GAINESVILLE - Hall County School Superintendent Will Schofield says he has misgivings about the proposed four-day school week as a money saving measure.
With budget cuts looming, more Georgia school systems are reportedlt considering switching to four-day school weeks. Peach County took the step last fall when officials decided to hold classes Tuesdays through Fridays. It was a way to fill a nearly $800,000 budget shortfall. Now, several school systems around the state are considering or planning a similar move.
Hall County is not one of them; Schofield says he's looked into it and it would not save enough money to justify cutting system schools to four days. According to Schofield, the four-day week is a 'misnomer' since it does not affect salaries.
"Because it does not affect salaries all you really save in the four day weeks that have been talked about in Georgia thus far are some utilities costs and some transportation," Schofield said. "At this point we just don't think that's enough money to consider the disruption that would cause going to a four day school week for our families and for our students."
Peach County officials have estimated they saved $313,000 in transportation and utilities costs by making the schedule change. Since the decision was made, C.B. Mathis, assistant superintendent of operations in Peach County, said he has received calls from at least 20 school systems seeking information about the change.
Schofield said instructional time would not be cut, but the school day would become longer; he questions how much learning a small child could do when the day reaches into mid afternoon.
"Some of these schools are starting at 8:00 a.m. and finish at 4:30 p.m.," Schofield said. "That gets to be an awful long day for five, six, and seven year olds."
Thursday
June 26th, 2025
11:15AM
