First Listening Session Held For Four-Day School Week

The Malta School District hosted the first step in the process of determining whether the District School system will continue as a five-day a week school or transition to a four-day week.

Malta is one of three in the Northern B conference that is five-day, along with Shelby and Poplar. Please know, that as of today, no decision has been made, this is merely the first step in getting input so in time, a decision can be made.

Many things will factor into the groundwork that is necessary for such a transition. Following this meeting, the required steps include the school board and administration meeting with the various groups and entities that have not only an impact on the decision, they have a valid input and opinion on the deciding determination.

One of the next steps will be with certified staff to receive their thoughts, concerns and reasons. Staff was previously provided the opportunity to add their personal view on matters. They will meet with classified staff as well. The public will have an input toward the decision and matter as well.

Currently, 175 schools across Montana participate in a 4-day program. Many transitioned over 10 years ago. There are many factors to take into consideration before a decision can be made. Several schools were in the process for two years.

Over 50 community members, teachers and staff at the high school, middle school and elementary school joined the school board, Supt. Steve Bucks, Principals Shawn Bleth and Zach Handley and District Clerk Jane Knudsen for a “listening session.” The purpose of the gathering was to hear what questions each might have and to share concerns and ideas for each of the two options.

First grade teacher, Kori DePuydt, was the first to step up and offer her personal view on the issue. “I want to be the best teacher I can be. I have to work on their math, reading and phonics, and to squeeze five days into four. I have to know what each child knows and doesn’t know so I can plan accordingly based on what they need. I do not believe I can do all this planning during my contact hours and be effective at my job.” She added, “I’m worried about burning out trying to do this impossible job in four days rather than five.”

Veteran teacher, Kendra Veit, provided her thoughts on the matter. She said she was concerned about the lack of planning time that is going to be needed if going to a four-day week. Veit said she needed time to be effective, and her concern would be with vital subjects, such as math, reading and phonics. Her concerns, also, extended to knowing what each kid knows and what they don’t know and how to address and plan around them.

She shared a comment from a parent: they felt leaving a teenager at home alone for the day was riskier than leaving their second grader home for the day. Veit added there is nothing to prove a four-day will attract more teachers, one of the big setbacks for acquiring new staff would be the wages offered by the District.

Most of the teachers that did make statements were concerned about teaching longer days with 20% less time to prepare. They also stated the importance for a good, strong start in education in the lower grades. The children that don’t have a strong support system at home will not benefit from the longer days and one less day to get assistance from their teacher. Even students with no disabilities struggle, and there is the risk of setting a child up for failure.

Amanda Anderson, parent of two students, spoke and provided the school board with letters from herself and her two children, stating they all oppose the idea.

Ryan Lankford, a parent of school age children who have transferred here from a country school in Cleveland, MT asked, “What is the pulse of the people working for you? There will probably not be a concise winner in this. As farmers we work seven days a week, and one extra day to spend with the kids would be nice family time. WHO are you backing, where is the support?” He voiced questions about if the school year will be lengthened and how will schedules be met.

Sonia Young, who works at the Boys & Girls Club, said the long days are hard on little kids.

Lengthening the school day will mean less time that students who go to the Club for help with homework, will have less time for that.

Macie Hould shared her view and thoughts on the proposal, she stated that to attract new teachers they are going to have to offer a better wage. She also stated with all the concerns about what the change might do to young children mentally and psychologically, there was not one counselor in attendance for providing input.

The option of teachers attending school two Fridays a month was tossed out as a possibility.

Board member, Katey Marquis, said the State has gathered info on the transition and she said she hasn’t gotten information back and she will be contacting OPI again with additional questions.

Roy McKenney, the band teacher, shared that he had done research on this topic as part of his thesis for his Masters in Scheduling, and stated it was said that frequency vs time were vital in children’s education and that it was proven that frequency of class time was better for students than length of class time. He was asked to provide his research to the Board, which he said he would do.

Board member, Angel DeVries, who is also a parent, stated they are taking the steps needed to make the decision. Staff will be contacted, and if they are interested in pursuing the matter, the Finance Committee will meet, and within five to six weeks will take the information back to the Board.

Principal Shawn Bleth provided information on having substitute teachers and the shortage of same. This is one of the items that is under consideration with the possible change over to four days. Comparing Fridays last year, he stated the school had four or more substitutes last year 69% of the time, compared to 66% four years ago. The school had two or more substitutes 91% of time; there is a shortage of substitutes. The high school also has more educational time than does the elementary. He would be in favor of a four-day week due to attendance. Fridays is the largest number of subs and absentees; for sports, speech and drama, FFCLA, FFA, etc. Last year there were students out 23 Fridays for various activities, which computes 66% of the Fridays students were out of school.

Bleth said, “I hate to admit this, but I will, you take a situation where there are a huge number of kids gone, coupled with a large number of subs, with six or seven teachers gone, it does not compute to Fridays being the most productive times. That’s just a reality of it.”

He summarized while making the day longer doesn’t compute to the same quality of education, they would get more education time. With less subs and less students absent, he believes they would get better quality, more education time.

Shari Solberg said she has one child in the elementary school and home-schools the other. She has mixed feelings about it, and stated with a four-day week they would be able to do things they can’t do at the school.

Raymond Hough, Middle School Science teacher shared, “Personally, I am for it, but professionally I am kind of on the fence about it. Ever since this got brought up, they have been asking…are we going to have a four-day week? They know burnout and have recognized burnout in themselves, already this school year. The staff has been doing a great job with these kids. I am concerned about burnout if we go to a four-day school week.”

Ryan Lankford said Cleveland had a year of transition. He had moved back here and “realize(s) this is a sports town, it is what it is, and looking at the sport side is really a detriment to what we are really here for. I really think education should be the top priority.”

School Board Chairman said the decision would be education based. Though they started discussing it a year ago, he stated it was probably not the proper way to go about it.

Kyle Kluck addressed the group. “I have two boys. I am for a four-day week and I’m gunna say it. I have a ranch and the boys need work! We all just need clarification.”

Steve Cole, parent of two high schoolers, stated to weigh out the cost savings to tax payers…another day without buses running, no meals, etc., will the savings be reallocated to wages or to needs of the school?

Marquis stated if anyone has access to actual figures, facts and statistics, would they please share them with board members or administration.

DeVries stated that she has people asking what it’s going to look like, and she responds we don’t know either. This is just getting information, the board hadn’t made a decision on the matter.

Young stated one of her concerns previously mentioned a teenager being home alone vs a second grader. Her office as an after school program is funded through an OPI Grant. The office is only allotted so much money and her work only allows four days and there is no money in their budget for another day of services. Her concern is the safety of the children in the community.

Bleth said of the survey of staff, 34.5% strongly supported it, 34.5% supported, 6% were opposed and just under 21% were neutral.

DeVries added that the survey was merely a response that they wanted the board to explore a four-day, the possibility and options.

There were mentions of having two or three teachers come in on Friday and helping students. Also were the concerns about some children not having meals at home.

Following the meeting, the information gathered in internet searches on the benefits of four-day vs five-day showed other schools finding that the idea of being able to go to the doctor on Fridays wasn’t always an option, as the doctors were ahead of some in their scheduling and offices were also on a four-day, taking Fridays off as well.

Information gathered had crime rates increasing due to extra time on their hands, kids were bored and looking for something to do. Another consideration is the time the young ones have to get on the bus and the length of the bus trips and the effect on children.

This is a work in progress and input from those with children will help, so please contact the school or board members.

As the saying goes…kids first.

There is always the child where school is the one place where they are fed proper nutrition.

Where they feel safe.

Where they feel love.