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Bandera ISD board members deliberate moving to a four-day week for the 24-25 school year.
Photo by Jessica Nohealapa'ahi
February 13, 2024
Bandera ISD moves to four-day week next school year
By Jessica Nohealapa'ahi
The Bandera Prophet
Bandera ISD trustees unanimously approved a four-day week for students, beginning with the 2024-25 school year.
“This is a one-year plan. We’re going to have to do a lot of adjusting,” BISD Board President Brittany Hicks said yesterday evening, during trustees’ regular meeting.
The first day of school is set for Tuesday, Aug. 6, and the last day of school will be Thursday, May 22. Friday attendance will be required during August. The school day will be extended by 10 minutes in the morning, and 25 minutes in the afternoon. District staff will come in on some Fridays for professional development.
Other traditional features of the school calendar remain intact, including Christmas, Thanksgiving and spring breaks, two bad weather days, and five professional work days/student holidays.
The Boys & Girls Club is working in partnership with the district, and will be open on Fridays when school is not in session, similar to summer enrollment at a reduced rate, Bandera Middle School Principal Bobby LaLanne said.
Assistant Superintendent/Chief Financial Officer Michael Neuman said the district is working on a solution to accommodate the food program.
“We’re taking one day away from feeding the kids,” Neuman said, adding the cafeteria could send home a back-pack lunch on Thursdays. “Luckily we’ve got a very good child nutrition program…so we’ve got some wiggle room.”
Superintendent Gary Bitzkie said the goal behind moving to a four-day week is teacher recruitment and rentention, considering the state is not giving the district any money for raises.
As of Jan. 31, Bandera ISD student enrollment was 2,282, with an average daily attendance of 2,097.
“This is a one-year plan. We’re going to have to do a lot of adjusting,” BISD Board President Brittany Hicks said yesterday evening, during trustees’ regular meeting.
The first day of school is set for Tuesday, Aug. 6, and the last day of school will be Thursday, May 22. Friday attendance will be required during August. The school day will be extended by 10 minutes in the morning, and 25 minutes in the afternoon. District staff will come in on some Fridays for professional development.
Other traditional features of the school calendar remain intact, including Christmas, Thanksgiving and spring breaks, two bad weather days, and five professional work days/student holidays.
The Boys & Girls Club is working in partnership with the district, and will be open on Fridays when school is not in session, similar to summer enrollment at a reduced rate, Bandera Middle School Principal Bobby LaLanne said.
Assistant Superintendent/Chief Financial Officer Michael Neuman said the district is working on a solution to accommodate the food program.
“We’re taking one day away from feeding the kids,” Neuman said, adding the cafeteria could send home a back-pack lunch on Thursdays. “Luckily we’ve got a very good child nutrition program…so we’ve got some wiggle room.”
Superintendent Gary Bitzkie said the goal behind moving to a four-day week is teacher recruitment and rentention, considering the state is not giving the district any money for raises.
As of Jan. 31, Bandera ISD student enrollment was 2,282, with an average daily attendance of 2,097.