Jerome School Board Unanimously Rejects Four-Day School Week

A Decision on School Week Structure in Jerome School District

The Jerome School District recently deliberated on transitioning to a four-day school week but ultimately resolved to retain the conventional five-day schedule. Following discussion and debate during a stakeholders meeting on January 15, 2024, a decision was made during the Jerome School District board meeting on January 23, 2024. The Board of Trustees at Jerome School District voted all in favor of maintaining a five-day school week.

I Reached Out to The Jerome School District for Comment:

…There was much thought and discussion over the decision but ultimately motioned, second, and all in favor of staying five days. There was discussion of reworking our calendar to ensure we have days in place to support our teachers to have some opportunities to regroup, breathe, and recharge.  Those will be our next steps to help support our staff who are working harder than they ever have before.

We Want to Hear From You

Your opinions are valuable to us. Take our polls below and contribute your thoughts in the comments section. Would reducing the school week be beneficial for students and faculty, or would the lengthened school days add burden to already hectic schedules?

Pros and Cons of a 4-Day School Week

During the board meeting with stakeholders, the Jerome School District presented various pros and cons associated with a four-day week. Possible benefits included enhanced teacher retention and satisfaction, decreased behavioral issues, and increased time for mental health focus. Conversely, concerns were raised about childcare for dual-income households, food insecurity for students reliant on school meals, and potential adverse effects on academics and sports.

Both sides present reasonable arguments, and the complete list of pros and cons can be found on the Jerome School District's website.

Community Feedback

Advocates for the change criticized the board, stating that most of the district's poll respondents favored shortening the week. In a recent poll conducted by the Jerome School District, 70% of respondents were in favor of an amended week. The District noted that there were 1621 respondents to the survey, representing only a small number of constituents that the change would impact. The District added that the decision was not easy, and was not made lightly.

[Author's Commentary: Not that my opinion is worth a hill of beans, but in cases where the community is so outspokenly split, it's impossible to reach a conclusion that will satisfy everyone.]

Otherwise, the reaction on social media has been mixed, with many expressing disappointment in the decision, and others complimenting the board for keeping the school week as is.

Your Input

Regardless of which district your children reside in, would you support a four-day school week in your schools? And for those in neighboring districts that have made the switch, how has the experience been? We encourage you to participate in our polls and share your insights in the comments.