More than 100 school districts in 16 states have decided to go with four-day school weeks. At least one state has told its employees to work four days a week. Now, the energy-saving idea is beginning to get serious consideration in Maine.
In Saco, city officials are scheduled to vote Tuesday on whether to move to a four-day work week for City Hall employees. With approval, Saco would join the Bangor Public Works Department, which has started a four-day work week.
Other towns considering a similar move include Belfast, Old Orchard Beach, Kittery, Kennebunk, Fairfield, Houlton, Sebago, Etna and Bridgton, said Saco City Clerk Lucette Pellerin. With high motor fuel and heating oil costs, the four-day week would save energy and save money.
A voluntary four-day work schedule for state employees is part of Gov. John Baldacci’s $12.6 million energy-action plan. Some state employees are taking part, but the number of participants isn’t available, said Chip Gavin, director of the state Bureau of General Services.
“We are making proactive efforts to encourage our employees to consider whether they want to try an alternative schedule,” Gavin said.
The state Education Department is considering submitting a bill when the 2009 legislative session gets under way that would allow school districts to have four-day weeks.
Under present state law, Maine students must be in school at least 175 days per year. By changing the minimum requirement so it’s expressed in hours, local districts would have the option of going to four-day school weeks.
State Sen. Nancy Sullivan said she would like to introduce a bill to that effect if she’s re-elected in November. The Biddeford Democrat said such a policy would bring an automatic 25 percent reduction in transportation costs.
Four-day work plans, if implemented by municipalities, can save employees money by requiring them to commute less, while municipalities cut utility bills in public buildings.
Utah became the first state this summer to institute a mandatory four-day work week for most state employees. Exemptions are allowed for public universities, courts and prisons
On 8/30/08 at 7:51 PM,
jake04743 wrote:
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I have a 3rd grader and a kindergartener, both of which are burnt at the end of the current school day schedule. On the bus at 7am, home at 3pm ( my 3rd grader, the younger is home at noon ), homework, supper, 1 hour to play, then bed. How exactly do you propose we squeeze more hours into this already tight schedule? No doubts this would work well for older students, but for younger students, this is just ridiculous.
On 8/30/08 at 10:05 PM,
howardc wrote:
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Although the savings to the school dept. would be impressive. The personal cost to the parents of the children, in the form of day care or lost wages by loosing a day of work a week, would be unmanageable to most families. There is also the high possibility for parents that have to care for the children on the weekday and take time off work could lose jobs. I don't believe this year,( with economy and heating oil the way it is), is the best time to add more costs to families. I would like to know if the savings to the school dept. would lower the tax burden on families to help offset the cost of child care.
Thanks for your time, it's just one parents thought and concern for what will already be a hard year.
On 1/27/09 at 6:02 AM,
Bodank63 wrote:
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This is just another case of our government in Maine being totally out of touch with the people. Hey Gov, can I send my kid's to your house on the day that they don't have school? I still have to work five days a week so I will need someone to watch them on the day they have off. Oh yeah, that might actually be something like a REAL JOB which you have never had. Come on Maine you are killing us!
On 1/27/09 at 6:53 AM,
anne_of_mdi wrote:
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This is what happens when people demand lower taxes without weighing the consequences.
On 1/27/09 at 7:56 AM,
LincolnMOM wrote:
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I would be a BIG adjustment 4 sure!
On 1/27/09 at 7:57 AM,
LincolnMOM wrote:
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....but sometimes change is GOOD! :)
On 1/27/09 at 7:57 AM,
Bangorian wrote:
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This is poor idea cooked up by people who no longer have kids in school. I too have school aged children (1st & 3rd grades) and I can't imagine how they could handle the stress of longer schools. Not to mention the way that this concept just pushes expenses back on to the home (another day off to be home, heating the house on a day when it would otherwise be empty, etc).
Here's a quick suggestion from reducing school costs - let's pro-rate teacher salaries. They work a total of 9 months/year. Let's pay them only for those 9 months.
On 1/27/09 at 9:09 AM,
listenup wrote:
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Kids in the US only have to attend school 175 days per year and they wonder why we have "such" people running our gov and trying to make RIDICULOUS DECIONS ABOUT OUR CHILDREN'S FUTURE. I dont want my children to be lazy and follow suite of the GOV, NO!!! Kids adapt I did, my parents did and so will my children. Pro-rate the teachers salaries is a GOOD idea! You know what in order for me to get paid, I MUST WORK I mean teachers only work from 8-3 at the latest 7 hrs a DAY so they work 175 days and get 180 OFF hmm there is a problem with this picture...
On 1/27/09 at 9:31 AM,
markko wrote:
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Teachers need to work for hours every week (both at home and at school after hours) to plan and prepare the week's work, not to mention all that work they do with red pens on kids' tests and book reports.
The actual school day (and school year, for that matter) is only a part of the picture.
On 1/27/09 at 11:37 AM,
teacher123 wrote:
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I am a little insulted. I am a school teacher myself and the only thing you would be doing by prorating my pay is making my SALARY, distributed over the school year instead of all year round. I do not know if I would be in favor or not in favor of a 4 day school week since it would make my job harder keeping the students engaged for a longer period of time. However, assuming my job ends at 3 is ridiculous. I bring work home every night to grade and I usually have to do it after 8 p.m. when my kids are in bed so not to have my work interfere with my family time. I tend to finish my correcting between 10 - 11, to start all over again the next day. Just because I am not an hourly employee does not mean I get paid a decent hourly wage. Maine is still behind on teacher wages compared to the rest of the country so get your facts straight before you try to save money where their is none to be saved.
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