CHINA SPRING, Texas — China Spring ISD hosted a community meeting on Monday night to discuss the possibility of implementing a four-day school week.
Over 200 community members, including parents and teachers, attended the meeting as superintendent Marc Faulker presented a list of challenges faced by the the district.
Those challenges include a staff shortage, falling attendance rates and mental health struggles among students and staff.
"I could tell you stories of probably thirty kids today who cannot come to school because of anxiety and things like that," Faulkner told the crowd.
A four-day school week was presented as a possible solution to the problem. In the sample calendar created, ten days are eliminated from the school year and about 30 minutes are added to each school day. In all, students would actually spend more that 600 extra minutes in the classroom.
Faulkner reiterated that the calendar is not a done deal. Another community meeting is set for February 22.
The move comes just weeks after Academy ISD voted to approve the shortened week for the 2023-24 school year. Academy officials said said the shorter schedule translates to "recruiting and retaining the best educators in Central Texas" and smaller class sizes.
Rural districts across the state are moving to make the change in the midst of staffing shortages.
