BISD considers 4-day calendar

BISD considers 4-day calendar Brian Smith Tue, 04/09/2024 - 8:12 pm   Bryson ISD Superintendent Greg London goes over slides during a town hall meeting on a potential 4-day calendar Thursday, April 4. Photo/Brian Smith With smaller districts around the state trying to keep teachers, and not having the money to do it, Bryson is looking into going to a 4-day school week. Superintendent Greg London hosted a town hall meeting Thursday, April 4. He said he has tried to be impartial but recent studies where 86% of public schools struggle hiring educators, there being 500,000 fewer educators across the country post pandemic and roughly 30% of educators lacking state certification got him thinking the district had to do something to keep the educators it had. In a presentation, having a four day week is shown to be able to retain teachers and help to recruit for future openings. London told the audience that three of the districts teachers were retired and rehired last summer and others were picked up by “cold calling” from other teachers other educators in the district knew. As of right now there are two teachers and two staff members able to retire this upcoming school year, London said London later said he wasn’t a fan of the four day week but got to thinking on how the district would go about filling positions after what happened and there began a shift in thinking. “The best thing for a student is to have the best person in front of them,” London said. “I’m proud of what we have right now in teachers,” London said. “No six-man district is doing what we do.” There are many pros, London found from talking to nearby districts that have gone to a four-day week, including staff satisfaction, a noticeable increase in applicants for positions. “I talked to (Perrin- Whitt CISD Superintendent) Cliff (Gilmore) and he said he had 20 applicants for a girls basketball coach position,” London said. “That’s impressive.” Some of the cons include childcare, extracurricular transportation and meals on Friday. Woodson Superintendent Casey Adams, who district was one of the first in the region to go to a fourday week, told London none of the expected issues were an issue once they went to it. A verified survey was expected to be sent out this week with the results brought before the board at its April meeting.