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“4-Day School Week – “We’re really not crazy ”

“4-Day School Week – “We’re really not crazy ”. MACCRAY District Information. Location of MACCRAY. X. Populations. Sites. MACCRAY West Elementary. MACCRAY East Elementary. MACCRAY Jr./Sr. High School. Seasonal Comparison. Staffing.

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“4-Day School Week – “We’re really not crazy ”

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  1. “4-Day School Week – “We’re really not crazy”

  2. MACCRAY District Information

  3. Location of MACCRAY X

  4. Populations

  5. Sites MACCRAY West Elementary MACCRAY East Elementary MACCRAY Jr./Sr. High School

  6. Seasonal Comparison

  7. Staffing • 105 total staff – bus drivers are not MACCRAY’s employees • Slightly more than half of MACCRAY’s certified staff members are 50 years of age or more and have served the district for 20 or more years • Several other staff members are over 50, but haven’t served in the district for 20+ years

  8. Budget • Total budget (all funds) is slightly more than $8,000,000 • General fund reduced by $800,000 from 2006-07 to 2007-08 = 11% • General fund reduced by another $300,000 from 2007-08 to 2008-09

  9. Budget ReductionPlanning Process • Step 1 - Explored options • Reduce certified staff by 4.0 FTEs • Close an elementary building • Transition to 4-day school week • Offer an early retirement/leave of absence incentive for our most experienced teachers • Offer taxpayers the opportunity to further support education (operating levy) • Step 2 – Researched 4-Day Week districts - Early February-March

  10. 4-Day Week Research Suggested Other Benefits • More environmentally friendly • Increase enrollment • Improve attendance of students and staff • Improve student morale • Decrease discipline referrals

  11. Allow students more elective courses Improved attendance for students and staff Anticipate a decrease in discipline referrals Student achievement stable More instructional time Effects on the School Day

  12. Effects on Students • Students reported having a better attitude toward school. • Academic achievement and standardized test scores reported to be the same or higher. • Improved student attendance. • Longer class periods allow for more material to be covered. • Greater likelihood of student appointments being scheduled for days off. • More family time available.

  13. Students (continued…) Mondays could be used to: • Complete homework • Work on projects • Work at a part-time job • Complete 20 hour/year service learning requirement

  14. Effects on Teachers • Fewer absences – teachers can schedule appointments on days off • Less need for substitute teachers • Longer class periods offer more time to focus on specific projects, especially those of a hands-on nature • Increased staff development time

  15. Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Idaho Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Minnesota Montana New Mexico Oregon South Dakota Texas Utah Wyoming States with 4-day districts

  16. Budget ReductionProcess (continued…) • Step 3 – Contacted MDE for guidance • Early March • Step 4 – Held Community Meetings • Late March to early April • Step 5 – Waiting period to hear from community and transportation providers • Early April to mid-May • Step 6 – Board approval • May 12, 2008

  17. Reasons for the Change • Reduce expenses • Maintain elective offerings • Minimize staff reductions

  18. Estimated Savings • Substitute Teacher Costs $9,023 • Transportation Costs $65,201 • Energy Savings $16,374 • Maintenance Costs $3,611 • Faculty Mileage Reimbursement $994 Total $95,203

  19. Budget ReductionProcess (continued…) • Step 7 – Approval from MDE • Request for “flexible school year” submitted on May 20, 2008 • Additional information was submitted on June 5, 2008 • 3-year approval communicated on July 1, 2008

  20. Snapshot of the 4-Day Week

  21. 4-Day Schedule • Monday is the “off day”. • Staff in-service days were moved from Fridays to Mondays. • School IS scheduled on nine (9) Mondays. • Four (4) five-day weeks throughout the year.

  22. 2007-08 1st bell 8:12 a.m. Period 1 8:15 – 9:02 Period 2 9:05 – 9:52 Period 3 9:55 – 10:42 Period 4 10:45 – 11:32 1st Lunch 11:32 – 11:57 Period 5A 11:35 – 12:22 Period 5B 11:57 – 12:44 2nd Lunch 12:22 – 12:47 Period 6 12:47 – 1:34 Period 7 1:37 – 2:24 Period 8 2:27 – 3:14 47 minute class periods 2008-09 1st Bell 7:57 a.m. Period 1 8:00 – 8:55 Period 2 8:58 – 9:53 Period 3 9:56 – 10:51 Period 4 10:54 – 11:49 1st Lunch 11:49 – 12:14 Period 5A 11:52 – 12:47 Period 5B 12:14 – 1:09 2nd Lunch 12:47 – 1:12 Period 6 1:12 – 2:07 Period 7 2:10 – 3:05 Period 8 3:09 - 4:04 55 minute class periods Student Day Additional 65 minutes per day

  23. Instructional Time 2007-08 419 min/day x 172 days: 72,068 minutes Excluding lunch (25 min.) & passing time (18 min.) 376 min/day x 172 days = 64,672 minutes 2008-09** 484 min/day x 149 days: 72,116 minutes Excluding lunch (25 min.) & passing time (18 min.) 441 min/day x 149 days = 65,709 minutes Actual Gain in Instructional Time: 1,037minutes (17.28 hours) annually

  24. 2007-08 7:45 a.m.–3:44 p.m. 172 student days 7 in-service days 2 conference days 181 contract days 2008-09 7:30 a.m. – 4:34 p.m. 149 student days 8.5 in-service days 2 conference days 159.4 contract days Teacher Day

  25. Extracurricular Activities • Practices will end later (6:15), except on Wednesdays - Community Night (5:45). • Events and activities will occur on Monday evenings as usual. Will reschedule events when possible. • Thermostats will not be turned up for Monday practices, games, activities • No junior high practices on days off

  26. Our Communities • With the extended school day, many students’ schedules better align with parents’ work schedules • Child care– Families needed to make adjustments to meet change in schedule • Some daycare providers charge a “flat” fee • MACCRAY Community education (in partnership with 4-H) trained students as babysitters • Fun Day Mondays @ Willmar YMCA

  27. Evaluation

  28. What We’ve Learned….So Far • Long days for students that ride the bus • A few students are picked up as early as 6:40 a.m. compared to 6:50 a.m. last year • Elementary-age students get home as late as 5:10 p.m. • Some high school students don’t get home from practice until between 6:30 and 7:00 p.m. • Extra-curricular practice times • Coaches in many cases have been more efficient – less “down time” during practice • Practices go later into the evening than in the past

  29. What We’ve Learned (continued…) • Practices are shorter on Wednesday afternoons (4:15-5:45) • Evenings are noticeably shorter for students and staff members • Students seem to enjoy having Monday off • Staff members seem to enjoy having Mondays off • Surprised and amazed at the level of media attention that MACCRAY has received

  30. Fox News - “America’s Newsroom” – New York MN 20/20 – St. Paul, MN Associated Press – Raleigh, North Carolina Associated Press – Washington, DC ABC - “Good Morning America” (WCCO studios) Kyodo News – New York City Kansas City Star – Kansas City, MO Albuquerque, NM Public Schools City of Las Vegas, NV Star Tribune – Minneapolis, MN Paul Harvey Statewide/NationalInternational Media Attention

  31. Voice of America – Washington, DC Education Week – Richmond, VA NSBA Newsletter – Alexandria, VA AASA Newsletter – Alexandria, VA KRQE Radio – Albuquerque, NM The Telegram – Jackson, OH MSBA – St. Peter, MN Reuters Newswire – New York City WIZM – La Crosse, WI CNN – New York City (sent crew to district) Forbes Magazine LRP Publications – Palm Beach Gardens, FL Media Attention (continued…)

  32. ABC Evening News with Charles Gibson (sent crew to district) CBS News with Katie Couric Flat Rock-Hawcreek Schools – Hope, IN Education Minnesota Duluth News Tribune – Duluth, MN BBC – London, UK West Central Tribune – Willmar, MN KSAX Television – Alexandria, MN WCCO Radio – Jack Rice Show WCCO Radio – Bruce Hagevik e-School News Media Attention (continued…)

  33. Education Week – Bethesda, MD New York Times Newsweek – Boston, MA Minnesota Public Radio National Public Radio – Boston, MA Time Magazine KARE 11 – (sent crew to district) Minnesota News Network Numerous Minnesota school districts Other Minnesota media outlets Many sales reps promising to boost fuel efficiency Media Attention (continued…)

  34. Evaluation • MACCRAY evaluation plan: • Parents, students, staff surveys • Community members surveys • Outside evaluations • Assess test scores, failure rates, behavior data, and absentee rates for students and staff • Compare 2008-09 expenses with 2007-08 expenses

  35. Estimated Savings • Substitute Teacher Costs $9,023 • Transportation Costs $65,201 • Energy Savings $16,374 • Maintenance Costs $3,611 • Faculty Mileage Reimbursement $994 Total $95,203

  36. Transportation Savings

  37. Electricity Usage

  38. Water/Sewage Usage *Football field watering-summer 2008 was dry.

  39. MACCRAY 7-12 students report… • having a better attitude toward school – the • weeks go so fast! • longer class periods allow for more student • work to be completed. • improved student attendance. • more time for the family. • Monday is a day to “de-stress”

  40. MACCRAY elementary student comments… • Homework needs to be completed before Monday • since parents work Mondays. • Not enough recess time. • I am hungrier during the day • I like having two snack times

  41. MACCRAY parents report… • Nights are very short for elementary aged • students • I’ve been surprised how easy the transition • has been (elementary parent) • I’m enjoying the extra day for appointments • and family time (high school parent) • Disadvantage for those that have to leave • early for sports (high school parent)

  42. Teachers report… • K-6 staff • Day goes just as fast as before • We’re on track with language arts • Honestly surprised how well it is going • 7-12 staff • Love the longer class periods for labs • I am a little ahead of where I was last year

  43. Adjustments Made for Elementary Students • SMART program • Later breakfast • Later lunch times

  44. For more information: Four day week

  45. QUESTIONS?

  46. “The four day school week has probably been one of those few decisions made in education in the name of money that actually ended up having educational benefits in terms of academic performance of kids.” Joyce Ley, director of Rural Education Program at the Northwest Regional Laboratory in Portland, OR

  47. Contact Information Gregory A. (Greg) Schmidt Superintendent MACCRAY Public Schools 711 Wolverine Drive P.O. Box 690 Clara City, MN 56222 320-847-2154 (phone) schmidtg@maccray.k12.mn.us Website address: www.maccray.k12.mn.us

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