Supt. Juneau: 4-day week often works in small schools

Of the 827 schools in Montana more than 15 percent, 53, have moved to a four-day school week.

As Box Elder's school district weighs the pros and cons of moving to a four-day school week, Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau did the same Monday afternoon.

In most cases, according to Juneau, the pros outweigh the cons, at least for smaller districts.

"For larger schools it would be difficult, but with a small number of students you have a community that is rural, " Juneau said.

The current highest enrollment in a four-day school is more than 400 students in Wolf Point.

"There is a point when there are too many students, " Juneau told the Havre Daily News. "We're watching Wolf Point closely because they are larger. Academics at least seem to be staying on par with before. "

The strongest negative reaction to the change she said she heard was from Lincoln.

"They sort of went through some back-and-forth with their community, " Juneau said, "but since then, I think, everyone is on board now. "

She also countered an argument she's heard that the change is just to save money, without regard for students.

"People say it saves money, but I don't think that has come to fruition, " Juneau said. "The schools stay open, for staff professional development or tutoring, so the lights are still on. So I don't think it's been a big money saver. "