The board finally voted to approve the four day week for the upcoming year. I am completely drained after this fight but the relief for our teachers and kids makes it all worthwhile. Keep your eyes on the district updates because we still need to make sure they implement this …
September 24, 2022
Final supporters
To: Elko County School Board Members
Regarding: 2022-2023 School Year
Dear Board Members,
Parents and teachers have united with concerns about the deficit in our current educational system. A big problem is the substitute teacher shortage. We understand that Elko County School District has hired most existing substitutes as long-term ones. Because of this shortage, students may be forced to leave their classroom to go to another classroom to receive instruction from another teacher with whom they are less familiar. Because of the overcrowding conditions resulting from this situation, children often do not receive the individual attention they need.
With all of these long-term and short-term substitutes, our certified teachers are trying to assist in this crisis, but it often takes a toll of long hours and assisting in lesson plans and implementation. The result of this increased workload is causing many seasoned teachers to resign or retire.
We believe that with a four-day school week, teachers can plan doctor's appointments and family events on Fridays. This will reduce the need for short-term subs and give our teachers a little breathing time from their large workload. It may even reduce our seasoned teachers' burnout, retirement, and resignations.
This four-day school week will also benefit our children. As you know, many families have to go to Salt Lake or Reno for medical care and miss school. This again taxes our teachers as they work with our students to catch them up. Knowing that we have a weekday to plan these appointments makes everyone's life much simpler.
Many sports events are also planned on Friday. A four-day school week would eliminate the absences of the athletes as well as their siblings. In the past, many of our athletes have fallen behind academically because they have missed their Friday classes. A four-day school week will even that playing field.
The parents in our community have diverse work schedules. Work hours are rarely nine to five, and schedules are erratic. Therefore, a four-day school week will allow the families in our community to have more family time together.
Please consider changing the current school calendar to a four-day school week because it is a necessity at this point. We have proved to be a resilient community of support during crisis times. Making a change now would be a proactive decision that would benefit teachers, students, and parents.
Updates
August 8, 2022
We hit one thousand signatures today. It has been a long road and the weight of this work feels heavy tonight but seeing this number tells me we are not alone in this fight.
Reached 1,000 supporters
August 7, 2022
August 6, 2022
The exhaustion is setting in but we are nearing one thousand signatures. Please push this out to your networks before we present this to the board because we cannot afford to lose momentum now.
Reached 100 supporters
July 27, 2022
204 Comments
A 4 day school schedule is a fantastic idea and would help us parents better navigate our work schedules. I believe a 4 day school week will also allow instructors more time to prep and avoid burnout.
My children are involved in sports. A lot of sports events happen out of town and on Fridays. This would allow my children the time for their sports without missing so much school. It would also prevent so many “missed assignments” and the stress of trying to “make up work”.
We had four day school weeks in Battle Mountain before moving to Elko. BEST THING EVER! It really helped with Teacher burn out, as well as student burn out. Teachers that work five days a week have to be exhausted.
4 day school week is a smart move for students especially athletes who have to miss school for sports. It also give teachers the opportunity to schedule less days off for appointments, meaning less substitutes needed. With the cost of fuel the district would save a lot in gas and wear and tear of the buses too.
With schools facing budget shortages, teacher burnout, and shortages of substitute teachers, this is a simple way to make the budget work. In addition, many studies show improved student performance and teacher retention. Rural districts like ours need this.
I'm not doing this because I'm bad in school. I'm doing this because I'm sick of staying up until 2:00 AM every night for some project, then waking up at 6:00 AM.
It should be shorter 5 days is to much
Share Petition
Don't stop at signing, share the petition link with friends to multiply our impact
Copy link or share directly
The board finally voted to approve the four day week for the upcoming year. I am completely drained after this fight but the relief for our teachers and kids makes it all worthwhile. Keep your eyes on the district updates because we still need to make sure they implement this …
September 24, 2022
Final supporters
To: Elko County School Board Members
Regarding: 2022-2023 School Year
Dear Board Members,
Parents and teachers have united with concerns about the deficit in our current educational system. A big problem is the substitute teacher shortage. We understand that Elko County School District has hired most existing substitutes as long-term ones. Because of this shortage, students may be forced to leave their classroom to go to another classroom to receive instruction from another teacher with whom they are less familiar. Because of the overcrowding conditions resulting from this situation, children often do not receive the individual attention they need.
With all of these long-term and short-term substitutes, our certified teachers are trying to assist in this crisis, but it often takes a toll of long hours and assisting in lesson plans and implementation. The result of this increased workload is causing many seasoned teachers to resign or retire.
We believe that with a four-day school week, teachers can plan doctor's appointments and family events on Fridays. This will reduce the need for short-term subs and give our teachers a little breathing time from their large workload. It may even reduce our seasoned teachers' burnout, retirement, and resignations.
This four-day school week will also benefit our children. As you know, many families have to go to Salt Lake or Reno for medical care and miss school. This again taxes our teachers as they work with our students to catch them up. Knowing that we have a weekday to plan these appointments makes everyone's life much simpler.
Many sports events are also planned on Friday. A four-day school week would eliminate the absences of the athletes as well as their siblings. In the past, many of our athletes have fallen behind academically because they have missed their Friday classes. A four-day school week will even that playing field.
The parents in our community have diverse work schedules. Work hours are rarely nine to five, and schedules are erratic. Therefore, a four-day school week will allow the families in our community to have more family time together.
Please consider changing the current school calendar to a four-day school week because it is a necessity at this point. We have proved to be a resilient community of support during crisis times. Making a change now would be a proactive decision that would benefit teachers, students, and parents.
Updates
August 8, 2022
We hit one thousand signatures today. It has been a long road and the weight of this work feels heavy tonight but seeing this number tells me we are not alone in this fight.
Reached 1,000 supporters
August 7, 2022
August 6, 2022
The exhaustion is setting in but we are nearing one thousand signatures. Please push this out to your networks before we present this to the board because we cannot afford to lose momentum now.
Reached 100 supporters
July 27, 2022
204 Comments
I am considering going the home school route due to my son missing so many Fridays for rodeo and Dr. appointments. If our district went to a four day, I would consider keeping him in school. By doing so, the district wouldn't lose out on the money they get for him. Win/win for all of us.
A 4 day school schedule is a fantastic idea and would help us parents better navigate our work schedules. I believe a 4 day school week will also allow instructors more time to prep and avoid burnout.
My children are involved in sports. A lot of sports events happen out of town and on Fridays. This would allow my children the time for their sports without missing so much school. It would also prevent so many “missed assignments” and the stress of trying to “make up work”.
We had four day school weeks in Battle Mountain before moving to Elko. BEST THING EVER! It really helped with Teacher burn out, as well as student burn out. Teachers that work five days a week have to be exhausted.
4 day school week is a smart move for students especially athletes who have to miss school for sports. It also give teachers the opportunity to schedule less days off for appointments, meaning less substitutes needed. With the cost of fuel the district would save a lot in gas and wear and tear of the buses too.
With schools facing budget shortages, teacher burnout, and shortages of substitute teachers, this is a simple way to make the budget work. In addition, many studies show improved student performance and teacher retention. Rural districts like ours need this.
I'm not doing this because I'm bad in school. I'm doing this because I'm sick of staying up until 2:00 AM every night for some project, then waking up at 6:00 AM.
It should be shorter 5 days is to much
Share Petition
Don't stop at signing, share the petition link with friends to multiply our impact
Petitions like this
Other petitions you might want to support
Scan to share
Anyone who scans this can sign the petition.
I am considering going the home school route due to my son missing so many Fridays for rodeo and Dr. appointments. If our district went to a four day, I would consider keeping him in school. By doing so, the district wouldn't lose out on the money they get for him. Win/win for all of us.