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Apr 8, 2009 11:36 am US/Central
Blackduck Schools Approve 4-Day Week
BLACKDUCK, Minn. (AP) ―
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The school board approved the cost-cutting move on a 5-1 vote on Monday. If the state Department of Education approves, the new schedule will start in the next school year.
CBS 11 News
Students in the Blackduck school district in northwestern Minnesota are closer to going to class only four days a week.
The school board approved the cost-cutting move on a 5-1 vote on Monday. If the state Department of Education approves, the new schedule would start in the next school year.
To make up the lost time, Superintendent Bob Doetsch said the district has set up a tentative schedule to lengthen each school day. As of now, Monday is the favored day off.
Doetsch said the district needs the savings of the shorter week because he expects big cuts in state funding, although the final numbers won't available until the Legislature completes a budget that deals with a $4.6 billion two-year deficit.
"The board is being proactive (with the four-day week) and looking for ways to save," Doetsch said.
He said the district has been studying the shortened week for months. It was a good option that would reduce costs without cutting any more teachers or staff, eliminating high school electives or increasing elementary school class sizes.
"We try to keep the lower grades under 20," he said. "We have a wonderful school, and we have to keep giving to the kids."
The savings would come from lower costs for transportation, fuel, cooks, janitors, food and substitute teachers. He said Blackduck pays $69,000 in substitute wages. He estimated a four-day week would mean savings of $25,000 to 30,000.
Grant Mistic, the school board member who voted against the change, said he doesn't think the financial situation is bad enough to justify the change, nor is he convinced the district's constituents are sold on the plan.
However, he said he will be interested to see the outcome. "I hope it works. I'm not going to fight it," he said.
The MACCRAY district in west-central Minnesota was the first district in the state to go to a four-day week. It's superintendent, Greg Schmidt, said in late March the move had saved $65,000 so far this year and was on pace to save $85,000 to $100,000 by school year's end.
That rural district made the change primarily to save money on transportation for its about 700 students, who are spread over 350 square miles including the towns of Maynard, Clara City and Raymond.
(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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