Four-Day School Week Task Force Gets Marching Orders

The Pasco County School Board has officially decided to take a hard look at the pros and cons of enacting a for students.

The board gave the go ahead to form a task force to study the idea during its meeting Aug. 2. The idea was first broached by board member Steve Luikart as a possible way to cover some of the potential funding cuts anticipated in the 2012-13 school year.

As the district works on finalizing its $1 billion budget for the 2011-12 year, it already knows it will face at least a loss of $21 million next year, Luikart pointed out. This year’s budget represents a loss of $63.3 million over last year’s.

“I’d like the opportunity to look at that (a four-day week) more,” Luikart said back in March when the idea first came up. “(The) $21 million next year is going to be extremely hard to cut.”

After a short discussion about how to appoint members and what to call the group, the board gave a green light for the task force to be formed.

“You have your marching orders to go ahead and get started,” Joanne Hurley, the board’s chairwoman told Luikart.

While a four-day week may never come to fruition, Luikart said he wants to explore it more closely as a way to cut next year’s budget without having to slice student programs such as music, art, sports and band. Cuts to those programs, he said, are exactly what he is trying to avoid.

The new task force will consist of parents, school administrators and others appointed by the school board. Superintendent Heather Fiorentino will recommend district employees, including principals to serve on the task force. The group will look at the potential cost savings, the ramifications on students, district employees and families and other issues.

No official date for a first task for meeting was set, but Luikart said he would like the group formed by late September or early October.