Chatfield community discusses possible four-day school weeks

ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) – Chatfield Public Schools (CPS) asked the community about potentially moving to a four-day school week on Wednesday.

This was the second of three informational sessions for community members to voice their concerns about a possible shortened school week.

More than 80 people attended the gathering, who were concerned about the future of quality education, after-school activities, and hourly employees.

CPS Senior Ella Dammen said her classmates are excited about a possible three-day weekend, though she was concerned about hourly employees.

"The bus drivers, they would be off of pay for a whole day," Dammen said.

Dave Ahern is a janitor for Chatfield High School. He said a possible 32-hour school week would cost him about $8000 a year and wondered why the district has not explored other cost-saving options.

"[CPS] could have done a building referendum or a maintenance referendum or something to involve everybody instead of nitpicked," Ahern said.

CPS Superintendent Edward Harris said a four-day school week would allow for about $150,000 in annual cuts for the district's projected budget reductions.

"We're looking to make somewhere between 250 and maybe 300,000 reductions for next year," Harris stated. "So, the four-day week, how that plays into that or not, it changes the trajectory of some things."

Harris said his proposal was to minimize budget cuts, but said a four-day learning week could almost double teacher development hours, resulting in higher quality education.

"One of the major benefits is, in a four-day school week, the time is purified for kids and for staff," Harris said. "There aren't too many budget reduction options that have some upside. This one has some upsides, so it's interesting to consider."

Megan Sullivan is a parent of two elementary students in the district and is worried about food-insecure students.

"The school lunch program and breakfast, [which is] free for everybody, is often the only, or the best meals of a child's day in those kinds of situations," Sullivan said.

CPS has scheduled a final informational session about this proposed four-day school week on Dec. 4th at 6 p.m. at Chatfield High School.

The school board will vote on a decision to move to a four-day school week in January.

If approved, this shortened school schedule will operate during the 2025-2026 school year.