DECATUR, Texas — Parents and students packed a Decatur ISD school board meeting Monday night to voice their opinions about switching to a four-day school week.
In a 4-3 vote, the board of trustees voted against implementing a four-day school week in the Fall of 2024-2025. Instead, the board voted to revisit the issue during a special session in two weeks.
According to a district presentation, the district was considering a Monday through Thursday week in an effort to retain and recruit teachers, have fewer substitutes, and spend less on overtime hours. Under a proposed plan, the district would extend school hours four days a week to make up for having Friday off.
During the meeting, one speaker, Melinda Reeves, said she supports a four-day week.
“This is what teachers want, and we need to listen to them,” Reeves said. “If this helps us attract and retain teachers, we cannot afford to not do this.”
Another speaker, a freshman student at Decatur High School, spoke out against it.
“We have a good portion of students who don’t have good home lives,” he said.
The district said it surveyed parents and employees about the issue, and a majority responded in support of a four-day week.
Amanda Weems, whose 8th-grade daughter is on the autism spectrum, said less days spent in school will have a negative effect on students.
“I don’t think any of it is good for the children, it’s only good for the teachers,” Weems said.
Other speakers voiced concern over the challenges a four-day week would create for families who can’t afford child care on Fridays and students who lack access to meals at home.
Decatur ISD Superintendent Dr. Chad Jones said he strongly recommends allowing for an implementation in the 2025-2026 school year.
“I do believe it can help retain speakers over the long haul,” Jones said. “Obviously the board has a tough choice to make because we all feel we need to do something right for our teachers.”
Trustee Melonie Christian disagreed.
“I don’t think we need to make a decision tonight,” Christian said. “It’s gonna make our elementaries be nothing but school, they’re not little robots. I just think we’re making a decision without all the information we need.”
Another trustee, Stan Shults, echoed that thought.
“Good luck getting a new superintendent who’s gonna have to inherit this,” Shults said. “This should not be the board’s focus on priority right now.”
Trustee Scott Koehler spoke in support of the shorter week.
“Let’s find out that we can do it. That’s what I wanna hear,” Koehler said. “Let’s find a way to make this happen.”
Ultimately, the switch to a shorter week failed on Monday.