Munster Schools Moving To Four-Day Week Over Summer To Save Cash
By John Dodge
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Faced with finding ways to erase millions in debt, one Northwest Indiana school district will transition to a four-day week over the summer.
The School Town Of Munster will close its schools to most school and extracurricular activities on Friday through Sunday.
Supt. Jeffrey Hendrix said energy savings are estimated to be around $15,000.
"Until we really try it, and make sure that the buildings are truly shut down, I can't give you a definite number," Hendrix said.
To make up for the lost day, high school summer school classes for the morning and afternoon sessions will be extended by one hour, with a break for students to eat lunch.
Elementary school classes will be held in the mornings only at one school, Eads Elementary. The other elementary schools and middle school will be closed to all activities, but office staff there will work a four-day week.
"There will be no impact to the summer school offerings," Hendrix said.
However, the park district and other clubs, which have used the school's facilities in the past over the summer will have to find alternatives.
"We have notified the park's department about the changes we are making," Hendrix said.
Despite passing a school-funding referendum two years ago, that tax increase did not go far enough to erase $6 million in debt. That deficit ballooned to $8 million this year after the town received $2 million less that it historically received in county tax revenue.
School administrators were forced to lay off about 50 non-teaching staff in January and have left open the prospect of laying off teachers later.
Hendrix said the idea of moving to a four-day week is not unprecedented. He noted that some school districts in Arizona and Minnesota have moved to a four-day week for the entire year.
"That is a totally different approach because that would impact programs and extracurricular programs," he said. "We are just adjusting our summer work crews and office staff schedules."