JACKSON, Wyo. — The Teton County School District (TCSD) Board will meet on Wednesday, Dec. 11, to discuss the potential implementation of a half-day on Fridays during the 2025/2026 school year.
TCSD Executive Director of Communications and District Services Charlotte Reynolds told Buckrail that TCSD #1 has been discussing ways to find additional time for staff professional development for several years.
In the past, teacher in-service/no school days have been scheduled throughout the school calendar year to allow time for teachers to discuss student programming. Seven teacher in-service/no school days were scheduled for the 2024/2025 school year. The proposed Friday half-day would remove teacher in-service days from the calendar year to provide additional time for teachers to collaborate, according to Reynolds.
The Teton School Board voted to implement a four-day school week for Teton School District 401 in Driggs, Idaho, in February, 2024. This new schedule went into effect this past fall.
To accommodate Jackson’s working parents, “afternoon programming would be provided for elementary families, so students would have access to educational and recreational opportunities during early release,” Reynolds said. Reynolds said that this would apply to grades K-5 only.
TCSD anticipates bringing the proposed calendar to the School Board for a vote in January, after the Board of Trustees receives comments from parents in the upcoming weeks.
According to Reynolds, TCSD Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services Scott Crisp held a focus group last week with parents. On Thursday, Dec. 12, a community meeting will be held via Zoom to explain the proposal, and to gather feedback. To enter the Zoom meeting, the ID is 868 5733 4379 and the passcode is 580256.
The School Board will meet at 6 p.m. on Wednesday at 1235 Gregory Lane in Jackson. Information can be found online at TCSD.org. Public comments can be sent to schoolboard@tcsd.org.
