MSBA Leadership Conference January 15-16, 2009 1 4-Day School Week – Were really not crazy 4-Day School Week – Were really not crazy

MSBA Leadership Conference January 15-16, 2009

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““4-Day School Week – 4-Day School Week – “We’re really “We’re really notnot

crazycrazy””

““4-Day School Week – 4-Day School Week – “We’re really “We’re really notnot

crazycrazy””


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MACCRAY District Information


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Location of MACCRAY

X


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Populations


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SitesMACCRAY East ElementaryMACCRAY West Elementary

MACCRAY Jr./Sr. High School


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Seasonal Comparison


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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


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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


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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


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4-Day Week Research Suggested Other Benefits

• More environmentally friendly

• Increase enrollment

• Improve attendance of students and staff

• Improve student morale

• Decrease discipline referrals


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Effects on the School Day

• Allow students more elective courses

• Improved attendance for students and staff

• Anticipate a decrease in discipline referrals

• Student achievement stable

• More instructional time


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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.


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Mondays could be used to:

• Complete homework• Work on projects• Work at a part-time job• Complete 20 hour/year service

learning requirement

Students (continued…)


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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


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States with 4-day districts

• Arizona• Arkansas• California• Colorado• Idaho• Kansas• Kentucky• Louisiana

• Minnesota• Montana• New Mexico• Oregon• South Dakota• Texas• Utah• Wyoming


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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


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• Reduce expenses

• Maintain elective offerings

• Minimize staff reductions

Reasons for the ChangeReasons for the Change


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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


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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


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Snapshot of the 4-Snapshot of the 4-Day WeekDay Week

Snapshot of the 4-Snapshot of the 4-Day WeekDay Week


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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.


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Student Day2007-08

• 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

Additional 65 minutes per day


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2007-082007-08

419 min/day x 172 days: 419 min/day x 172 days: 72,068 minutes72,068 minutes Excluding lunch (25 min.) & passing time (18 min.) Excluding lunch (25 min.) & passing time (18 min.)

376 min/day x 172 days = 376 min/day x 172 days = 64,67264,672 minutes minutes

2008-092008-09****

484 min/day x 149 days: 484 min/day x 149 days: 72,116 minutes72,116 minutes Excluding lunch (25 min.) & passing time (18 min.)Excluding lunch (25 min.) & passing time (18 min.)

441 min/day x 149 days = 441 min/day x 149 days = 65,70965,709 minutes minutes

Actual Gain in Instructional Time: Actual Gain in Instructional Time: 1,037minutes (17.28 hours) annually1,037minutes (17.28 hours) annually

Instructional TimeInstructional Time


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Teacher Day

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


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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


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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


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EvaluationEvaluationEvaluationEvaluation


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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


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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


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Statewide/NationalInternational

Media Attention• 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


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Media Attention (continued…)

• 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


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• 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


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• 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


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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


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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


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Teacher Absences

05

1015202530354045

2007 2008

Years

Num

ber o

f tea

cher

s

September

October


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Student Absences

050

100150200250300350400450

2007 2008

Years

Num

ber o

f stu

dent

s

September

October


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Transportation Savings

172 Days 149 Days

Rural routes $394,595.52 $361,542.28

Shuttle buses $60,728.04 $45,309.41

Town route $18,674.04 $17,798.56

Special Education

$89,120.08 $73,266.28

Total $563,117.68 $497,916.53


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Electricity Usage

XCEL Energy Usage Comparison (kWh)September-December

School 2007-08 2008-09 Difference

West 68,718 65,594 - 3,124

East 62,218 56,986 - 5,232

Junior High 17,923 19,572 + 1,649 ??

High School 149,867 144,702 - 5,165


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Water/Sewage Usage

Water/Sewer Usage Comparison (Gallons)September-December

School 2007-08 2008-09 Difference

West 151,919 174,342 + 22,423 *

East 126,510 125,499 - 1,011

Junior High 25,100 20,100 - 5,000

High School 486,300 449,900 - 36,400

*Football field watering-summer 2008 was dry.


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MACCRAY 7-12students 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”


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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


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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)


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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


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Adjustments Made for Elementary

Students

• SMART program

• Later breakfast

• Later lunch times


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For more information:

Four day week


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QUESTIONS?


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“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 atthe Northwest Regional Laboratory in Portland, OR


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Contact InformationContact InformationContact InformationContact Information

Gregory A. (Greg) SchmidtSuperintendentMACCRAY Public Schools711 Wolverine DriveP.O. Box 690Clara City, MN 56222320-847-2154 (phone)[email protected] address: www.maccray.k12.mn.us

Documents

MSBA Leadership Conference January 15-16, 2009 1 4-Day School Week – Were really not crazy 4-Day School Week – Were really not crazy