State Superintendent Not In Favor Of Cutting Calendar To Save Money

The drive to cut costs in public schools is leading to more talk of a four-day school week for the potential of saving money.

As schools consider their plans in case of substantial state cuts, State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister is urging them to not cut down the calendar.

The largest school districts - like Tulsa and Broken Arrow - haven't considered it, but many smaller districts said it's one possibility.

Catoosa considered a change mid-year but put it off until at least next year.

11/10/2015 Related Story: Catoosa Parents Oppose Possible 4-Day School Week At Public Meeting

Liberty already has a four-day calendar and Wagoner has begun discussions on it.

"I am concerned when I hear others considering this because I don't think it's good for kids," Hofmeister said.

For her, the potential savings isn't worth the cost.

Oklahoma Schools Reporting A Four-Day Week

"It's very important that we have more time on instruction, and that's more calendar days. There reaches a saturation point for students, so many hours in the day, when you add more and more hours to that day, you reach a point where kids are no longer able to grow and learn," she said.

Last week, a group of central Oklahoma school districts met to discuss a four-day calendar - using estimates of savings as high at 5 percent, mainly in salaries for support staff and in the costs of busing students.

11/18/2015 Related Story: OK School Districts To Discuss Possibility Of 4-Day School Week

Newcastle Schools Superintendent, Tony O'Brien, said, "For us, it's about saving dollars. It's about restructuring our days to make it as effective as possible."

Hofmeister said she's also considered about the number of children in poverty, who rely on schools to get their lunches, who would miss that fifth-day meal if they were out of school.