Insights and concerns arise as Bertha-Hewitt School ponders four-day schedule
by Trinity Gruenberg
The Bertha-Hewitt School Board held a special meeting on Tuesday, April 23, to discuss the possibility of the school switching to a four-day school week. The meeting brought a full house of concerned parents and interested staff.
The state recently opened applications for a four-day school week, broadening the stipulation beyond it being strictly for financial reasons which would allow any school to apply. The deadline for the application was extended to May 10 for those who wish to implement this next school year.
Superintendent Eric Koep explained that MACCRAY was the first school district to switch to a four-day school week during the 2008-2009 school year. MACCRAY is saving 10 percent in transportation costs and operational savings of $186,000 annually. Of the 1600 four-day schools, 85 percent of them are rural.
Superintendent Pat Walsh of the Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa (BBE) School District shared a video on their four-day school week with the board, as he couldn’t attend the meeting....