RATHDRUM — A pilot four-day school week is a possibility for the 2026-2027 school year in the Lakeland Joint School District.

Superintendent Rusty Taylor presented data and survey findings collected by a four-day school week committee to the Lakeland School Board during a special March 3 meeting.

As board members asked questions and voiced blatant opposition to the pilot, Taylor said that a majority of parents polled indicated they wanted the district to consider a four-day school week.

A total of 1,667 parents responded to the district's proposed four-day school week pilot survey. Of those, 1,007 parents (61%) were in favor while 653 parents (39%) were opposed. The ninth-through-11th-grade student survey, to which 556 students responded, revealed 335 students (60%) opposed the proposed four-day-a-week schedule, while 221 students (40%) were in favor. A total of 523 staff members responded to the survey. The results showed that 341 staff members (65%) were in favor, 144 (28%) voted no, and 38 (7%) were undecided.

Configuring options for the school year calendar required its own subcommittee. Starting school before Labor Day was a hard no for many students, and extending the school year further into June would affect graduation ceremonies already booked at New Life Church.

Seniors wouldn’t meet their instructional minutes if they graduate from that facility at the scheduled time. If they change the graduation location, they could potentially extend the school year into June. 

“We’re already having boiler issues at our schools," Trustee Randi Bain said. "Our schools are not built for kids to be in school in August."

Efforts to collect feedback on a potential four-day school week arose from requests from parents.

"They want to be heard, too,” Taylor said.

He said the inquiring parties referred to other local schools that are doing well on a four-day school week.

North Idaho STEM Charter Academy in Rathdrum, one of Idaho's highest-performing schools, has operated on a four-day school week since it opened in 2012.

Post Falls School District has been successful academically while on a four-day school week, Taylor said.

Post Falls made the transition to a four-day schedule in the 2023-2024 school year.

One of the motivations for a four-day school week, Taylor said, is "family time, reset time for students and staff, having the opportunity for family appointments.”

Bain said family time is only possible if the parents also have Fridays off.

"If their parents don’t have Fridays off, they get even less time because their kids are at school for longer," she said.

Taylor fielded questions about transportation, students on individualized education programs, maintaining staff hours so non-certified employees don't lose benefits, childcare options and other impacts a shortened week may have on Lakeland.

Regarding finances, he said he is concerned about education funding facing cuts of 3-10% at the state level.

"There is some savings and our hope is that we could sustain what we have and not cut any more if we move to a four-day week," Taylor said. “I can't guarantee those financial savings, obviously, but I think it's a very proactive way to go. Bottom line, we won't know until we actually try."

He said most districts usually see 1-2% savings when they switch to four days. Board Chair Michelle Thompson asked for a dollar amount, to which Taylor replied that it was about $500,000.

Thompson said that doesn’t match the “insignificant” dollar amount the board was previously presented with on this subject, given everything this change would impact.

“We’re looking at damaging relationships,” she said. “How can we spin this on a positive to say, ‘Yes, this is what we want to do?'"

Taylor responded that Lakeland has a tremendous staff that has survived adversity. He said the data reveal that instruction, commitment to students and a district's success can be achieved in a four-day week just as well as in a five-day week. 

“I really feel, with all my heart knowing our administration, knowing our teachers, knowing our board, I think if we commit to this, we’re going to be very good at it," Taylor said.

Taylor will be meeting with administrators across the district for informational sessions through Wednesday, when the pilot four-day school week proposal is expected to be returned as an action at the 6 p.m. school board meeting.

Info: sd272.org

    Thompson
  

    Bain