Kingman, Arizona To Consider 4 Day School Week

Published: Monday, January 18, 2016 - 8:11am
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(Photo courtesy of the Kingman Unified School District)
Roger Jacks is superintendent of Kingman Unified School District.
(Photo courtesy of the Kingman Unified School District)
Kingman schools serve about 7,000 students spread out over 2,000-3,000 square miles.

A rural school district in northwestern Arizona will soon consider whether to switch to a four-day week next year.

The Kingman Unified School District has to slash about $800,000 from its budget, and the cost of transportation and medical benefits are a couple reasons why officials will hold a public meeting on shortening the school week later this month.   

Teachers could use the fifth day to do student interventions and planning, said Superintendent Roger Jacks. Kingman schools serve about 7,000 students spread out over 2,000-3,000 square miles.

“We would hope that maybe we would see a little better attendance rates,” Jacks said.

But if the change eventually goes forward, it's only projected to save about half of the money that must be cut from next year’s budget for the district to maintain financial stability. Plus, the cost of teacher and employee medical benefits is expected to increase by between 10 and 14 percent, Jacks said.

“We may be in a situation where we have to look at changing health care plans and maybe going to a highly deductible plan or something that is a little more affordable to the school district,” Jacks said.