CROWLEY, La (KATC) — This week the Avoyelles Parish school board voted in favor of a four-day school week. A change that was met by mixed reviews from many parents and educators.
While it may seem radical to some, there is already a school district in Acadiana that has been using a four-day schedule for more than a decade.
Acadia Parish superintendent Scott Richard says the four-day schedule applies to four schools in the parish. According to Scott, Midland High School and its three feeder schools in Estherwood, Morse and Mermentau have been on on a four-day schedule for nearly 15 years.
“Because of the rural nature of that area of the parish it really worked better than a traditional 5 day work week,” Richard said.
The state requires students to receive a minimum of 63,720 minutes of instructional time each year.
Richard says the four schools involved in the parish’s modified work week make up for one-less day of classes each week with longer school days on Mondays and Thursdays and with a number of required five day weeks throughout the year.
Richard says through the modified four-day schedule students attend school from 7:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Though not mandatory, students can attend extra-help sessions at schools on Fridays.
“But at the end of the day students are still receiving the same amount of instruction minutes.” Richard said, emphasizing that while it may not be a traditional four-day work week, the modified schedule has been successful for the four schools involved.
