AASA Survey Finds One In Seven School Districts Considering Four-Day Weeks To Save On Energy

[hatrack]

Fuel and energy costs are rising so quickly for the USA's public school districts that nearly one in seven is considering cutting back to four-day weeks this fall. One in four is considering limits on athletics and other extracurricular activities, and nearly one in three is eliminating teaching jobs.

In the first detailed look at how fuel costs are affecting schools, a survey by the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) finds 99% of superintendents contacted say they're feeling the pinch — and 77% say they're not getting any help from their state. "No question that schools are being impacted here," says Steven Crawford, executive director of the Cooperative Council of Oklahoma School Administration. "The price of fuel has impacted everybody's budget."

The AASA survey of 546 superintendents, out today, follows an informal poll last month that found fuel and heating costs rising from 10% to 32% over last year. Other surveys have found that transportation costs are up by as much as 40% in the nation's 14,100 school districts.

The new figures paint a vivid picture, finding that:

• 15% of districts are eliminating bus routes and either eliminating or modifying extracurricular offerings or sports.

• 15% are considering moving to a four-day school week.

• 44% are cutting back on field trips.

• 29% are eliminating or modifying teaching positions.

EDIT

http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2008-07-29-school-fuel_N.htm

[madaboutharry]

1. If I have to deal with three day weekends all school year,

I'll lose my mind.

[napi21]

2. Every family where both parents work, or all single parents are going to

freak over this!

[DJ13]

3. When I was a senior in HS in 1974 in So. Cal.

A HS nearby closed down, and their students went to ours.

Our student body swelled from 1100 students to 2400 students.

They ran two school days per day, each 3 1/2 hours long.

I went from 7:20am to 11:50am.

I could see some underwater school districts saving money by joining close schools together and running the minimum number of hours allowed by law.

[hogwyld]

4. Since the U.S. is such a beacon

of academic achievement and spiritual enlightenment, why not cut it down to 1 day a week?:sarcasm:

[XemaSab]

5. Why not just put the little f***ers in a workhouse making shoes?

They'll probably learn more than they do in school. :eyes: