(Missourinet) – The St. Joseph School Board in Missouri recently faced a divisive decision over a proposed four-day school week aimed at attracting and retaining teachers. The proposal was ultimately defeated in a close vote, with three members in favor of the initiative and four against.
Board Vice President Kenneth Reeder, who voted against the proposal, acknowledged the value of the debate it sparked within the community. Reeder emphasized the importance of the discussion in highlighting the district’s commitment to improving its standing in teacher compensation nationwide. “The conversation about our district’s significance to the town and the need to elevate our teacher compensation from 48 out of 50 states to a higher ranking has been the most beneficial outcome of this proposal,” Reeder explained in an interview with KFEQ, a Missourinet affiliate in St. Joseph.
The school district, which serves over 10,400 students in northwest Missouri, did not see the four-day week as a definitive solution to its challenges. Reeder expressed a preference for direct measures to increase teacher salaries, stating, “I’m fully supportive of a specific levy aimed at raising teachers’ salaries.”
LaTonya Williams, the Board President, supported the four-day school week, highlighting the negative fallout from the board’s decision. According to Williams, the rejection of the proposal has left teachers feeling undervalued and unsupported. She addressed the financial constraints faced by the district, noting, “Everyone suggests paying the teachers more, but the funds have to come from somewhere.” Williams argued that the four-day school week could have provided benefits to teachers without additional costs to the district. The aftermath of the vote saw immediate repercussions, with teacher resignations following the decision, signaling the proposal’s significance to the staff.
Currently, about 170 school districts in Missouri operate on a four-day school week schedule.
