3 days ago
51
Some northern Minnesota school districts are using four-day school weeks to cut costs, but school leaders say the approach may not fit every community.
As budgets tighten, some districts are looking for new ways to save money and keep staff. In St. Louis County and Mountain Iron-Buhl, more than 2,400 students just finished their first school year on a four-day week.
“How do we save money? How do we look at all angles? What are we doing to attract staff to the Iron Range?” said Dr. Reggie Engebritson, superintendent of St. Louis County and Mountain-Iron Buhl School Districts.
Engebritson said St. Louis County saved about $500,000 in one year and Mountain Iron-Buhl saved about $150,000, with most of the savings coming from transportation.
“If we have to go out for a referendum, we know we have to answer the question of parents asking ‘What are you doing for savings?'” said Engebritson.
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