PANGUITCH, Utah-The Garfield County School District has requested permission from the Utah State Board of Education to implement a 4-day school week.
They are seeking for the board to grant a waiver of a state board rule that states schools must conduct classes for at least 180 days and 990 hours per school year.
One of the schools in the district, Boulder Elementary School, serves under 20 students and wants the change made so that families and employees will be allowed to schedule personal and professional appointments on a specific day of the week.
Presently, Boulder Elementary offers a half-day of instruction on Fridays, about three hours’ worth weekly.
They hope to spread instruction out over the course of four days to ensure students will continue to receive the required amount of instructional hours.
School community council chairwoman Ana Sanders revealed the school’s plans last month.
Utah Assistant Attorney General Michelle Beus presented Garfield School District’s proposal to the board’s Law and Licensing Committee.
Beus said the change would reduce the number of days employees and students would have to make the long commute to school.
Per school district documents presented to the board, the change is backed by the Garfield School District.
This was confirmed via surveys of parents, staff and students on the matter.
Because Boulder is 95 miles away from the school district office in Panguitch, it is difficult to find and retain adequate staff to maintain programs at Boulder Elementary.
The school’s Web site confirms the school has a lead teacher/administrator, another teacher, a special educator also serving Escalante Elementary School and three paraprofessionals, two of whom are considered highly-qualified.
In April, the board’s Law and Licensing Committee voted unanimously to support the waiver, sending the matter to the full board for its consideration.
The State Board of Education is expected to act on this request during its Thursday meeting.
