as possible, and I know we’re (livestreaming) it, but I also think it’s important that this discussion occurs next Wednesday.

The next school board meeting is scheduled for Feb. 12 at 7 p.m. in the Washington High School Auditorium.

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com