Valley elementary schools discuss switching to a four-day school week

Both Seeley Lake and Swan Valley Elementary School Boards are discussing switching to a four-day school week.

A couple nearby schools — Seeley Lake High School and Potomac School being two examples — have adopted the four-day school week schedule, and statewide, as of 2022, 222 schools operate four days a week out of 826 total schools, according to the state Office of Public Instruction.

Staff, board members and parents at both elementary schools are weighing the pros and cons of making the switch. Factors like better staff retention and recruitment, better student attendance and lower staff a...