Written by Andrew Stuckey, Osoyoos Daily News

One parent-suggested pitch for achieving long-term financial savings at South Okanagan-Similkameen schools in the wake of proposed school closures is a transition to a four-day school week.

The idea was discussed at Parent Advisory Committee meetings in Osoyoos January 25. The concept will likely be presented for SD53 Board consideration February 9.

As the name suggests, students would attend school four days a week, likely Monday through Thursday, and have a three-day weekend. On days students are in class, the morning bell would ring a little earlier and students would stay in school a few minutes longer each afternoon. Lunch and recess periods might also be reduced.

The Boundary School District 51 — just to the east of Osoyoos — switched all of its schools to the four-day week during the 2001-2002 school year. In 2015, Superintendent Kevin Argue told CBC News that switch helped ensure schools wouldn’t have to close.

“The district was on the edge of the abyss of having to look at closing schools, and that was happening all around the province at that time,” said Argue.

“The four-day week was what allowed us to carry on, and we haven’t closed any schools since.”

Argue reported the board saved money through reduced busing costs and lower heating bills, and that absenteeism dropped significantly among all levels of staff after the introduction of the shorter week.

In 2006, the school board conducted a review of the shorter week and determined it had saved more than $200,000 a year. The review also showed virtually no change in academic performance, and the need to discipline students dropped by 50 per cent in the first year of the new program.

The four-day school week is in use or being considered at school districts in Alberta, Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan.

It hasn’t caught on everywhere, however. At least one school board in British Columbia returned to the more traditional five-day week after a brief experiment with the four-day week. And the Fort McMurray School Division in 2013 rejected the four-day week despite its Separate system counterpart implementing it several years earlier.

As Boundary District Superintendent Argue told the CBC: “There was some angst, people were adjusting, people were trying to find ways of going about their own work schedule,” when Boundary made the change in 2001.

“But now it’s just embedded in the culture of the community, it’s woven right into everything that we do. Many employers and professionals in town have adjusted their schedules to line up with it.”

Here are some benefits of the program as suggested by proponents:

Financial savings

The financial savings to districts that adopt the four-days-per-week timetable can be tremendous, regardless of the size of the district. Facilities are used only four days per week instead of five, resulting in a significant reduction in utility costs to the system. Transportation costs, including fuel, bus maintenance and driver salaries are also reduced.

Academic Improvement

An increase in academic achievement is associated with a four-day school week. In one system, the impact of only two years of a four-day school week caused test scores to improve. Being out of school one extra day per week allows students to relax or to be more productive.

Improved Teacher and Student Morale

Some students and teachers believe the four-day school week provides them an opportunity for extra rest and a less stressful environment. Students are more rested and focused and therefore less likely to disrupt class, be off task or engage in other behaviors requiring discipline.

Improvement of Attendance

Some district representatives that have implemented four-day school weeks report that attendance has improved for teachers and students. Student athletes don’t miss as much class and have less work to make up when events occur on a day off. In the South Okanagan, Friday has become a traditional travel day for sports teams and others. The four-day format provides opportunities for an extra work day at a job, engaging in volunteer activities, or pursuing additional educational goals.