Four Day School Week Provides Unanticipated Benefits?

As more school districts across the nation implement or consider a four day school week due to rising operating costs, one has to ponder if there are more intrinsic benefits to such a move than expected.

My internet article searches on the topic proved to be limited in depth and currency, but we are moving into some uncharted territory with the issue. More businesses are moving to a four day workweek. People are making an effort to consolidate travel trips in their vehicles.

Here is one link that touches on some of the pros and cons of moving to a four day school week:

http://www.principalspartnership.com/fourdayschoolweek.pdf

From a teacher's perspective, I see a tremendous upside beyond the cost savings of building maintenance, dining services, and bus transportation.

First of all, let me arch my argument with a premise that what is good for teachers is often what is good for kids. If you set teachers up with optimal working conditions you will have optimal learning from students. After all, what makes for effective schools, regardless of socioeconomics? Effective teachers.

Benefits for a four day school week are numerous, some not previously published from what I have seen:

20% reduction in transportation costs
20% reduction in building maintenance costs
20% reduction in dining service costs
Continuity in instruction (able to extend lessons without interruption)
Eliminates parents who pull their kids on a Friday for extended weekends
Solves some childcare issues on school days since days are extended close to 5pm
Allows families to take care of appointments on additional day off without loss of instructional time
Gives teachers some respite during a draining school year.
Frees up sports game scheduling for Thursday nights and all day Friday and Saturday
Gives parents extended time on a three day weekend to get caught up on helping their kids with their homework
Balanced, consistent block scheduling with Monday/Wednesday and Tuesday/Thursday
Allows you to extend lunch periods so kids can eat slowly
Allows you to extend recess periods for more student activity
Allows you to extend PE/music/elective periods for greater interest and enrichment
Allows teachers another day to get their cars serviced and take care of medical appointments not on student contact days
Opens Fridays for paid staff development days, inservice, workshops, conferences, grading, and planning
Gives teachers an opportunity to attend student music recitals and sporting events on a leisurely pace on Fridays

In general, I picture four 10 hour days as a teacher being more efficient than five 8 hour days. Just make sure every school building has air conditioning for those afternoons.