U.S Schools Consider Four-Day School Week

Faced with the debilitating increase in fuel costs, many rural U.S. schools are reconsidering the recycled solution of a four-day school week. Despite concerns from some parents about childcare on the extra day-off, shaving one day off the school week would be the key to preserving educational programs and staff in several states including: Minnesota, Kentucky and New Mexico.

Savings to be considered include transportation costs - some buses travel up to 100 miles round trip every day - as well as heating and cooling where necessary. According to Marc Egan, the director of federal affairs at the National School Boards Association, about 100 schools in as many as 16 states have already moved to a four-day school week to conserve resources.

Superintendent Greg Schmidt of Maccray Public Schools in Minnesota, which switched to a four-day week in May, expects to shave 10 percent off transportation costs alone, a savings of $65,000.