School Year Brings End To Districts’ 4-Day Weeks

NORTH BRANCH (AP) - Some Minnesota school districts that shaved a day off their weekly calendar to save money are returning to five day weeks in the fall.

North Branch is voluntarily adding back the day after a financial crisis has eased. Two others - Onamia and Clearbrook-Gonvick - have no choice but to shift back to five days after having applications to renew their four-day schedule denied by the state Education Department.

Many of the 11 school districts that gave students three days off for every four days in the classroom will be back to a traditional schedule by the 2015-16 school year.

In North Branch, the shorter week helped save about $250,000 a year. But students were in school for longer days.