Letter to the editor:

I recently read a paper from Stanford University titled CEPA Working Paper No. 21-05 that asked questions about four-day school weeks. It listed over 650 school districts having switched to four-day school weeks as of 2019. The challenge is there is very little in terms of measurable data to determine the effects of a four-day school week. 

Many of the questions center on financial savings for the school district, teacher retention and other school related issues. There is some data related to testing scores and attendance. Effectively most of the questions dealt with the average family. My concerns lie with families who struggle to adapt to change due to limited resources.

The study I mentioned above notes that in one study there was a 20% increase in juvenile crime. Are we able to quantify the potential costs to our county and communities if the number of youths in our communities find themselves involved in the justice system? What is the cause of this potential increase and are there solutions to address it? How might we work together to address this potential issue?

The study mentioned here doesn’t really address childcare costs. Families with limited resources are often faced with the need for every adult in the household to work. Having children home instead of in school can create a challenge for families to maintain their income to support their families. Incurring additional costs due to childcare may be enough to make it impossible for them to be self-sufficient. Do new calendar plans take this possible consequence into consideration? How can we as a community work together to address this potential need? The last information I read listed most Wyoming communities as needing more childcare resources that are affordable. 

The study also doesn’t mention nutrition needs. For many families the meals provided at school are a vital part of the nutrition their children receive. If we reduce a day of school, will we inadvertently be reducing the nutritional health of some children? If so, how can we work together to address this need?

I am not writing for or against a four-day school week, but I do ask everyone involved to consider your neighbors who may not have the same resources that you have. If a decision is made and it causes a hardship for some of our families, are we willing to work together to provide them additional options or supports to help their families be healthy?

Kyle Borger, Torrington