The USD 205 Bluestem School Board plans to vote on how to shorten their school year during the BOE meeting Monday evening.
They decided to shorten the school year, with the possibility of either going to a four-day week or shortening the school year, at their meeting Jan. 11. Following that meeting, they held two sessions for public comment to get feedback from the residents.
“It was kind of surprising to me as we had the community conversations and the feedback,” said Superintendent Randy Rivers, “on suggestions with budget cuts of four versus five days a week.”
He said the district is open to any suggestions.
“We are continuing to take comments,” he said.
The upcoming change also caused concern for some parents.
“Obviously what came out in the community conversation was some parents showed concerns on the four-day week in finding child care services,” he said. “That was the main concern we had heard.”
Rivers said everyone did leave those informational meetings with a better understanding of the problem and the budget issues the district is facing.
If they stay with a five day week, they would shorten the school year by about 21 days, compared to what they have published this year, and would begin by cutting this school year short. The next school year would run from after Labor Day to about mid-May.
The other option is to go to four days a week.
With either of these changes, the school day also would change. School would be in session from 8 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. to make up for the missed days.
Rivers said their total hours would still meet the state requirements.
“Either way it’s going to save us some money, which in effect we will use to save staff positions,” he said. “We will be able to save some programs and things.”
The BOE will meet at 7 p.m. at the Central Office, 711 N. West St. in Leon.
Rivers expects two times for public comment during the meeting. The first will be during the regular public comment time and he expects the board president to open the agenda item for comment as well.
Anyone who wishes to comment before the meeting can call the school at 316-742-3261 or e-mail rrivers@usd205.com.
