# Pell River Unified School District — four-day school week

From the superintendent's office.

## The decision
The school board votes in six weeks on whether to move to a four-day school week from next August. We need a research plan we can actually carry out before that vote. The research budget is $5,000. There is no time to pilot a four-day week before the vote.

## What people are saying
- Board member A: "Studies show four-day weeks improve attendance by 20%."
- Superintendent's memo: "A state education report found small negative effects on test scores."
- Board member B: "A four-day week could save up to 20% of our operating budget. I want research that proves it will save money."

## District facts
- 4,200 students in 9 schools; operating budget $58M.
- Annual spend on transport $3.1M, utilities $1.4M, substitute teachers $1.9M.
- District policy: students under 13 may be surveyed only with written parental consent, which takes about four weeks to collect.

## Ask
A research plan of two pages or less.