Receives positive parent, staff feedback 

Big Horn County School District No. 4 will look to extend public comment on a four-day school week following positive results from a stakeholder survey presented at their Jan. 13 board meeting. 

Eighty parents and 48 staff members responded to the survey organized by Superintendent Keith Campbell, with 88% of staff and 79% of parents expressing interest in the schedule change. 

“Both of them talked about flexibility in their schedule and opening up that Friday for appointments and family time. Quality of life stuff, work-life balance,” Campbell reported to the board. 

The largest concern gathered from the stakeholder survey was childcare, with 20% of parents interested in the school providing care on Friday. 

“For parents who both have a full-time job and no other family to help with the kids, this does affect us a lot,” one comment read. “However, I do see the benefits for the kids having only four days of school. We could make it work. Daycare options for younger kids would be crucial.”

Another worry has been longer days becoming taxing, especially for younger students. Campbell noted that this has been a concern throughout his career, as first half-day kindergarten, then full-day, then preschool were introduced in public schools. 

“Kids are pretty capable of doing these things. I don’t think we can teach the same way we’ve always taught, the way we’re teaching, if we do go to a four-day week, but part of it will be taking into consideration the changes in the schedule, too,“ he said. 

Currently, the board has discussed providing one-on-one academic support for students in need, transportation, childcare and food services on Friday in the event of a four-day schedule switch. Teachers would maintain their current PD, though Business Manager Trevor Whitaker suggested the time may be measured by hours rather than days. Paraprofessionals and other hourly employees would be kept in mind, with possible after-school support hours or daycare hours added to their schedules to maintain income in the event of a change. 

Campbell noted that Friday services could be dialed back or added to as needed.

“I don’t think we ever back off the academic support portion of it. I think that just should be part of our DNA moving forward,” Campbell added. 

Sporting events would all be scheduled Thursday through Saturday, with the exception of some C squad games that would be allowed earlier in the week, after school is over, so long as competitors are within 30 miles, putting the Rebels home by 7 p.m. The school schedule would stay within exiting dates, with additional time tacked on to the beginning or end of the school day as needed to compensate. 

Riverside Middle/High School would be required to maintain 950 pupil-teacher hours for middle school and 1,000 hours for high school throughout the year, with Laura Irwin Elementary to provide 450 for kindergarten and 900 for elementary. The district must submit an alternative schedule application to the Wyoming State Board of Education by April 1 proceeding the school calendar year a four-day week would come into effect. Campbell suggested an application could be presented for board consideration by the March school meeting following public comment. 

The board seemed largely in favor of four days, with Chair Heath Hopkin noting that he would like to see the process continue. Cautious opposition was Greg Gloy, who noted that he would need to see evidence that students in need of extra academic support would also benefit from the change. 

“If you can sell me on that, I’m 100% for it,” Gloy said.

Public comment will be taken at the next two regularly scheduled board meetings; Feb. 10 and March 10 at 7 p.m. at Riverside Middle/High School. The board will have the opportunity to respond to questions and concerns, with information to be submitted as part of their application to the state. A student survey was also scheduled for last week, with positive results anticipated. 

OTHER NEWS

The board declined to change a policy setting the minimum sport participation to allow a third coach at 30. 

Spring and Fall golf will now be offered in partnership with Greybull High School, with Basin to share fees in percentage of their student body’s participation. 

Food Services Director Malia McClure assuaged parent concerns regarding students’ caloric intake at school, with the district providing well above the federally set minimum.