R-III to go to four-day week

The Mountain View-Birch Tree School District will switch to a Tuesday through Friday school week next academic year, the district announced last week. 

“After a long process of researching the impact of a four-day calendar and seeking input from the community, parents, students, and staff, the MVBT Board of Education approved a 4-day calendar on Thursday evening during their monthly board meeting,” reads a statement from the R-III school district. “Earlier this school year, a calendar committee was formed in the district, with representatives from each building. The committee met often, sharing input from employees in their buildings. A survey went out to everyone in the MVBT community, using our district’s Facebook page, our district’s website, and by sending home a paper version of the survey with students. Over 1,000 surveys were completed, indicating the majority of the MVBT community want to move to a four-day calendar. Based on available research, survey results, committee meetings, and board discussions, it was determined that a four-day week will have an overall positive impact on the Mountain View-Birch Tree School District. This was not an easy decision to make. Our Board of Education came to this decision based on what they feel is best for our students PK-12th grade.”

The school board is prepared to address the concerns of those who oppose this decision, says the statement. Preempting some of these, the statement assures stakeholders that students will receive the same number of hours of instruction, that teachers will be paid the same, and that start and end times of the school day will remain the same.