Outcry: District 1 abandons 4-day week

It was a well-intentioned idea that seemed to be doomed from the start.

Troy School District’s inquiry into a four-day school week has been shuttered after what Troy superintendent Dan Wendt said has been overwhelming negative sentiment. 

“We just need to put this on the back-burner and still do education the way we have,” Wendt said.

With Troy’s tight budget and declining enrollment, many small school districts in Montana have tested the waters with a four-day school week. 

Noxon, Alberton, Plains, Hot Springs and Bonners Ferry are some of the regional districts to make a switch from five-day to four-day or modified four-day school weeks. 

Troy’s initial plan was to receive input from community members and make a decision in December at the school board meeting. That might prove redundant, Wendt said.

“I think our decision has already been made,” he said. “There might never be a right time for it.”

Part of the reason Troy was looking at shortening the school week was to potentially save money on electricity and heating costs. And while the money is always a factor in public schools, Wendt said that educationally, students would benefit as well.

In 2005, the Montana Legislature passed a bill changing required educational time from a strict 180 days to a required minimum number of aggregate hours.

An official report and survey from the Montana Office of Public Instruction, released in 2009, gave more details on a four-day school week. 

One of the sticking points was the benefit of a four-day week on a rural school district, where an additional day is given not only for student free time, but for chores, errands and allowing athletes to compete without missing much school.

All that is required by the state are a number of aggregate hours during the course of a school year. Between July 1 and June 30, students from first to third grades must have 720 hours. Grades 4-12 must have 1,080 hours.

Despite Wendt hitting a wall from the community, there are those in Troy who didn’t have a problem with four-day weeks.

“I think that it’s a good thing,” said Cindy Scott of Troy, who has one child in the high school. “I’m OK with that.”

While some parents worried about the education taking a hit, others were worried about the logistics of the situation.

“I can see how it might be difficult for working moms,” said Pam Boyke. “You might have to hire a baby-sitter for that extra day.”

But the people have spoken, and any plans for a four-day week have been put on hold, to the disappointment of Wendt.

“The people who have moved to it, love it,” he said. “They wouldn’t go back.”