School Days Shortened: A New Plan for Southern Boone County

Southern Boone County R-I School District is considering a big change. They might switch to a four-day school week. This could start in the 2026-27 school year. On the days they do go to school, classes would run longer. School would start at 7:50 a. m. and end at 3:25 p. m. from Tuesday to Friday. This is about 30-40 minutes longer than usual. One Monday each month would be for teacher training. The rest of the Mondays would be off. This gives families time to plan appointments. But some parents are worried. They wonder how they will manage childcare on those days off.People also have concerns about the longer school days. Will students feel tired or overwhelmed? What about kids in sports or clubs? They might get home late. How will they finish their homework? The school board says this change could help them keep good teachers. They want to compete with bigger schools. But is this the best way to do it? It's a big decision. The school board will vote on it soon.