R-1 continues four-day week inquiry

By Laura Schiermeier, Staff Writer
Posted 1/8/20

VIENNA — The Maries R-1 School Board will email questions about a four-day school week to the superintendent, who will get answers from staff members and parents from schools that already use …

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R-1 continues four-day week inquiry

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VIENNA — The Maries R-1 School Board will email questions about a four-day school week to the superintendent, who will get answers from staff members and parents from schools that already use the four-day school week model.

At the school board’s December meeting, in his administrative report, Superintendent Mark Parker said following board discussion last month about a four-day school week, he began compiling a calendar for five days and another for four days. He used the number of hours per day to do it. He included snow days that are required to be made up and both calendars fit that. The two calendars are for comparison. He’d like to have the school calendar at the board’s February meeting. This helps parents plan for summer vacation and whether their child will attend summer school.

A bill has been proposed in Jefferson City to allow schools using the four-day model to be able to start school earlier. A law was passed this year stating school can’t begin 10 days before Labor Day. It was proposed and passed to help promote tourism. However, a four-day school week inherently promotes tourism every week so those districts can start earlier.

Parker said the PLC professional development days can be on Monday once a month instead of the early-out the district now does each Wednesday. Snow days can be made up on Mondays also.

Parker said Belle, Linn and Miller use the four-day school week and he modeled his calendar after what those districts do. Board President Cindy Petershagen asked what the big opposition is to with a four-day school week. Parker said the biggest drawback is that parents have to figure out daycare for Mondays.

Board member Mike Kleffner asked what the teachers are saying about it. Elementary Principal Shanda Snodgrass said the elementary teachers have not officially been surveyed but the teachers she has spoke to about going to four days a week are for it.

Parker initially brought the issue to the board as a possible way to retain teachers at Maries R-1.

R-1 second grade teacher, Amber Schell, was present at the meeting and spoke to the board members.  “I thought it could keep Vienna competitive, and be something we could offer,” she said. She thinks having a four-day school week would help keep some teachers and it would be good for students, too. To help with daycare concerns, high school students could earn money by babysitting on Mondays. School said, “When Belle started it, it was a big deal.” She added that change is hard for some. Teachers she has talked to about it had some questions. Snodgrass said there are some students who “eat here” five days a week and a four-day school week would mean that didn’t get to eat at school for three days in a row and may be without food for those three days.

Kleffner said he has concerns for how this will impact non certified staff members such as bus drivers and cooks who will take a cut in pay if Maries R-1 goes to a four-day school week.  “We have to watch that,” he said. Board member Joe Barnhart said it would be harder to replace a teacher. Snodgrass said they don’t want staff to leave and get employment elsewhere.

Board Vice President Penny Schoene wondered about how losing one day a week will impact the education of students and if the longer day will make them tired. Schell suggested a snack.

Parker said on the calendars he put together, a five-day school week each day is from 8:10 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. He figured the times using the number of minutes. For a four-day school week it will be from 8 a.m. to 3:47 p.m.

Schoene said she also has concerns about students being in a learning environment four days a week instead of five days. She said education has to come first, but she wants to be supportive of the community and the people who work at Maries R-1.

Parker said some students use the Monday off as an opportunity for dual credit or internships. “I can see it both ways,” he told the board. “The students and teachers are fresher, you cut the fluff out, and discipline problems are down because the students aren’t worn out.” He said 80 of the state’s 518 public school use the four-day school week model.

He wants to put the four-day school week issue on next month’s board meeting agenda. In the meantime, he will talk to people who are using the four-day model. He asked the board members to email him their questions and he will get information and answers. They also will have to ask district parents how they feel about changing to a four-day school week.

Schoene said what she’s in favor of is for students to do well.

Parker said it will be the school board’s decision about changing to a four-day school week.

Also in his administrative report, Parker said they have found a buyer for the preschool trailer, which was sold on Craigslist for $3,000. He had three calls about it. It should be moved within 30 days. Also, the surplus fence around the old playground by the preschool trailer has been sold and removed, which will make it easier to get the trailer out when they come to get it.

Parker complimented Mr. Bard and Mr. Spiller on their Christmas concerts. “The students did very well performing and the concerts were well attending. Thanks for all the community’s support for our music programs.”

He reported after Christmas break Technology Director Kevin Schwartze will begin preparing the district’s technology for the end of year testing. Schwartze will be updating and downloading the necessary software to ensure testing is completed without issues.

Parker reported Maintenance Superintendent Mike Shaughnessy has been working hard over the past months. Right now the largest maintenance items are making sure the heating is working properly to have a warm learning environment. The middle school boiler is sometimes tricky and may need some work in the near future. Shaughnessy also said there is a computer panel issue with the high school boiler/chiller on the second floor he is working to get fixed. Also, with the trailer being sold, they are working with Ameren to get power disconnected and have a service panel installed by the bus parking area so they can still plus their buses in during winter months. Also, they are looking at installing more dusk-to-dawn lights around the school for safety.

Parker said all of the school offices will be closed during Christmas break. However, maintenance and custodians will be in the buildings working on some projects if needed.

At the end of his report, Petershagen said she was on campus last Tuesday and saw Parker shoveling snow from sidewalks. “Thank you for all you do. It was nice to see.”