WICHITA FALLS, Texas (KAUZ) — Midway ISD is discussing the idea of a four-day school week.
If Midway ISD switches to a four-day school week, school officials say it could benefit teachers and school district employees who commute from all over Texoma.
“We have some teachers here who are interested in a four day week due to travel. We are quite a rural school, we are fifteen minutes south of Henrietta, we are about a twenty and a half drive from Jacksboro, we are a thirty minute drive from Wichita Falls, we are a thirty minute drive from Bowie so the teachers who drive, only the savings on gas wear on the vehicle would be beneficial to those teachers who are from another area,” said Midway ISD Principal Daniel Hutchins.
School officials said this transition would also be a tool for hiring and retaining teachers.
“There are a number of teachers who have left the profession and there are people who have been disenchanted for one reason or another, they are worried, they are worried about what the future holds and they don’t know it. A number of educators have left the field, and many schools have started this school year with a teacher shortage,” said Hutchins.
Midway ISD isn’t the only school discussing this change as other districts have already decided on the four-day school week.
Petrolia CISD will begin its four-day schedule next month and Graham ISD will make the switch next year.
