APPROVED 04-15-2024

*Revised Board of Education Four-Day School Week Ad Hoc Committee Meeting (Monday, March 11, 2024)

Generated by Nikkol Sipes on Tuesday, March 12, 2024

1. Four-Day School Week Ad Hoc Committee

A. Call to Order

Mr. Tauriainen called the meeting to order at 1:03 p.m.

B. Roll Call

Members Present: Jason Tauriainen (Chair), Tim Daugharty, Tony Graham, Director of Secondary Education, Nate Crabtree, Director of Human Resources, Susanna Litwiniak, KPESA President
Members Absent: LaDawn Druce, KPEA President, Pete Swanson, KPAA President

C. Approval of Agenda

The agenda was approved as presented.

D. Approval of Notes 01-10-2024

The January 10, 2024 Four-Day School Week Ad Hoc Committee meeting notes were approved as printed.

2. New Business

A. Research Findings: Tauriainen

Mr. Tauriainen opened up discussion regarding the agenda overall. He spoke regarding his research findings that are attached. He noted that he would like to reach out to other districts in the future. He noted the importance of organizing this information and research from the committee to present their findings to the Board as well as give the committee's recommendation when the time comes in July. He noted that there would be cost savings but savings even if it would be minimal. Mr. Crabtree spoke in regards to some of the overlap in research findings. He noted that cost saving measures may not be able to be generalized. He proposed looking closer at the measures specifically for the KPBSD. He spoke in regards to how unique KPBSD schools are. He noted the importance of narrowing down the goals and expectations of the four-day school week model to hone in on what will work for the KPBSD. Mr. Tauriainen spoke regarding savings and that it is a bit of an unknown until the district actually implements a four day school week. He proposed potentially having the finance department give a presentation to the committee regarding some of the potential savings. Ms. Litwiniak noted the importance of the realistic expectations of the infrastructure in the community and whether the communities can support this model. She also noted how support can vary from small and bigger communities. Mr. Tauriainen spoke to smaller community partnerships. He spoke regarding utilities savings. Ms. Litwiniak agreed with Mr. Tauriainen regarding the impact that a reduction in school building use in smaller communities could have as the school buildings tend to be community hubs in smaller communities. Mr. Tauriainen spoke again in savings and costs regarding utilities. He continued to discuss the second attached document and research regarding affects on achievement. He encouraged committee members to review documents for talking points at future meetings.

B. Research Findings: Graham

Mr. Graham discussed the information within the attached documents. He noted that the research turned into more of a pros and cons list regarding a four-day school week model. He noted the findings regarding the affect of a four day school week on attendance. He noted his findings did not note a significant difference when it came to attendance. Mr. Tauriainen posed a question regarding absences. Mr. Graham spoke to his findings in this case. Mr. Graham noted the Hanover results and findings attached on the agenda. Mr. Graham spoke in regards to the school year length and how that could potentially affect costs. He questioned whether a KPBSD model would a blanket model for the whole district or would it be individualized for each community/geographical area, or school within the district. Ms. Litwiniak noted the CRPE document is helpful and moving forward hone in on what this committee is trying to accomplish with the four day school week. And how it will inform the committee regarding how to implement this model. Mr. Tauriainen proposed the committee members coming back with an idea of which model would better suite the KPBSD. He spoke to his thoughts on which model should be implemented. Mr. Crabtree agreed with Ms. Litwiniak regarding deciding which model to implement between a true four-day school week or staff working five days and students attending school for four. He noted how critical these questions that Ms. Litwiniak had posed. Mr. Tauriainen spoke to his thoughts on the school day length and making the day longer to achieve the required school hours for students. Ms. Litwiniak spoke once more regarding having a clearer vision of the goal of this committee and which model is to be implemented. Ms. Litwiniak noted another aspect to consider when looking at this four day school week model is food insecurity. Mr. Tauriainen spoke in support once more of a true four day school week model to be implemented. Mr. Crabtree spoke regarding the minimal cost savings and that perhaps this may change the qualitative approach of this committee to the four day school week model. And that these cost savings are not coming from staff salaries and benefits but are coming from operational costs. Mr. Tauriainen spoke in regards to the BSA and how this can affect the district costs and savings. Mr. Crabtree agreed with Ms. Litwiniak regarding the concern of food insecurity and pointed to one of Mr. Graham's attached documents regarding the information. Mr. Tauriainen appreciated the Hanover documents that Mr. Graham provided. Mr. Tauriainen reminded the committee of it's responsibility and charge.

C. Research Findings: Druce

Mr. Tauriainen reviewed the information provided by Ms. Druce in the attached Powerpoint.
Mr. Graham spoke to student attendance and his experience when he was the building administrator at Soldotna High School. He also noted his experience during his time with a district in Colorado that implemented four day school week.

D. *Laydown Research Findings: Crabtree

Mr. Crabtree spoke to his findings and the attached document. He noted the importance again of knowing which four day model the district would like to implement to really hone in on a path forward with details and information. He noted some of the potential challenges of a longer school day. He noted further research into a 4-10 schedule is needed. He spoke to the absence management information for the KPBSD current school year in the attached document. He spoke regarding potential language that would need to be altered or revised if a four-day model was implemented, in regards to collective bargaining agreements also noted within the attached document. Mr. Tauriainen posed a question regarding the absences and data within the attachment. Mr. Crabtree spoke to these numbers and substitutes. Ms. Litwiniak posed a question regarding pulling this information for different days of the week besides Fridays. Mr. Tauriainen agreed with Ms. Litwiniak and requested Mr. Crabtree pull this information for the next meeting. Ms. Litwiniak posed a question regarding the difference between a substitute and a temp regarding the absences. Mr. Crabtree spoke to this. Mr. Tauriainen noted that there would be potential cost savings with substitutes with moving to the four day school/work week. Mr. Tauriainen proposed Mr. Lyon give a presentation to the committee on potential transportation savings. Mr. Crabtree posed a question to Ms. Litwiniak to see if there was any information that he may have missed in his document regarding the CBAs and language that would potentially need to be changed if a four day week model was implemented. Mr. Daugharty spoke in agreement with Mr. Crabtree and Ms. Litwiniak that there needs to be a more decisive decision regarding which four day model that the committee is expected to research. He also posed a question regarding the timeline for this committee's research and asked for some clarification in this regard. Mr. Daugharty posed another question regarding the affect of the quality of life, and if these costs or burdens would be shifted to another entity. Mr. Tauriainen spoke to the timeline and the committee's charge. Mr. Tauriainen proposed that at the next committee meeting there would be a discussion with the different models from other districts. Mr. Daugharty posed a potential challenge for an elementary student that is attending school for an extra length of time.
Mr. Tauriainen spoke to the research that he found and that the benefits and challenges can vary from district to district. Mr. Crabtree proposed that a pilot would be potentially beneficial to gauge what the model and implementation could look like in the KPBSD. Ms. Litwiniak noted the importance of taking into account the impact this type of model could have on those students who do not have as much support at home.
Mr. Tauriainen began to again review in detail the PowerPoint that Ms. Druce provided in her findings in the attachment on the agenda. Mr. Crabtree posed a question regarding whether survey questions would be in the purview of this committee. Mr. Tauriainen spoke to this and that it is not within the purview of this particular committee to put a survey together at this time. Mr. Tauriainen continued to review the PowerPoint that Ms. Druce provided.
Mr. Tauriainen posed a question to Mr. Graham and the community interest in a four day school week during his time in Colorado. Mr. Graham spoke to this. Mr. Tauriainen would like to have Ms. Druce's findings available at the next committee meeting for Ms. Druce to be given the opportunity to speak to these findings. Mr. Tauriainen discussed next steps for the committee at the next meeting and asked for committee members input. He noted and reminded the committee of their charge.

3. Adjourn

A. Adjourn

Mr. Tauriainen adjourned the meeting at 2:40 p.m.