The Southern Boone School District is formally considering a transition to a four-day school week, a move that would align it with a significant portion of other districts across Missouri. If the proposal is approved, the new schedule would begin with the 2026-27 academic year, shifting classes to a Tuesday-through-Friday format.
Discussions surrounding the potential change started in May, followed by a survey distributed to parents and staff in June to gather initial feedback. A dedicated committee was subsequently formed to analyze the feasibility and potential impacts of the new schedule, holding its first meeting in August to begin outlining a formal plan.
Key Takeaways
- The Southern Boone School District is proposing a four-day school week, running from Tuesday to Friday.
- If approved, the change would take effect in the 2026-27 school year.
- Daily school hours would be extended by 30-40 minutes to meet instructional time requirements.
- The district cites teacher recruitment and retention as primary motivations for the change.
- A final vote by the Board of Education is scheduled for December after a public information session in October.
Details of the Proposed Schedule
Under the plan being considered, the traditional Monday-to-Friday school week would be replaced. Students would attend school from Tuesday through Friday, with Mondays designated as an off-day. To compensate for the lost instructional day, the remaining four school days would be lengthened.
The proposed school day would run from 7:50 a.m. to 3:25 p.m., which is approximately 30 to 40 minutes longer than the current schedule. This adjustment ensures that the district continues to meet state-mandated instructional time requirements. Additionally, the current 2 p.m. early release on Wednesdays would be eliminated, further maximizing classroom time during the four-day week.
How Mondays Would Be Utilized
While students would generally have Mondays off, the day would serve several important functions for the district. One Monday each month is planned for staff professional development, allowing teachers dedicated time for training and collaboration without interrupting student learning.
The district also suggests that families could use these Mondays for appointments, such as doctor or dentist visits, which often require pulling students out of class. Furthermore, Mondays would be reserved as makeup days in the event the district exhausts its allocated snow days or Alternative Methods of Instruction (AMI) days.
A Statewide Trend
According to recent data, more than 25% of all school districts in Missouri have already adopted a four-day school week. This model has become particularly common in rural and smaller districts across the state.
Rationale Behind the Proposed Change
The Southern Boone School District has outlined several key objectives it hopes to achieve by moving to a compressed weekly schedule. The primary driver behind the proposal is improving staff recruitment and retention. In an increasingly competitive hiring market for educators, a four-day week is seen as a significant incentive that can help the district attract and keep qualified teachers.
The district also anticipates other positive outcomes, including:
- Improved Attendance: Officials believe that having a dedicated day off for appointments could lead to better attendance rates among both students and staff.
- Increased Instructional Time: By eliminating early release days and reducing disruptions for appointments, the district projects an increase in focused, uninterrupted instructional time.
- More Personal Time: The three-day weekend is expected to provide more personal and family time for students and staff, potentially improving overall well-being and reducing burnout.
Continuity for Specialized Programs
The district has confirmed that several key academic and career-focused programs will not be negatively impacted by the schedule change. Programs such as A+, FLEX, and the Nichols Career Center will continue to operate, with logistics adjusted to fit the new four-day structure.
Addressing Community Concerns
During the initial discussions, the committee identified potential challenges that the new schedule could create for families. The two most significant issues raised were childcare availability on Mondays and food insecurity for students who rely on school meals.
The district has acknowledged these concerns and stated that it is proactively exploring solutions. Officials are looking to form partnerships with local community organizations to help provide affordable childcare options and ensure students have access to meals on their day off. These partnerships will be a critical component of the final proposal.
"The district recognized issues with childcare and food insecurity in discussions and is exploring partnerships in the community to address them."
Timeline and Next Steps for Approval
The process of considering this significant change is structured to include community input before a final decision is made. The district has scheduled a public informational presentation to discuss the plan in detail and answer questions from parents, staff, and community members.
The meeting will be held on October 9 at 6 p.m. in the Southern Boone Middle School Cafeteria. The district has created a system for the public to submit questions ahead of the meeting to ensure that common concerns are addressed during the presentation.
Following this public engagement, the committee will finalize its proposal. This final plan will be presented to the Southern Boone Board of Education in December, at which point the board will vote on whether to approve the transition. If the board votes in favor, the four-day school week would be officially implemented for the 2026-27 school year, giving families and staff ample time to prepare for the new schedule.