A Four-day School week?

District No. 1 board takes public comment on proposed change

Big Horn County School District No. 1 invited residents to comment Thursday on a proposed four-day school week during a special session held an hour before the regular school board meeting. The session gave community members another opportunity to weigh in beyond a survey distributed about a year ago.

That initial survey showed about 80% support for a four-day week at Rocky Mountain and Burlington schools, board member Jared Boardman said, adding, however, that the survey did not capture the full picture. As community discussion has continued, the board also has identified teacher retention and concerns about Friday productivity at the secondary level as reasons to study the proposal further.

The board has since emailed four possible schedules to people on its distribution list. Several residents at the meeting said they had not received the message outlining how a four-day week could work.

The sample calendars use the 2026-27 school year and generally retain the same final day of school to make comparisons easier. Some options would start the school year earlier, while others would reduce breaks or lengthen the school day.

About 20 people attended, and comments centered largely on student well-being. Residents noted that some elementary students from Frannie board buses at 7 a.m. and do not return home until nearly 5 p.m. One parent of a kindergarten student said his children need time to decompress after the school day and questioned the effect of extending it. Attendees also said elementary students already receive about 100 hours of instruction beyond the state requirement because of transportation logistics.

Residents also raised concerns about students who rely on school for structure, additional support or regular meals. An extra day away from school could create challenges for at-risk students and families facing food insecurity, they said. Board members agreed that the district would need to research additional support and said they share those community concerns.

After-school activities were another concern. Residents said facilities and schedules are already crowded, with some teams practicing until 7 p.m. or later. They questioned how a longer school day would affect practice times and access to limited space.

One newer district resident supported the proposal, saying a four-day schedule would give her children more time to work on the family ranch. She said her children followed a similar schedule before the family moved into Big Horn County School District No. 1.

Board members said they remain neutral on the proposal, noting that it would not provide a significant budget benefit. They said a four-day week could help the district retain teachers and students if neighboring districts adopt similar schedules. Boardman also noted the trade-off required to meet state-mandated instructional hours.

“You may lose time with your kids during the summer,” he said. “The question is, do you want your kids in the summer or on Fridays? The schedule has to change to ensure we meet the required number of hours, regardless of the number of days in the school week.”

The board said many details remain unresolved, including staff concerns, scheduling, food security and support for at-risk students. Community members are encouraged to attend the next public comment session on Thursday, Nov. 12, at the Burlington School cafeteria. The regular board meeting will follow at 7 p.m. Public comments may also be made by email to bot@bighorn1.com.