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By a one-vote margin the St. Louis County School District will change to a fourday week for the 2025-26 school year.
Northeast Range board member Chris Koivisto voted against the motion along with Lynn Hilde and Kristin Zorn. Voting in favor were Ron Marinaro, Jarrett Bundy, Mallory Manick and Linsey Larson.
Superintendent Reggie Engebritson said on Wednesday the opposition to the change had to do with concerns over whether the district can work out the details and a desire to push the decision back a year.
But 2142, like other districts, is facing a $1.5 million deficit and the change to a four-day week is expected to save $500,000 by not running buses one day a week.
Engebritson said students will start school 10 minutes earlier and end 24 minutes later in order to meet state requirements.
“I was cognizant of kids getting on the bus at 6:30 in the morning but we do have to the required number of days,” said Engebritson.
Students will have most Fridays off but if there is a holiday on a Monday, there will be school on Friday.
The district will provide school-age care on Fridays when school isn’t in session.
School will start on Sept. 2 and end on June 4. “Our schools don’t have air conditioning and it can get hot in June,” said Engebritson.
The change to a four-day week will help address the district’s deficit spending problem but Engebritson believes there will be additional benefits.
“It will also help the well being of students and staff,” said Engebritson. “Allowing families and staff an additional day to recharge and provide a better work and life balance and also help us retain and recruit staff.”
