Discussion continues at Melcher-Dallas and Twin Cedars Community Schools about the possibility of implementing four-day school weeks beginning next year. 

Superintendent of Melcher-Dallas and Twin Cedars Community Schools Scott Bridges says that this model is utilized by four schools in their athletic conference and 160 schools in Missouri. The implementation of four-day school weeks is becoming a trend in Iowa, as seven schools have approved the change and more schools are considering the idea. Bridges says that the potential change to next year’s calendar won’t be decided on until April, which will ensure that all factors of the process are considered.

“In a regular year, we would approve calendars in January or February for the next school year. We’re going to take it all the way to April because we want to go through this whole process and really do the work and make sure we’re making the right decision, whether it is four day or whether it is a five day week for teachers next year. And I want to go back and reiterate, the only reason why we would consider doing this is because there’s a teacher shortage and we’re trying to give ourselves an advantage in teacher recruiting and retention.”

Hear more about the potential four-day school weeks from Scott Bridges on today’s In Touch with South Central Iowa.