HUMBOLDT — School board members are expected to decide by April whether they will institute a four-day school week for Humboldt-USD 258.
A committee looking into pros and cons of a shorter school week will present information to Board of Education members in March.
The school board has the final say.
The plan is to decide before the district sets the 2023-24 school calendar in April, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Amber Wheeler told the Register.
A committee looking into four-day weeks has been gathering information for the past several months, including sending out surveys to the community and hosting a public forum Feb. 15.
A survey of district parents found about half support a four-day week, while 21% are opposed and the rest have no strong opinion or wanted more information.
The district also has reached out to other districts in Kansas and Missouri that have made a similar switch.
The Feb. 15 forum drew a mixed reaction from attendees, according to the Chanute Tribune, with advocates citing lower costs to the district and, potentially, making USD 258 more attractive for potential teachers.
Opponents cited finding childcare one day a week and the loss of one day of instruction a week impeding students’ learning ability.
“The forum was for us to get feedback from community members,” Wheeler said. “We have lots of data for the board to look at.”
