Post Falls School District reflects after year one of four-day week

POST FALLS — Bus routes, lesson prep and back-to-school shopping herald a new school year. After the first year with a four-day school week here, many are reflecting on the change. 

Post Falls Superintendent Dena Naccarato said Post Falls' Idaho Reading Indicator scores rank first in the state among large school districts for kindergarten-through-third graders.

The change can also mean more time with family.  

“We have heard from parents that their students like the four-day week, and that it has allowed for more family time,” Naccarato said.   

But not all results were as positive as hoped. Naccarato said the district wanted the change to reduce the need for substitute teachers as well as increase attendance. After one year, the district has saved just $55,000 in substitute teacher costs and experienced a 1% increase in student attendance.

Still, approval ratings for the new schedule have increased.  

Initially, 62% of parents, 85% of staff and 69% of high school students were in favor of four-day weeks.     

In February, the district conducted another survey, and the numbers jumped: 77% of parents, 95% of high school students and 92% of staff were in favor of the new schedule. 

Attendance equals funding  

State rules translate better attendance into more funding, and that was part of the reason a new schedule was proposed.

“Absenteeism has been high since COVID, and I was open to thinking outside the box to see what could help,” Sara Rodriguez, who sits on the school board, said. “The school district has really tried to maximize every minute the kids are in school.”    

She said that an increase in attendance, however small, makes a big difference to covering costs. The district noted that absenteeism costs $43 per day and nearly $3 million in state funding. Even with as small an increase as 1% in attendance, the extra funding makes a difference.   

“It does get money, and every dollar counts,” Rodriguez said. 

It's Friday

For some, an extra day off has been a blessing. For others, it's been a strain.

Post Falls parent Tarah Zimmerman said when she first heard the proposal, she didn’t think it would work for her family. She used Fridays as a catchup day to get work done in the household on her day off from work. 

She was surprised by how much of a positive change it was, both with scheduling and family time spent together. 

“I've actually truly been loving it because my kids have that flexibility. They help with the chores, and it takes me less time,” Zimmerman said. 

Sally Vaughan, a middle school teacher, said the new schedule has really helped. Vaughn says she thinks it will reduce burnout among staff.

“It gives me more prep and planning time on Fridays. And also, extra time to recharge,” Vaughn said.  

Randi Kane was hesitant to keep her kids in the district when the change was announced. She's noticed they experience boredom on Fridays while she works from home. 

“We are told not to look at public school as a day care, but when you are a low-income family or single parent, it really takes a village to keep one or more kids home from school. How are they all supposed to find care for their kids every Friday?” Kane asked. 

Last year, the school district got a grant to pay for meals on Fridays and provided some student activities. 

For Mary Davis, academics has remained satisfactory, but her kids haven’t enjoyed their time during Friday's student activities. Trying to figure out pickups at 3:40 p.m. has also been a challenge.  

“When it first came out, my husband and I were not for it. For young kids, consistency is key,” Davis said. She said she hopes the Friday program will be extended past 3:40 p.m. this school year to better accommodate families like hers with younger children. 

“For working 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday families, it proposes a very difficult question,” Davis said.  

Post Falls School District survey of shorter week 2023 and 2024

Parents 2023 survey: 

2221 responses of 5430 sent
62% of respondents in favor 

Parents 2024 survey:

2215 responses of 5295 sent
76.6% of respondents in favor 

Students 2023 survey: 

1000 of 1349 HS students responded
85% in favor 

Students 2024 survey: 

1047 of 1309 responded
95.5% in favor 

Staff 2023 survey: 

548 of 766 responded
85% in favor 

Staff 2024 survey: 

606 of 733 responded
92.2% in favor 

Post Falls School District survey results before and after the 4-day week was put in place.

    Post Falls School District charts the amount of money put towards substitute teaching costs. Superintendent Dena Naccarato said under the first year of the 4-day school week, the district saved $55,000 in substitute teacher pay.
  

    Post Falls IRI numbers for students in kindergarten through third grade were first in the state for large school districts.
  

    McKenna Zimmerman

    Paisley Zimmerman