DRIGGS, Idaho — In anticipation of Teton School District 401’s public meeting on Monday, Feb. 12, to discuss and re-vote on the four-day school week decision, Teton Valley parents were asked to answer a number of survey questions to determine what the shorter week could look like.
The 2024/2025 Four-Day Student Week Calendar Survey went out to current parents in the district on Wednesday, Jan. 31. The survey states, “When considering a four-day student week, there are two main details that can be flexible: the school year length and the length of the school day.” The survey will tally results to help decide the school year calendar and bell schedule.
Buckrail spoke to a Teton Valley parent whose child attends Teton District 401.
“This survey feels like the school administration is pushing the decision forward,” the parent, who wished to remain anonymous, said. “We need a plan and community conversation before the action/vote. The schedule conversation hasn’t happened in the community at all. A four-day school week was decided before figuring out the schedule.”
Another Teton Valley parent, Claire Vitucci, also said that it seems rash to initiate this plan so quickly and without full community support.
According to the survey, the school district is evaluating whether students will be in school 45 minutes to an hour longer each day to accommodate a four-day week.
“A shorter school year will cause teachers and students to work more in a less time,” the parent said. “Also, the survey suggests a 4 p.m. release time and this means that kids who ride the bus will be getting home around 5 p.m. or after dark. This doesn’t leave time for sports.”
Elizabeth Smith, Academic Advisor for Teton High School, told Buckrail that she spoke with other Idaho school districts that have implemented the four-day school week and their determination was that it typically takes a month for students to adjust to the longer schedule.
“Families from other Idaho districts say they love the four-day school week,” Smith said.
The Teton Valley parent said that the district presented the four-day school week to as way to improve teacher retention, and that the real problem is not the length of the school week, but the fact that too many Teton Valley teachers commute to Jackson or Idaho Falls because they can’t afford to live and work in Teton Valley.
“The real issue is the lack of funding for education in Idaho,” the parent said. “This leads to a problem where school funding becomes insufficient. As a result, districts rely on levies and bonds to supplement wages and to build schools. Teton Valley has not failed to pass a levy because the community values quality education for children. However, the amount requested in these levies has always been so modest that it barely covers small increases in teacher pay. Therefore, instead of focusing on implementing a four-day school week, let’s shift the conversation to increasing school funding to a level where certified teachers can actually work in the community where they reside.”
Smith said that teacher salaries are not driving the issue, and said that the four-day school week determination would be good for the district. She explained that the shorter week schedule would allow teachers to meet every other Friday to have Professional Learning Community (PLC) time or collaboration time to share teaching strategies and approaches to student learning.
“Our district has presented the four-day week to solve the teacher collaboration problem that we currently have, and this is impacting the students,” Smith said. “A PLC team ensures that we are reaching all the students, and gives us time to discuss what students might be struggling with in the classroom.”
According to Teton School District 401, the Board made a policy decision to move towards a four-day school week in Dec. 2023. It has since been determined that the process leading up to this decision did not fully comply with Idaho’s Open Meeting Law. Due to this procedural error, the Board will voluntarily rescind this decision during the meeting on Feb. 12. The Board will then discuss the four-day school week as a new matter, and the public can review the issues, options and take part in an open session discussion prior to the Board’s vote.
Community members, whether for or against the four-day school week, are encouraged to take part in the conversation during the Feb. 12 meeting.
Former school board member, Kathleen Haar emailed Teton Valley parents, “If you live here, you pay taxes that fund our schools. You have a right to have your voice heard.”
Teton School Board member Martin Balben told Buckrail that the district will propose a number of approaches to the four-day school week during the Feb. 12 meeting.
“The board will have to vote again on a calendar regardless of how we move forward from here,” Balben said via email.
The public meeting is Monday, Feb. 12 at 5:30 p.m. in the District Building or old elementary school building on 481 North Main Street, Driggs.
