DEER RIVER — The Deer River School Board will decide Monday, Feb. 9, whether the district will go to a four-day school week next year.
Superintendent Pat Rendle started with the why at a community informational meeting at the high school Monday, Feb. 2.
The budget is struggling with declining enrollment and two failed referendums. Deer River has transportation and staffing challenges. A four-day week could help student and staff mental health and attendance.
He gave pretty much every reason school districts look at the alternate schedule.
The policy has been a matter of frequent discussion among district leaders in the Northland for years as schools struggle to maintain balanced budgets. Four Northern Minnesota districts made the change this year — Mountain Iron-Buhl, Littlefork-Big Falls, St. Louis County and Nett Lake — and more are at least thinking about it.
The idea first came to Deer River early last year. It floated around on hold until the start of this school year, when a committee started meeting to consider all the what-ifs. Community members had a lot of the same questions, according to results from a survey the district sent out.
“What are we going to do on that day? What about the kids that are at risk? What about special education? What about child care? What about meals?" Rendle said.
Students would go to school Monday through Thursday. Days would be about 35 minutes longer, with no Wednesday early outs.
There would be no transportation to the school on Fridays, but Boys and Girls Club and the school’s paid child care options would still be going.
Rendle said the school would also send home an extra meal on Thursdays for interested families.
The biggest concern among community members at Monday’s meeting was what will happen to the most vulnerable, and have their voices been heard throughout this process?
Close to 70% of Deer River students meet the income threshold for free or reduced lunch.
But at the meeting, Rendle and others noted the opportunities they’re excited about, like enrichment on the fifth day or the academic benefits. Fifth grade teacher Crystal Purdie said she could move mountains with the extra 35 minutes each day.
“I could give my kids extra brain breaks. I could help them build solid relationships. I could push social skills into some of our academic lessons," she said. "Things that our kids don’t get right now that they desperately need.”
Rendle said if the Board doesn’t make a decision on Monday, he’s not putting any more work into planning for the schedule change.
"That's a leap of faith as educators that you would take. A leap of faith the Board would take," he said. "And in many ways, a leap of faith that parents in the community would take."
The School Board meets at 6 p.m. Monday in the high school media center.
