Four-day school week wouldn’t work for Lynn

LYNN – The Lynn Public Schools are far from the only district in the country struggling to make ends meet as the next fiscal year approaches, but while some places are taking drastic measures to save money, it appears that the same gimmicks would not be suitable for Lynn.The most popular such gimmick bantered about School Committee meeting rooms and superintendents’ offices of late is a four-day class schedule, something that brings a smile to the faces of students and just the opposite for busy, working parents.Education officials in many communities claim that extending school hours and shaving a day off of the week would save an abundance of cash in transportation, utility and food costs, but in working class communities such as Lynn, that money would come at the expense of parents’ sanity, and in some cases, their jobs.”Can we get it going logistically?” asked Superintendent Catherine Latham as she quickly computed the numbers Monday. “If we did four days we would have enough (class time to fulfill Department of Education requirements) but unless the whole world goes to a four-day work week I don’t see how that would work with our parents.”Shortening the school week would mean that child care organizations such as the YMCA and the Boys and Girls Clubs would most likely have to expand their services at a time that most non-profits are cutting backs costs in order to accommodate members who suddenly need a full day of child care every week.While logistical concerns with scheduling child care typically rule the discussion, other critics question how effective a longer school day would be for some children, especially elementary school kids with short attention spans.Since the early 1970s, the four-day school week has been primarily adapted by small, rural school districts that shuttle students long distances. By cutting one day a week in those communities, they were able to save on transportation, food and utility costs while it was easier for families to adapt to the day off.Officials in those rural districts, such as Cimarron, N.M., say the move has not only cut down on costs, but absences as well. In addition, it has helped keep those kids occupied on Fridays as most sporting and extracurricular events are now scheduled on the day off.Latham said she does not doubt that a three-day weekend would be popular with students, pointing out that parents would love it if it were the other way around, but said in a city as large and urban as Lynn, the move would just cause too many logistical problems with parents.”I just can’t see it happening,” she said.Latham and Business Administrator Kevin McHugh will continue to work on the school department budget for fiscal year 2010 this week, despite not having any official funding numbers from the state.Latham said last week that the department is working to build a bare-bones budget in the hope that funding stays level.