(Griswold) A new survey about moving to a four-day school week is being prepared for the Griswold teaching staff.
The idea was previously studied in August 2023 after months of discussion and surveys. At that time, the Griswold School Board decided not to implement a four-day workweek for the 2024–2025 school year. The study found staff were evenly split on whether they could effectively teach students in four days rather than five. Regarding staff retention, some respondents said they would be more likely to stay if a four-day workweek were adopted, while about a dozen indicated they would likely leave the district.
The proposal resurfaced in the district’s strategic plan at the start of the 2025–2026 school year. Schools Superintendent Dave Henrichs said the board has held numerous work sessions to review the issue and gather information.
Henrichs said a major component of the discussion is how a four-day workweek would affect the school calendar, including start and end times for the school day. Staff members have expressed interest in maintaining the current instructional time schedule.
Three school board members and board secretary Hannah Bierbaum will meet to draft a survey that will be distributed to teachers. Henrichs said that if the results do not show overwhelming staff support, the discussion will end for now. However, if there is strong support, the district would then survey students and parents and hold a community meeting with parents.
Henrichs emphasized that, regardless of the survey outcome, a four-day school week would not be implemented next school year.
