Tulsa, OK- At least 18 states in the U.S. including Oklahoma offer school districts the option of transitioning to a four-day school week.
Tulsa Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Keith Ballard says he's not taking the option off the table in light of budget problems.
In his weekly Superintendent's Bulletin last month, Ballard said: "While we will study this solution, we must admit it’s difficult to implement in an urban setting. There are safety issues involved and the vast majority of our students depend on school to meet their needs. We will, however, continue to study this option."
"I definitely wouldn't want to see them laying off teachers, but I'd be really curious to see how they're going to fit the curriculum into four days," said Anne Williams, a parent.
That's one of the reasons the prospect of a four-day school week is often met with skepticism on the part of parents. Another reason some parents are upset with the idea is child care.
"It may be me personally, but I can't trust a lot of people," said Durashia Hutchins, another parent. "So, it's finding somewhere for her to go, safely, for that time."
Districts that use a four-day week typically go Tuesday through Friday with an extra hour and a half tacked on to each day of instruction.
This school year, pretty much each and every school district has had budget problems. Jenks, Broken Arrow and Tulsa Public Schools have all initiated furloughs for employees.
Next year, the cuts are expected to run even deeper.
That's the reason more and more school districts here are jumping on the four-day week bandwagon.
It supposedly saves on transportation and utility costs.
Liberty School District is the latest to make the switch here in Oklahoma.
That district hopes to save more than $40,000.
