(Exira, IA) — The Exira, Elk Horn, Kimballton school district is considering a four day school week.
Superintendent Trevor Miller says this not a money related issue — in other words there would not be many costs saved other than school bus savings of one day. Miller says the main reason for going to four days is to better recruit new teachers
Miller says that the current staff is down three employees from a year ago and applications from qualified teachers have been down as well. That got Miller to think how they can hire new quality and qualified teachers Next, Miller brought up the idea with the current staff and an overwhelming majority were in favor of it
Miller said they then broached the subject with the public at an informational meeting last week and the attendance was better than expected
Parents were surveyed at the meeting and 76 percent were in favor of going to a 4 day week. The biggest concern by far was day care says Miller
The next step Miller says is to conduct more research. He plans on talking with the folks in Griswold who rejected a 4 day school week. He will send out another survey next month and another informational meeting could be planned. Miller says the goal is by March 24th, the school board will either pursue a 4 day school week for the 2025-26 school year, pursue a 4 day school week for 2026-27 or abandon the idea and stay on a five day school week. Miller who is the superintendent of Exira EHK and Audubon emphasizes that this is only being considered for Exira EHK’s district.
