Schools eye four-day week to cut fuel costs

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN2439039120080724


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Cutting out one day of school has been the key to preserving educational programs and staff in parts of Kentucky, New Mexico and Minnesota, outweighing some parents' concerns about finding day-care for the day off.

"For rural school districts where buses may travel 100 miles round-trip each day, there certainly are transportation savings worth considering," said Marc Egan, the director of federal affairs at the National School Boards Association.

Egan said about 100 schools in as many as 16 states have already moved to a four-day school week, many to save money on transportation, heating and cooling.

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The plan initially did cause alarm among some parents, who were concerned about finding child-care, but most have managed to find place their kids in day care or with relatives, Schmidt said. In addition, MACCRAY plans to institute a child-care certification program for older students to offer day care for younger kids on the day off.

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The shortened week at Webster also brought unexpected benefits such as improved attendance and a boost in student performance.

"If we were to go back to a five-day week, the school board and I would be run out of town," Kemp said.
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The whole nation should go on a 4 day week, bring back the blue laws on Sunday.
Close everything down on Sunday. People would still have a 2 day weekend, and 4 10 hour days of work. One Day to rest.

The savings would be huge.

I'm amazed there are places that still use them.

If kids are dropped off at the school for child care on that fifth day, then the younger kids and the kids taking care of them will have that fifth day, anyway. The school will have to be heated or cooled the full five days. Somebody will have to be there to supervise the child care on that fifth day.

It seems like there's not going to be much savings realized unless the parents also manage to snag a four day workweek and the school can be closed three days a week instead of two.

It does make sense in rural areas where parents are home doing ag work and chidcare isn't necessary.

to the families who have to pay for more child care.