Broken Arrow Public Schools is considering a four-day school week to recruit and retain teachers, and they’re gathering parent input through surveys before deciding in March.
Q: What major change is Broken Arrow Public Schools considering?
A: The district is exploring a shift to a four-day school week and has sent surveys to families to gather input.
Q: What options are being considered for the new school calendar?
A: Three calendar options were presented:
- A four-day week with Monday or Friday off.
- Adjustments to daily start and end times.
- Changes to the school year’s start and end dates.
Q: Why is the district considering a four-day week?
A: The district hopes the change will:
- Help recruit and retain teachers.
- Provide students with a dedicated day for enrichment or intervention activities.
Q: What challenges does the four-day week present?
A: Potential challenges include:
- Child care needs for families.
- Transportation logistics.
- Supporting students who depend on school meals or special education services.
Q: How is the district gathering input?
A: A survey was sent to parents, emphasizing that it’s not a vote but an opportunity to share opinions.
Current Status:
- Over 6,700 parents have responded so far.
- The district aims for 8,000 responses by December 22.
Q: What happens next?
- A second survey will be distributed in January.
- The district committee will make a recommendation in February.
- The school board is set to vote on the proposal in March.
Q: Where can parents access the survey?
A: Parents can find the survey on the Broken Arrow Public Schools website or HERE.